Why does the Air Force get more funding than the Army?

Question

Ive been to Air Force Bases and they are some of the nicest military run bases in the United States. Their cafeterias have gourmet chefs that cook very good food, the buildings look new and well maintained, and there are even mini shopping malls on their bases. The housing on these bases is excellent, also.

On military bases, the cafeterias are like school lunch cafeterias, the building look like they have stood there for 100 years, and if you want to buy food or gas, you have to leave the base and come all the way back. The housing is poor, and no one gives a **** if youre even an officer.

Answer 1

This is an unofficial response and not representative of the Armed Services- It has been my experiance that the funding is all about appropriations- where does a service put thier funds and for what. The Congress and fiscal decision makers put dollars where it most effects the security of the United States. That means training and hardware- the rest is a lower priority. I beleive that after the Air Force is funded for a fiscal year, a large portion of it goes into infrastructure, soldier moral and welfare facilities and family programs. Then it begins spending on thier aircraft, exercises, etc. When they run out of money, they can go back to Congress and say- if we don't get more $, we can't defend the skies and train our airmen. The Army, on the other hand, gets their fiscal cut, and immediately funds large dollar training exercises and equipment expenditures, then what ever is left over, goes to infrastructure and soldier moral and welfare. So when they go back to Congress, they ask for more money for playgrounds and golf course maintenance. When Congress weighes the priority of the service's extended spending . . . .who do you think they are gonna give the $ to??? . . .you got it, the USAF! And if you ask, why hasn't the Army figured that out yet . . .beats me, but I have witnessed it for the last 22 years of Army service. Additionally, the Air Force tends to have a smaller number of bases and as a smaller force, can spend equitable dollars as the Army and get more for the buck per facility. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

The Air Force has a different philosophy. " Air Force a great way of life". The living conditions in the air force are better, but the promotions are much slower. I lived in more creature comforts as an single airman in the dorm than most senior enlisted in the dorms of other branches. I had an Air Force Officer friend come to visit me and I took him over to the local Naval station for a room. The navy visiting officers quarters didn't even have their own bathrooms, they had to share the one down the hall. My friend of course went to a local hotel instead. Air Force officers are allowed so much square feet of living space and certain necessities that other branches don't offer. Phones in the room being one of them. I had a another friend on the IG team. If the visiting base could not accommodate them by Air Force standards then these officers were allowed to find civilian accommodations.

Answer 3

It is a budgetary trick. Say each branch gets a billion dollars. The army goes out and buys a billion dollars worth of tanks. Leaving nothing for other stuff. When they try and get more the money holders say that new dorms and schools, etc... are not mission critical so no money for you.

On the other hand, the AF will spend 500 million on sweet facilities. Then they go to the budget people and say, hey we need 500 more million so we can afford to buy these jets to accomplish the mission. Budget guys say well I guess we need these critical jets so here's some more money.

So I'd blame lack of vision and creativity on Army planners.

Answer 4

Maybe the fact that they have fewer things to take care of as far as equipment. It is a fact that the Navy has more aircraft than the airforce and has to take care of all their ships too. The army and marines also have a ton of equipment to take care of, so the air force can afford to put more into their bases. They don't actually get more funding....it all comes from the same pot of cash, but how it is utilized.

Answer 5

I totally understand what you are saying... I do think that this happens because the people in the air force are normally more educated - demanding more.

I think our Army guys should become union... and demand better buildings/living quarters etc.

I will say, at some of the bases - they are building some really nice homes for our army families....

Answer 6

The USAF control alot of the nations defenses. Not only in charge of per say the planes and airman but also NORAD and all ICBM silos. Sure there is nukes on subs but they are just a launching platform for other missions. A hardened silo in North Dakota cost many millions in upkeep.

Answer 7

may be because the air force not only has other different programs (NASA,NORAD,OSI, etc;) but it also takes more money and spending to help out the other military branches , case in point (ARW-AIR REFUELING WING,...KC135 etc;). The army has the same funding as any other branches ,but they tend to spend that funding on stupid t.v. commericals and golf course's , instead of redirecting that so called needed money on their base's and facilities....where its much needed!

Answer 8

Maybe the air force is more expensive to keep running than the army.

Answer 9

More expensive and complex equipment means higher standards for personnel which means you've got to take better care of them or they won't volunteer for the service.

Answer 10

Airplanes cost more than canteens.