Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests Poll: Armed Forces paid enough, to much, could ues more?

I dunno. My experience, while short, was having to live off base because there wasn't enough BOQ space.

Housing allowance and COLA didn't really cover the costs of living in Augusta, GA or over in Germany.

It may be a bit better now, since the military is smaller. But I didn't find that I had more money than I knew what to do with.

Now when I look at the education I got (about $50K in mid-1980's dollars) then I got a heck of a deal. Of course, an ROTC scholarship today is not as generous as it was 20 years ago.

You are right, the benefits are pretty good. However, I saw them getting cut, retirements being pushed out, and a bunch of other BS stuff that clinched it for me.

I got out, more than doubled my take home (including those benefits such as BAQ) and was able to rent a nice apartment for less. So for me, it was a no brainer.

I do miss the fellowship that is unique to the military. But the (relatively) low pay, bad hours, and little reward for initiative were enough for me to get out.

For example. I graduated as Honor Graduate (2nd out of about 100, I was most junior) in my Signal Officer Advanced Course. As the most junior officer, was I going to get a command any sooner, or promoted to Captain any sooner. Well, maybe a month sooner. Big deal! I couldn't see myself following these other officers anymore.

I had a Major give me grief about my weight (then 71", 205#, 18" neck and 32" waist, oh and a 48" chest) I would consistently score 285+ on my PT test out of 300, simply because I couldn't max out the two mile run, (sub 12:00 was max IIRC, and 13:05 was as fast as I would go.) Yet these "Burger Bar Rangers" who were in charge of training young Captains themselves could barely pass the PT tests from being away from a line unit. Yet they wanted to tell me that I needed to lose weight. There was no way I could lose enough weight to take 60+ seconds off my run time. I ran slower when I weighed less

I couldn't respect my senior (not superior) officers, so I had to leave. The final straw was as Honor Graduate, they wanted to send me to Fort Polk, LA. Sorry, President Bush is looking to make the military smaller, so I'll do my patriotic duty and resign my commission.

I guess I'm not such a good follower.

TB

I was born at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, I turned out alright! Good enough for the president, good enough for me!

Well I wanted to be a Marine when I graduated from HS but I have asthma and they told me that I couldnt get in because of that even though my last attack what when I was like 13 or something. I tried very hard but it didn't work so I am stuck being an Electrical Engineer. Maybe my children will have better luck (provided they don't have asthma)...

As for the pay I don't think the pay is high enough either I have much respect for every branch of the military, police officers, firefighters, etc... I just wish people wouldn't do things that get them in trouble or in a wrong situation and then blame it on the above mentioned or call them names...

thanks to everyone in and out of the service for your support.

I came in back in `95 since then the pay has improved some but not enough.

housing on fort wood...

well lets put it this way 95% of the houses were built back in the 50's yes it has stood the test of time but think about it their not all that. as for fuel prices on and off post well the gas station on post is only like 2 cents at the most cheaper and as for the PX and commissary.
2 things
1. selections suck
2. wal-mart is cheaper
enough said
as for the difference between the officer ranks and the enlisted ranks I agree that the officers should get paid more then us enlisted folks but wow lets look at the difference...
a day one 2LT, makes more a month than an E-7 senior NCO that has been in 18 years that's a little much in my books. but that's ok for the shiit they go thu it's worth it.

upside to this story is I am bustin my arse and within the next 2-6 months I will be an E-6

like I said thanks for all the support it's good to know folks don't take us for advantage

MP

Woo hoo physical threats, they reall do not go far with me :rolleyes:

And yes, I have had the best medical and dental work done while I served. By far better than the 6 years I have been out and dealing with private citizens.

I was specifically speaking to Looney who is serving at Ft. Wood. I have seen homes at Ft. Hood, and a post outside Birmingham. A few sir bases but all in all I never saw poor housing, different experiences we have.

I was told everyday by my Sgt's that making babies and getting a POW (privately owned woman) would be my responsibility. Not the US Govt's I guess they were the condescending ones.

Oh yeah, lets not forget the 30 days paid vacation per year.

My point is the Armed Services pay is a decent one. Look at the "what do you make" post and look at what others are making in the civilian world.

No more personal attacks please, that is just plain childish

Well lets see,
I served 5 years in the USN and while salary was low, I had more free cash than I could spend. I remember returning from a med cruise with a pile of uncashed checks under my matteress...6 months without spending ANYTHING (except for beer in port:D ). Even in port, minimal expenses, everything was paid for. We *****ed and moaned (thats what people do in the military, when not actually in combat) but I think we were paid OK (I was single, may not apply to married) . And the GI bill, VA home loans, life insurance, etc. etc. etc. STILL useful.

I make a bunch more than I did back then but now with family and house and 50 kinds of insurance, etc. etc. I swear I have less "fun" money than back then. Give a single military guy more cash..he will just blow it

it is rare to see so many people agreeing that the military does need to be paid more..

I was in for 6 and reached SSG in the Army.
Due to my an accident i am not longer in.. Thank you goes out to those still serving. Especially the surgical teams.

i was a 55D3P

I was Navy and was in combat 2 times in my 5 years, and the combat time does not include the counter narcotics unit I worked with for 3 months during the spring/summer of 1997. For the job I was doing I believe that I was about $10-12K a year underpaid, but hey, since I had so much fun doing it, I really didn't care (at the time). Hindsight being 20/20, I'd say that I was an underpaid overworked pawn in a gigantic political game, but that's another story...

In the past no, but now, aka since GW Bush, they are doing pretty well!

-Andy

Alright, I've had time to cool my jets and agree I went overboard back there. Perhaps it's the way it was written - getting the correct tone from text is almost impossible.

But I still don't agree that they're paid enough. Look at the folks in the civilian sector making the same or less than their military counterparts...what is the job? What is the risk factor of the job? Does it even remotely come close to the possible sacrifices a service member could be asked to give for their country?? No. I think that possible risk alone is enough to pay them a fair amount more. Keep in mind someone like me doing networking stuff out here will never be asked to go to a hostile country, pick up a weapon and charge into battle if need be. My brothers and sisters still in the military may just have to do that someday in the future. That possible risk is enough in my mind to justify them being paid more.

I have quite a few experiences from being in the military that demonstrate just how wrong most of your statements are.

I had a child born in a Naval hospital. If I could've afforded it, she would've been born off base. Even during my wife's labor it seemed incompetency was all around.

The P/X is a weak argument. In fact, there were only certain items we'd buy from there because everything else was cheaper in a civilian store. Yes, that accounts for taxes.

There are perks, don't get me wrong. But those perks seem to exist specifically for the purpose of retention. They are small benefits that don't make up the difference when looking at the big picture.

The 30 days paid vacation is nice, but not unheard of in the civilian world, either. I'll grant you that one.

As mentioned before, the gas isn't a bargain.

The housing can be good, but chances are you won't see nice housing until you're at least on your second term. Why is it that first termers need to live in a craphole? They're making the same sacrifices as everyone else. COLA helps, but is never enough. This especially sucks for those that can't get into housing because it's full and have to find a way to make that paycheck pay rent in a location where off base rentals are $200 or more per month.

No, the government isn't responsible for your wife and kids. It's nice that the extra pay is there for those that have a family.

My point is if the pay is so decent, why are first termers with a wife and one kid able to get WIC? And that's even if they're taking advantage of every single perk there is. That shouldn't be for someone that may put their life on the line someday!! I can tell that means little to you, though.

I'm curious, what dollar amount would you put on someone's life? Especially if they lost it defending this country? $100? $200?? I gotta know.