why does the government not pay active duty more?

Answer 1

As I am getting ready to retire after 20 years in the Navy I can tell you they do not pay enough!! I know men with less education that do the same job, work less hours and do less that is outside the realm of their "job" and make a LOT more than I do. I could spend an hour or so explaining what I do that is outside my job realm but is still apart of my "job" but suffice it to say we do not make enough.
Having said all of that, we do get quite a few perks. We make money that is not taxed. We will always have a roof over our head and food in our guts. It may not be 4 star cuisine and a 5 star hotel, but it isn't a cardboard box and McDonalds either. We get medical care and dental care for nada. But we get what we pay for. Some of the Navy Docs are good, some aren't. I get to retire at 38 and collect a paycheck for the rest of my life. I get to go to college using my GI Bill. I went to college and took 4 classes and it cost me about $250.00, the rest was tuition assistance.
So the military isn't for everyone. But it was a good move for me.

Answer 2

I was an E-4 in the Army, and it is my opinion that they get paid plenty. If you're in the military and you're having financial problems, you just don't know a damn thing about budgeting. Consider this: if you live on post, in the barracks, you have NO BILLS. No rent, no electricity, no medical or dental insurance, you can even eat at the DFAC and spend nothing on food. That means that all of your $1800 a month (base pay as an E-4) is spending money. I've seen people living in the barracks driving $40,000 cars.... When you're deployed you get paid almost double that, and it's all tax free. Officers, in general, get paid twice what enlisted do. The military gets paid PLENTY.

Answer 3

Because that would be totally unfair to reservists who not only do the same jobs, but also commit themselves to serving the military and the country while also trying to have some kind of life outside of military service.

It takes a real hero to try and carry on a normal life, while at the same time having to be ready at any moment to go off to war.

And pay is only one measure of compensation, you know - active duty personnel DO receive more compensation in the form of some benefits they get that reservists do not.

Answer 4

Because it would cost way more money to wage wars, and certain politicians want to make it as easy and cheap as possible to wage war with little cost to the government. I probably should'nt say but three months after the beginning of the Iraq war, the current administration pushed to have combat pay cut, real patriotic huh.

Answer 5

Budgets, would you want to pay more taxes? You are right, my son is in the Navy, he bought and 8 year old car, and between the payment for that and his insurance and gas, plus he is still paying $100 toward his GI Bill, he has very little left over.

If he wants to come home, I end up paying for his airfare.

Answer 6

why don't we pay everyone more?

I did read a good quote from some one in congress "any pay raise we give the military the civil employees are going to demand."

Answer 7

Because the military is the largest social program there is.

I guess after all the allowances that are factored in, they pay is pretty good. ? <--being facetious.

Answer 8

Government are thieves.