If US Citizens care and support their troops so much why do we pay them so little?

Question

Their pay is a joke and the healthcare services for veterans is a joke.........so is this how we in the US support our troops? Buying some magnets and a flag while the troops have to struggle to pay bills and get less than the best medical coverage?

Do you guys feel that they are truly compensated for what they risk?

Leogirl will you ever answer my question about the prisoners?

Also leogirl if you could include a link proving what you say that would be helpful........some of your info seems suspect..........

Answer 1

I can't believe how many that are supposedly in say we get enough benefits. No, it's not about money, but it'd be nice not to live from pay day to pay day.

First, let me clear something up. Housing is NOT free. We are given money to offset the cost of rent or a mortgage, but it doesn't pay it. It coveres about half our mortgage and utilities. The only way it's "free" is if you live on post. We all know there's not enough housing to go around. However, many areas are implementing paying utilities on post. They're given money to cover this expense too. We also don't get money that feeds us. The military person and only that person gets BAS, money for food. That's because the military has to provide their meal in a chow hall or otherwise. It doesn't feed a family. It's not intended for that. It's rated on how much it would cost a military person to eat in a chow hall each day for 3 meals. It's something your promised when you join....3 squares a day. Uniform allowance doesn't cover the full cost of replacing all your uniforms. It helps. Uniforms have gotten so expensive it isn't funny. What they give us helps, alot, but it doesn't cover all of them. Especially if you're in a "dirty" job.

Medical while you're in is free, but not always the best care. I can list many things that have gone wrong with my care or other people I know. I'm a diabetic and things I get constantly change. That's not good when you have a condition that needs care. Also, dental is NOT free. We have to pay dental insurance. It is a better rate than in the civilian world though. Deductibles add up though. We get x-rays and cleaning for free twice a year. Everything else, we pay a portion. I just had a crown that cost me $350 and that was my portion. We also don't get eye exams on post. You can get 1 exam free a year off post, but if you need glasses, that comes out of your pocket.

IF we have so many benefits and such good pay, how come the lower ranks (even with extra monies added in) qualify for food stamps?? That's really sad that you have military collecting food stamps or other things like that.

As for when they're deployed.....they deserve to be tax free and even more. TJT is wrong about some of his figures. Also, some of the stuff he listed, they don't take taxes from, but we have to include it on our federal income tax at the end of the year. It's caused us to not qualify for EIC 2 years in a row. So that's no benefit. I don't know where Leogirl gets her ideas from. We don't get FULL retirement. My hubby has 18 years in. When he retires, he'll get 33% of his base pay. That's it. As of right now, he has nothing medical to claim. You have to pay for TriCare insurance when you retire. It's reasonable priced, but also has a deductable. Here, the post hospital is so busy, retirees are referred off post. That means you pay. VA is good care, if you can get in. For the most part, you're not treated well. As far as being packed up and moved, that's a laugh. Sure they pack and move you, but hey, it's the least you can do, you're moving for them basically....even if it is your job. And we've never made a move where something wasn't lost or broken. I mean come on...get real. Oh my, so the bowling alley doesn't cost the same as off post. Big deal!! It's priced by what military can afford. Commissary and BX/PX have benefits. No taxes because it's federal. They don't have the large assortment, usually. They are good shopping opportunities though. Still doesn't qualify as a prominent benefit.

No, I don't want everything given to us. We chose our profession. We love what we do. We knew we'd never be rich. However, it'd be nice not to struggle all the time. Remember, most people money comes easy to, don't have families. That makes a huge difference.

Answer 2

They should get paid more.

TJD - you must be in a high cost area if an e-4 is getting 1400 for BAH. My hubby has been in for 10 and is sgt - he's getting less than 900.

They also need to drop points for promotion.

Supply guys points are pretty high - and even though all the higher ups love him - and know that when they need something - it's there...and when he did a damn good job getting a non deployable unit deployed - and then sent him home cause they knew the IMPAC credit card inspection goes great cause he's there - ya know it's not *him* being the reason for him not getting promoted.

Between military, teachers, fireman, police - they should be the highest paid professions....

The Forbes 400 only had BILLIONAIRES on it. Why can't those 400 people donate a couple of million each towards military pay?


and the "benefits" such as on post daycare - which is more expensive and open less hours. Here - there are 2 places to eat - the bowling alley and the cactus - both more expensive than in
town.

It's not that there aren't good things about the military - job stability is great. Never have to worry about rent/electricity on post...but it could be better.




Desiredo - show me where you get more money for being married or children???? DH did NOT Get a raise for any of our c hildren. He only got dependant rate on BAH.

Answer 3

First let's remember 2 things. Serving is not about the money, it never has been and it never will be. If there was a ton of money in it people wouldn't be trying to get civil service jobs. Second every one serving today and the past 30 years is serving by choice.

