why do americans insist on paying there soldiers below the poverty line?

Question

i'm talking at entry levels for the USMC. Remember you pay peanuts you get monkeys!!!

even thought you spend so much on mc donalds

and your not counting the pack marches, two way ranges and sand in all your gear!!!

you do have control of it. your government is elected by the people isnt it!!!!

Answer 1

You are not counting free room, free board, free clothing, free medical, free dental, etc... = above poverty wages.

Answer 2

War used to be about plunder and spoils. Soldiers have always been paid poorly and then got to take their share of plunder. American soldiers and Marines have (almost) always been volunteers. It has been the case for a long time that American servicemen get to live in base housing (for free) OR receive a housing allowance. So, that whole "place to live" expense the rest of us encounter is no more. There are also many other enticements for joining the armed services, like college tuition, signing bonuses, etc. The real question you have to ask is whether it's "worth it." Obviously no one is forcing you to be in the Marine Corps. My father made a career in the Army and I think we lived quite well, because many of our living expenses were paid, in spite of an income that would be laughable in the private sector. If the Marine Corps pays peanuts and gets monkeys, I have no doubt they can turn the monkeys into proud fighting men and women who know how to manage a dollar. Pay scales are a matter of what's important. Marines have it the worst, so I have heard, because base housing is never available and they have to live in expensive coastal cities where off-base housing is costly. So, the Marine Corps expresses an interest toward single men who live on ships. I don't think the American People can really do much about that. But for any job one takes, there must be benefits that outweigh the sacrifices.

Answer 3

Militaries are unpopular in any country. As a result they are often neglected, underpaid and in some nations viewed with suspicion. In the United States, it is seen as a budget issue. They are underpaid because Congress doesn't believe that they deserve any more money. Many in Congress view various benefits that service members have as part of their pay. This includes the PX, Commissary, free Medical/Dental, free Housing, free Clothing and so forth. When I served I was a Sergeant E/5 and earned about $1200 a month. The Army issued a statement that showed that my actual earnings were about $1600 a month. So all of these benefits only added another $400 to my earnings and this was considered adequate funding at the time. I qualified for food stamps. It is much the same today.

Answer 4

The military is a lot better than it was, but still isn't what it should be !!

To the lady above, BODY BAGS ARE FREE AS WELL!! I would like to see her take a round!

People have it wrong! Meals aren't free always and the stipend they give you for housing ,if you have a family, is a joke!!!

When I went to basic at Ft Jackson, I was making $68.00 a month before taxes! In Vietnam, with Combat and Jump pay I was making a little over $400.00 a month.

Bush just cut Veteran's benefits and placed a whole new 50 Billion order for weapons, but we can't pay the troops!!

If you think America supports the troops you are have a pipe dream! They SAY they support the troops, but their actions speak volumes the other way!!

My father was a career Army Officer as well, and we managed, but at even his rank, we went without a lot!

Answer 5

I'm in the Army and I get paid less than a marine. Starting out I was making over $2500 a month. That isn't near the poverty line. Your relationship to that poverty line depends more on how you use the money you recieve. Sure, you can get free housing, and you will take a paycut for it, but I did it easily with a family, and still had all kinds of money left over. It's how you use it, not what you get. The military does not pay low. I'm making more money now than ever before... and I'm not out of the norm.

Answer 6

Recruit pay has always been exceptionally low. Hell, when I joined the Corps, it was $89 per month. In boot camp, there really isn't much to spend money on because they give you everything that you need, and the things you don't need you're not allowed to have, anyway. Once you graduate from boot camp and make a little rank it starts to improve, however it doesn't become worthwhile until you reach staff NCO.

Let's face it, about 90% of what you earn goes for booze and broads, and neither one will do you much good.

Answer 7

E-1 gets 1178/month, plus full medical(worth 500/mo), plus
food(3 squares a day, worth another 200 or more/mo), plus
housing worth another 500 to 1500/mo depending on where
you are stationed, plus all utilities paid, another 150or more/mo,
plus initial issue clothing, plus reduced rates for laundry, plus
continual education at government expense, plus 50% retirement
pay after 20 years service, plus free travel for life, plus your
own personal non com to put you to bed and wake you up
everyday. All this for nothing but a high school education.
This is not below the poverty line. Sorry. But I do agree that
military pay should be increased substantially.
I Corinthians 13;8a, Love never fails!!!!!

Answer 8

The base pay itself is low to begin with, but you also get BAH and BAS which are tax free. I used to be military and I remember that first year I lived in the dorms and ate at the chow hall and didn't get those two my paycheck was small, but I had a roof over my head and food to eat and I worked with the greatest people in the world.

Answer 9

I dunno; is there some other country that pays the military a serious salary ? I'm not aware of it. Under ideal conditions, a country would prefer it's military to be sitting around, sort of scaring the neighbors out of doing anything stupid. We don't get enough ideal conditions. So they depend on it being an honor to serve making up for what can't be supplied without destroying the economy. I know when I was on a carrier, a lot of guys wanted to know how they could keep us in conditions that would be illegal in a prison. Well, for starters, you don't have to take a floating prison to war.....

Answer 10

Excuse me you dumb ass. Us Americans do not pay the military, the government does.
Did they drag you to join the USMC. If you are not satisfied don't join.
Don't get me wrong, I do think they are underpaid, its your statement Americans that I do not like. Do not put everyone in the category with the government.
Do you think we have control over it.
I work for my money and will spend it as I damn well please.

Answer 11

Can anyone say Cannon Fodder?

And don't let anyone tell you that the soldiers get free meals, housing, uniforms, etc.

On top of getting a tiny paycheck, we get taxed just like everybody else. Also, on our paycheck we have deductions for meals, medical benefits, clothing etc.