why does our military get paid so little?

Question

My husband is currently serving in Iraq. And do you know that the perdium per day over there is $3.50 a day. Ok there is something seriously wrong when the people fighting and risking thier lives for this country are being paid below the poverty line.

Well certain someones on here are wayyy off. Ok so an A1C in the airforce makes a base pay of 1600, then you get BAS 200. Our hazard fire pay is 225. Thats 2025 a month. Yes its tax free, but remember Medicare and all that still comes out. Thats 25,500 a year. The only way you get bah is if you live off base and even then that dosent pay for all of your rent etc. For a family of four thats poverty.

Answer 1

I completely agree with you. I think its because of the benefits they recieve for serving. ie retirement, signing bonuses, GI bill...etc.

My boyfriend is a SSgt in the Army and doesnt make very much. Im 10 years younger in a sales job and make double his income. But I dont have any security in my retirement and my job wont pay me to go to school.

Answer 2

You don't give much detail.

He is probably living on base where hsi quarters and meals are taken covered.

I have not seen a pay scale in a while, but I know the military is being paid a heck of a lot better than when I was in the USAF.

My yearly pay was only 29K as an E-7 after 21 years.

Answer 3

Perdium is for food. Since he has the option to eat free, I would say he is ok. Not only that, but he is making tax free combat pay, family seperation pay, regular pay, bah, etc. Depending on his rank, he is on the low end making 4000$ a month, at least that is what I made as a Lcpl over there. Not only that, but free schooling, free medical, free dental, free legal advice, etc. Sure, military basic pay is low, but with all the bonuses that military gets, we are better off than most of our civilian counterparts.

Answer 4

According to the US Army, the average soldier's total pay and benefits is about $95,000 per year.

You have to consider the free education soldiers get in training and college funding. Plus, when they get out, they can get up to $65,000 for college after their enlistments. They get free healthcare and free housing.

So, an 18 year old fresh out of high school can spend 4 years in the Army and get more than $60,000 in cash pay over those four years, and have few expenses. Then, they can get out of the Army and have $65,000 for college. That is a total of $125,000 in four years, which is $31,250/year, without considering the cost of healthcare.

My health insurance is not as comprehensive as the Army's and costs $451/month. That is $5,412/year. And my health insurance gets more expensive if I add a spouse or children. The soldier never has to pay. A typical college student will pay about $6,000/year for a dorm room and meals. And that is only 9 months per year. So, the value of housing is about $8,000 per year.

So, our 18 year old enlistee can expect to earn an average of $44,662 per year for four years. And that doesn't even include the value of the retirement package if the soldier stays for 20 years. That 18 year could retire at 38 and collect a pension for the rest of his or her life. If average lifespan is now 75, that is 37 years of pension. So, 20 years of work results in 37 years of pension.

Now, complain to me about the poor pay of soldiers.

Answer 5

that's hard to believe. no hazard pay? by the way, do you pay rent? electricity? health insurance? property taxes? did you have to buy your house in the first place?

i am not trying to be smart ***, but that is where the difference in military and civilian pay is made up. my dad was in the navy for 25 years, retired master chief, and made about $55k/year. not a lot in the private sector, but in the upper income in the enlisted navy.

Answer 6

Because soldiers are mindless barbarians that love to rape, torture, and murder innocent Iraqis (or whatever group of people that the Republicans want killed at the time.) No one respects them and they are an embarrassment to our country! Europe is ashamed of our troop's behavior!

Answer 7

What's his (and yours, too, if you're employed) gross income and how many children do you have? Are you sure you're below the official poverty line?

Servicemen and women get paid just like everyone else - it's based on supply and demand (i.e., they're paid only enough to ensure that there continues to be a reliable supply of new recruits). Companies work that way and so do the services.

These are the current poverty guidelines for determining financial eligibility for certain federal programs:

2006 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Persons in Family Unit Poverty Guideline
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1....................................................... $9,800
2....................................................... 13,200
3....................................................... 16,600
4....................................................... 20,000
5....................................................... 23,400
6....................................................... 26,800
7....................................................... 30,200
8....................................................... 33,600
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For family units with more than 8 persons, add $3,400 for each
additional person.

Answer 8

It's the same with day care. Some jobs are not valued.

Answer 9

the dude above me kicks ***.

they censored that.
the dude above me really opened my eyes with the answer he provided.

thank you.

Answer 10

we got married...he is missing to be a soldier...and but...we made a sibilian life better