Why do we pay our military so little?

Question

They are the best and brightest our country has to offer. Our military is the most educated and talented on the planet. Often times, they forgo lucrative jobs in the private sector just so they can defend our freedom and way of life for little pay.

Don't we owe them a decent standard of living? How about getting rid of welfare for starters, and then ending foreign aid? The surplus could be used to boost our soldiers pay to at least on par with what university professors like Ward Churchill and Al Gore make. And we would be getting a HELL of a lot more value out of our money for it.

Funny how our soldiers, who defend our country, make peanuts. While university professors, who attack our nation, earn big bucks.

>>>takes a lot to be a university professor<<<

No it doesn't. All you have to do to become one is spout Marx and bash America. They are collectively the dumbest people on the planet.

>>>I agree they should get alot more. Yes I'm a Dem<<<

LOL, theres 2 totally contradictory statements. Democrats are the ones who CUT the military bidges the most.

Answer 1

I was in the Army for 10 years..from '91 to '01. When I joined I was taking home $520 a month after taxes and it wasn't until I got promoted to Staff Sergeant in late '95 that I started to make "decent" money. Many would still say I was impoverished, but I was in Germany at the time and SSGs still had to live in the barracks. So with no rent or utilities to pay I had my whole check to myself. Military pay is sporadic..it fluctuates up and down like the stock market based on where you are stationed, if you are married or single, kids or no kids, airborne qualified or not, flight pay, crew member pay, the list goes on and on. The problem with that is once you become accustomed to receiving X number of dollars a month when it is stripped away and you are left with just your basepay it can be difficult. I learned right away never to commit more than the minimum pay I could receive to any bills in the event I was reassigned and my pay dropped as much as $1950 a month. It happens. When I was stationed in Hawaii I received basepay for an E6 with 8 years in of approx $1900 taxable at the time, $520 cost of living allowance non-taxable, $238 meal allowance non-taxable, $150 jump pay non-taxable, and $1050 housing allowance non taxable. I received reassigned orders and where I went SSGs lived in the barracks again, instead of being off post. There went all of my benies except for my basepay. it was also a leg unti so no jump pay. Hmm, I rambled and didn't really answer the question very good. Oh yeah, retirement sucks. The Army was the only branch to offer a 15 year retirement and they got rid of it..that's why I got out at 10 years. If you stay in for 20 years you get 50% of your basepay..big deal. You also get PX/Commasary access, and fair mecial and dental, but I don't think it's worth it because a high number of retiries die shortly after leaving the military because they aren't used to the sudden stress free environment. Oh yeah, and I see "Humanist" wrote something most incoherant about "military only being called upon once in their life for active duty"? What the $@#% is he talking about? I guess to him the only military are reservist and guardsmen? They have been pulling there weight this decade I'll give them that, but I wasn't very impressed with the ones activated with us to assist in Mogadishu, Kilgali, and Sarajevo in '93,'94, and '95. Wow..I hit three hot spots for a total of 2 years..there goes that "once in a lifetime" theory.
Robin W's husband makes only $250 a month? Sorry, I have to raise the BS flag on that one. Here is a current military payscale and even the very lowest rank with less than 4 months in service makes $1178 a month. And married people earn family seperation while they are aprt for more than 30 days, and since he is in a combat zone he also earns combat pay, and hazardous duty pay. And since it's a combat zone all pay is federally tax exempt.

Answer 2

Well for starters, I agree, that we do not pay our soldiers enough, and if we paid them enough, more of them would more than likely stay in the military.this way we would maintain a well trained force.

But, a vast majority of Americans does not know anything about our military. Most ericans think that when America has to move its troops, the marines are the first to go. That is incorrect. The only reason we still have the marines, is that they were our first maritime force and now, there is no need to have a marine force. However, they are the only ones who guard our embassy's and the navy need someone to scrub them deck, but on the other hand, the are good soldiers.

All soldiers retired or retiring, should receive two flags, U.S. flag and a flag from the state of which he/she is from, with letters of appreciation from their governors

Answer 3

It is a case of redundancy. The Military are called upon maybe once in a lifetime to see active duty, other times they just train and are made ready for battle. In the lieftime of a soldier they are often well trained in another skill as you quite rightly put it. After leaving the service they are in a better position than most to take up skilled labor in civvy street.

Answer 4

-How about getting rid of welfare for starters, and then ending foreign aid?-

That is one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. Yes let's make it to where those who cannot work die off because we want to pay our soldiers more. And foreign aid, well we ARE supposed to be a great country. And how much better can you be than to help out those in need. Everyone overlooks the fact that if not for a certain other country *cough* France *cough* giving us foreign aid we would not be here.

Answer 5

They are paid so little because they are not looked at as heroes by our government. They signed an agreement when they joined the military so now they have to take what is handed out to them and when you try to defend them or ask why they are not benefited more than they are, the administration says, "Well they knew what they were getting into when they put their signature on the paper to join." They didn't really though because they expected our leaders to use good, common and fair sense, which they have not.

Answer 6

How much would you like to pay them? Give me a number please. How much exactly is enough? On par with a university prof is not a very good standard. Ending welfare is not a bad idea. Ending foriegn aid is also a note worthy idea. However no matter what number you pick, it will never be enough. No amount of money will ever be compensation for putting your life on the line. So I challenge you....what number would be on par with what we ask them to do? Stew on it for a while. You will find there is not one. They do what they do because they believe in the USA. And thats how it should be. To do it for money would cheapen what they do. But it was a good thought

Answer 7

I agree they should be paid more money. Maybe if we could get rid of some of the “special interest” expenses, decrease pay in other areas of the government, stop some of the “perks” certain officials are privy to and get someone in Washington to at least slow down (if not stop) the frivolous spending we could shift the funds to the military.

Answer 8

My husbands in the military, it's really hard for me I had to take time away from work[photographer] because I don't make enough to get child care, my husband gets only 250 a month, so my sons and I are hurting alot. I agree they should get alot more. Yes I'm a Dem...... Wow how suprised I am that you judged me on that. It's really insulting to be that way after I agree with you. My husbands over in this war you people wanted. What a no good bastard you are.

Answer 9

Please don't say cut the welfare. Most of our soldiers and families qualify for welfare. And many of them have to get it to survive. The military is a very inefficient institution. They could use a lot of auditing to get them into shape. The money is probably there to make salary and benefits better for them.

Answer 10

foreign aid is a bargaining chip and while i respect them, they are not the brightest people I have seen. I think they already get a nice retirement fund already. Salary is low compared to college graduates and maybe should go up to 35k or something but it takes a lot to be a university professor...spending your own money and then earning 70 to 100k, depending.