is the military getting under paid?

Question

im only asking this cause i am struggling to survive, i live pay check to pay check, and in constant worrie that im not going to be able to make it so....whatever u think just comment. thanks a very poor airmen

Answer 1

For the military it's a matter of dollars and cents, which can be calculated from measuring supply and demand.

The public relations efforts of the media control wing of the military determine the perceptions Average Joe have of being an airman over something safer, like garbage collection or environmental science. The more convincing their advertising at recruiting new blood, the higher the supply and therefore the lower each are paid.

In wartime, the military need more so they pay better; in peacetime your either put on reserve with a paycut, or honorably discharged.

I've been frank and honest with you, and I'm not about to stop now. Your asking the wrong person. I know that most people in the military are the last people to want a war. Why would he, he's having a great time doing what he loves, wether it's flying or diving or analysis, in a relatively safe training environment, and getting paid for it.

The fact remains that you are willing to kill other human beings for money, or things that cost money, and all the justifications in the world, like justice, can't change that irrefutable fact.

This is not some vain attempt to convert 1 individual out of the military. The machine behind the monster wouldn't notice the loss any more than a lottery jackpot winner would notice 1 cent missing from his winnings.

This is for you, personally. Do you want to be remembered as a person who was willing to accept payment in exchange for ending the life of another human being? Perhaps more than 1. Would you assist in a plan to eliminate 1 million by doing nothing more than flying over an "enemy" base and taking photos? That is the type of business the military deals in, that is their purpose for existing.

No, I'm not attempting to convert you. That is not the purpose of my sermon. I am attempting to merely answer your question.

Is the military getting under paid?
Yes!!! Because no amount of money, even for all the gold in The New York Reserve Bank, is enough to buy the conscience of one individual to take the life of another.

That is why, from a soldier's very first day in the academy, they are subjected to manipulative subconscious propaganda like the s**t broadcast on the Fox Network, to convince them that murder is SOMETIMES acceptable.

But a guy's gotta do something right, to live? To have a job, get an income and build a family, a home, a legacy, what choice do we have when they pay so well?

Answer 2

I think the pay needs to be reviewed so yes i think military does get underpaid, but in other areas, we are very very lucky. As the wife of a soldier, i am currently pregnant. 100% of my pregnancy is covered medically, i pay nothing for my prenatals, blood work, delivery ect. Medical expenses are extemely expensive. My husband and i do live pay check to pay check though. We make it but thats about it. The post we are at has a 2 year wait for housing, so we live off post and the BAH doesn't cover all the expenses, so we just have to wait out the rest of the 2 years to get on post housing, that will help!! I try to look at the big picture, i wish we had more money, but im grateful for the medical. Also my husbands unit allows him to attend every doctor appointment which is AWESOME because he didn't even get to meet our twin sons til they were 3 months, and then left again back to Iraq until they were 8 months, so im extremely happy currently. Most civilian jobs would not allow time off for every doctor appointment. A little extra pay wouldn't hurt though :-)

Answer 3

Yes and no. I served in the military for 8 years. The point is you are accepting the conditions of your employment. It is a volunteer military. If you want more, then don't reenlist. However, you'll notice the longer your in the more your pay goes up. If your serving for a paycheck, then you are in the wrong place.

It doesn't get much better on the outside unless you have a profession. In the military, many of your benifets are paid. Medical, free, housing, free if you are in base housing or you get a housing allowance if you live off base, food, you either get it free in the dining hall or you get an allowance. In civilian life, you get no such allowances or benifets. All those things you have to pay for out of pocket.

If your struggling now, it might not get better on the outside. You need to evaluate your skills and compare them to a civilian career. Prepare yourself for the income you want to receive in civilian life. That means college or training. Don't just party and buy a new car. I had a friend of mine that was a real penny pincher. He didn't spend his cash and lived in the dormitory. We seperated at the same time. He managed to save around 40 thousand. He did it because he didn't have expenses and he invested. It's harder if you have a family. Then you do have a family and expenses.