That said, yes they deserve more $$$ for their service. But it is vastly better than before Reagan's presidency where he practically doubled the service member's base pay over night. When I was commissioned as a 2LT in 1976 I had my undergrad and graduate degree. My base pay was a massive $660 per month. While working through college I was a stock clerk for Sears in San Diego earning $5.00 hour. Working full time that comes to $800 month pre-tax. As an army officer working much more than 40 hours per week on average (on a 40 hour week) I was earning $4.13 hour. Yes, things were cheaper....gas was 37 cents a gallon.

So, it is never, ever about the money.

God bless everyone of those serving.

Answer 4

Actually being in the USAF guard myself, Leogirl is right. I actually made more per month with all the special pays while I was in Iraq than I do with my civilian job. The military pays for food and housing aka BAH and BAS unless you live on base then food and housing is free. Active duty gets an annual uniform allowance, they do get a reduced price for things on base and no sales tax. Military enlisted get the M GI Bill for education, retirement pay after only 20 years in the military. There is nothing suspect about Leogirl's or my post this is all factual. Plus the only pay that is taxable is the base pay. All other pay, BAH, BAS, Hazardous duty pay, seperation pay, etc., etc. is completely non taxable and in some states there is no state income tax for military. Shall I go on?

Answer 5

I see a few too many people quoting deployment bennies as evidence that our soldiers get paid more than civies. What about the rest of time when they're at home? Sure, the bennies are tax free, as is your base pay--as long as you're deployed. When you're home, still technically being a soldier 24/7/365, you pay taxes out of the salary that is paid by your taxes.

Sure, the housing is free or compensated, sure the medical care is paid for. But I got news for you, I know the military is working on improving its housing, but a LOT of it still poorly maintained dives that belong in the ghetto, and not every post has access to that state-of-the-art medical care. I'm overseas and they just shut down the only army hospital within a 4 hour radius of where I live (that's right, I could go to Landstuhl if I wanted a 3.5-4 hour drive to get to my appt's, and even then I'd need a referral from my clinic here just to see someone at another military facility). We have army clinics with inept staff and get referred to the most cost effective provider on the economy, whether they be the best or not.

Our marine war vets get 2 years free medical care at the VA hospital? WOW, what a deal. If they have a debilitating injury, 2 years isn't ****.

We get paid for the soldier's food if they don't have a meal card to eat free at the DFAC, and there is a small increase in pay for those who are married and for each child. But yes, "tax free" shopping at the B/Px is only a deal if you can afford the stuff they sell. A $4 discount an a pair of $40-50 jeans isn't anything for someone on a budget. My PX doesn't even have perfume that costs less than $30/bottle. Their generic brands? You'd be better off at Goodwill.

If you're organized and can live within your means, it's fine. Could it be better? Definitely. My husband made his E6 this spring, so we're better now. When he was an E3 in Colorado Springs, I had a temp job as a secretary that paid me as much as he earned per month and our $500/month housing allowance afforded us a one bedroom hallway in a low income housing complex off post. He's still a scout, he's still a soldier, same as he was then, he's just put in more time.

The deployment bennies the first time around were great. I furnished my house with them but still don't have a livingroom set. Before that, we looked like college kids living off curb-finds. This time we have a baby coming and more bills to pay accordingly, so having enough to buy that $30k car is going to be quite a trick, even at our pay level.

With my husband's current job experience, however, he's really only suited for police work or another government job. A scout? How would that translate into a civilian job besides law enforcement? His pay, therefore, is probably comperable to a civilian similarity. BUT, contractors that do the same thing he does in Iraq make at least twice as much, even when he's in Iraq. Other MOS's, yes, it depends on where you're stationed and what the MOS is. Some equal or compare, a lot fall short.

Is this how we support our troops? Unfortunately. Are the American people going to wake up and volunteer to contribute more? Hell no. I remember when they raised our (rather low) sales tax from 5.5% to 6%, and people had a FIT. Did you know that here in Germany, VAT is 16%!!! But they get health care and education. Can you imagine if we asked this of our own citizens? People would riot. Good old America. More money for me and if you're poor, it sucks to be you. Survival of the richest.

Answer 6

I agree. I think our troops earn and deserve a hell of a lot more than what they get. They are working away from their families for months or years at a time in horrible conditions to protect our country. I am so sick of hearing people complain that "their Job" doesn't pay for their mortgage. Well, "their job" is usually seated behind a desk for 8 hours a day. What bullets are they dodging? People that complain that the military "mooches off the government" wouldn't have the balls or brains to join in the first place. They are just a waste of space in this country and should be ashamed.

