Originally posted by Fmr12B:
No more personal attacks please, that is just plain childish 
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.