Answer 4

yes, i did 20 years and sometimes i wonder how i paid my bills on time, yes we get all these benefits, medical, housing, insurance but we also have to contend with outside cost of living, when i was in Southern California i knew a couple of E-5 that were using welfare to help with family food costs, rent was high and base housing was so far away. if you work in San diego, forget it you will be living check by check, spouse will have to work also and if you have children well daycare and babysitters will eat up some of your pay, yes this is a voluntary service but the military has to realize also that military men and women do have families to support, but no they should not raise E-1 pay because i found most E-1 to E-3 that were single did not know how to budget their money so they were always broke. Will you ever make a lot of money in the military, i dont think so but hopefully they will increase the pay so junior enlisted will have enough money to survive but knowing how to spend your money wisely counts also.

Answer 5

I am not going to say no... The military pay has always been at the mercy of those in Congress. In the last 20 years I can remember only one 5% pay raise and that was in the 1980s. Most of the other pay raises were 2 or 3% at most, and anen they were penalized by rases in FICA, and other taxes. The benefits for the military personnel have shrunk as well. When I first enlisted in 1980, A person could go 30 years and get their full basic pay as a pension. Several years later Congress made it where the most you could receive is 3/4 of your basic pay. They also made where many medical benefits that were covered by the military at retirement are now chargeable, such as many dental, and vision treatments and services. Not to mention that if I serve 20 years in one Branch os service and retire, then get a DOD or other civilian government job and work for 20 years. I can only recieve 3/4ths of the highest pay that I recieved for my total time in Government service. I have to surender my current retirment, and cant even draw a pension while I am working for the Civilian Government job. Im of the opinion that if I work for 20 years on any job I should recieve compensation for each retirment and not be penalized for wishing to continue my service to my country. As for the pay as an Airman... I'm sorry, it gets a little better as you pick up rank, but not much... I'm an E5 and still find paychecks needing to stretch to cover bills. Good luck. The real kick in the teath (In my opinion) is that Congressmen are allowed to recieve their full basic paychecks on retirement... It seems they can take care of themselves but the little people (All Government workers not just military) get shafted... It seems odd where a government body such as Congress can vote for its own pay raises, but we military and government "employees" have very little say in what we get... MAKES YOU THINK DONT IT!!!
Dont get me wrong I do respect those in office, with out them our Nation would have serious problems. But for the fairness of the discussion, When did I get to vote for a congressmans raise in pay, or for that matter one of my own?

Answer 6

Considering benefits, food, and housing in there, you are fine pay wise, though it hurts right now. You are making average at about E-3 and two years in. Its not so bad once you hit E-4. Get a few deployments under your belt, budget yourself, stay away from using credit cards, and work on the promotion. You will see there is more than enough for you. If you are laden with bills that you brought with you before you enlisted, then go to your supervisor or First Shirt, and tell him/her that you are really struggling with a few bills. There are programs for that. Hit up the Airmans Attic for goods and what not..

Good luck to you!

Answer 7

The military has ALWAYS been underpaid. They compensate with the three hots and a cot, but if you are a married junior enlisted person, life is rough. When I joined in 1973, base pay was $307.00 per month. Minus taxes and a $95.00 a month car payment, I couldn't afford to walk anywhere, let alone drive..........

Answer 8

Yes, my husband is in the Army and I see tons of people struggle. Example our housing, water, and electric should be covered but there was no open base housing so we are off base and our water and electric is not covered so that is out of pocket not to mention this is an area that has a high cost of living.

Answer 9

yeah they kinda are if you think about it, they are risking their life to protect the country,
that and the fact that most of the ppl in the state hate them right now.

but then again if they paid a hole lot then they would get more ppl who just wanted the money and didn't really care about their country and they would make bad soldiers, so if your going to join do it because you want to not because you need the money.

Answer 10

My NCOIC told me he remembers making 99.00 a month in the early 70's. I felt I was poor as a Airman basic making 389. a month. Same story different day.