Answer 7

I just wanted to say that I would love more pay, as I'm sure everyone would. We live paycheck to paycheck and on credit cards the last 5 days of each pay period. It's not a good feeling when I have to decide which credit card I'm going to use to buy groceries with. Anyway, thank goodness for good credit or we'd starve. We don't qualify for food stamps like so many others we know do.

To the person who said we get paid for each child. Wrong. You get paid the same whether you have one kid or 15. And, honestly, I could be wrong, but as long as you're married, your spouse is already considered a dependent, and kids won't matter either way.

Also, to the person who was writing all our pay and what is taxed, etc....
We are on shore duty finally...after 7 yrs on a ship, and we lost a lot of our pay. We don't get a lot of what the previous poster listed. Also, you don't get hostile fire and all that stuff just because you're away from home. You have to be away from home for 30 days or more to even receive family sep pay, and you have to deployed in a tax free zone to collect tax free money. Trust me. Just because you're not home, doesn't mean you're collecting tax free money and hostile fire pay, etc.

So, to answer the question......I would love to have a pay raise, and to have medical that was equivalent to the civilian world, yes! Civilians take it for granted that they can call up their local doctor and get in the same day. Sometimes, it takes months to get in for a routine physical. And, base housing?? We were on the list for 3 years, and finally gave up!

Answer 8

What they never tell you is how much of their pay is untaxed, the benefits that they receive, etc. I was in the Army, and have worked around the military my entire life. One thing I can tell you is that if you look in the parking lot right now- you will only see new(er) cars, trucks, and SUVs. Many of the owners are entry level (lower ranking) personnel who have at least one kid and drive a $30,000 car! For example, an E-4 (with only 6 years experience):
base pay: $2018.40/month
housing: $1397.00/month (untaxed)
clothing: $511.20/year (untaxed)
food: $272.26/month (untaxed)
imminent danger/hostile fire pay: $225.00/month (untaxed)
family separation (while deployed): $250/month (untaxed)
while deployed: all pay tax-free
medical: free
dental: free
This doesn't even take into account all the special pay and incentives. Many also receive an enlistment bonus- and money for continuing their education (which they can do during duty hours). Please don't get me wrong, I agree that we do not take care of our military like we should, but don't always believe everything you hear. While in the Army, we used to say that we worked 24-7, and made only 25 cents an hour. The most some military work is 30-40 hrs per week, with time-off given to them to get hair cuts, uniforms pressed, etc. They also receive 30 days paid vacation a year, and unlimited sick days.

Answer 9

well depends on where you are at in life, and where you live medical care would vary.

for example an E-3 makes about a thousand dollars a month, but the thing is he doesnt need to pay for food, housing, medical care, work clothes or stuff like that.

me for example I take home about 3500 a month after taxes, and all that junk, I have got to pay rent, student loans, car payments, food, and there is enough to be put away for savings, i m ok, because i m single and no one to support besides me

i think the biggest thing is the military pay is based on the national avg, so i get screwed cuz i live in a high cost area and the civilian equilivant of what i do is about 20% higher than what I make, but if I was in lets say the midwest or the south I would be pretty well paid.

and sorry, contrary to popular belief an income from a soldier is not suppose to be enough to support an entire family, should it, yes but than again you would have ppl getting married just so they can get paid more, not that they are now so they can live off post or get a larger housing allowance

should i get paid more? yes cuz i when it comes down to it i technically work 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year, and risk getting my butt blown apart

leogirl, you dont get full retirement after 20 years, you get half of what your highest rank/grade is at 20 yrs, and 2.5% for every additional year for another additional 10 years, com'mon wal-mart is cheaper than the PX sometimes, yes the other stuff sometimes is cheaper, moving? com'mon i still havent gotten paid for my last ditty move, and TDY pay, dont get me started on that, dont get me wrong its compensation, but my civilian buddy got better moving compensation and he does the same thing i do

butterflykisses, dont get me wrong 8 yrs is a lot of time but 20 is when the benefits start kicking in, sucks i know, MOS makes a big difference, the more combat it is than the less you are going to make in the civilian world, that is the truth. i know someone who got out after 6 yrs of being a military surveyor making more than 80k a year in the civilian world.

spag, i agree with you there, if i need to get out at 1500 for something i let the "6" know the day before or that morning, unless its like mission critical i can go. and i know E-4s pocketing more money than me cuz they dont have to spend a cent unless they want to

Answer 10

I may get blasted for this but here' s my 2 cents. I have seen the pay scales equalize more to the civilian sector than ever before. There are places where adjustments can take place, but for the young enlisted person coming in, our pay scale is very competitive and even better that the civilian side. We offer much more benefits and we take care of families more than the civilian arena. Yes we can improve but it is nothing like what it was. I can send a military person home when the wife is to sick to take care of the kids and he can still get paid. Not in the civilain world.