Military paychecks?

Question

How would you feel if the paychecks of active duty military service members of all branches went up, and maybe the paychecks of majors, colonels, and generals went down?

[ *Would it not be nice IF McCain were president and he successfully raised enlisted paychecks?* ]

A decrese of congressional pay would be great!

Officers may bust their butt as they study, but the enlisted are the ones who do the real work, and aren't sitting behind a desk all day pushing pencils.

The only reason I mentioned Officer pay is (and don't get offended)-while they're sitting comfortable on top of their maybe 10,000+ a month, some enlisted are sitting in poverty.

Answer 1

I was enlisted and my husband is enlisted. I think his pay going up would be great, but I don't think officers pay needs to go down. My husband makes more than a Lt. at this point anyway.

The ranks you mentioned to make a bit more than the enlisted, but a General does not make nearly as much as his equal on the outside. I know the VP at the 4star hotel I use to work at made MUCH more than the General at the base we're at. The President of the hotel I'm sure made much more than his VP. And these people were in charge of ONE hotel. The General is in charge of a whole base. I think they have worked hard for their pay and deserve every cent of it.

Also, when deployed, enlisted recieve all their pay tax free, higher ranking officers only receive up to a certain amount tax free. And enlisted receives a clothing allowence for new uniforms, I think officers only recieve partial if any allowence.

The only ones making 10,000 plus a month are the Generals (and possibly the colonels.) I feel they earn it, and they don't get there by only sitting behind a desk. My daughter had a friend who's dad was an Army officer and his job was a Generals aid, he traveled A LOT and was not at a desk very often.

Any enlisted person who's in poverty is there because of their own doing. My husband was married with a child when he came into the miltary and was not in poverty. He said his ex did spend too much though, so things were tough at times, but he was able to pay off her debts once she was gone. And did fine being a single dad on E-3 pay.

Answer 2

During every other shutdown they got paid, Obama has decided not to pay them this time. "The worst part of this whole debate is the Obama Administration’s decision to hold military pay hostage to the budget debate. For the last few decades, government shutdowns have been guided by an OMB directive issued during the Reagan Administration. Under this directive, military personnel would continue to receive the paychecks while politicians argued about the budget. The Clinton Administration, during the last government shutdown, kept the paychecks flowing. But, not Obama. The Obama Administration has overturned the old OMB directive and has decided to suspend military paychecks if there is a government shutdown. No reason to do it…but they have decided to. Reprehensible."

Answer 3

Military pay is determined by Congress, based on the input from the President's budget proposals. In addition, all three "rank structures" in the military are considered separately for pay raises, enlisted, officer and warrant officer.

These last few years there has been good progress on military pay, especially those individuals whose pay has not increased in proportion to responsibility, mainly senior enlisted (E-7-E-9) and Warrant Officers. Warrants, especially, got a NICE targeted pay raise this last year.

Why should paychecks of Majors, Colonels and Generals go down, just out of curiousity? Do you think they're not earning their pay? Is it out of "spite" for those who have reached a rank that you, perhaps, are unable to reach? I'm confused on that.

Anyway, the democratic controlled congress has pushed for a 3.5% payraise across the board for the military...The White House, however, has said that it is unnecessary and has pushed to cap it at 3.0%.

To me, it affirms my mostly democratic voting record for the last 17 years I have been in the military.

Answer 4

i would love to see my husband's paycheck go up!

i think that $10,000+ month officer pay is a bit inflated, but they do make a considerable lot more than enlisted.

i think it would be nice if the gov't could level the pay gap between military and private sector for the same job...not so much level the gap between officers and enlisted.

know what i mean?

Answer 5

That would be great.... I never did underestand why a brand new 2nd LT with 4 years of college made about the same as an E-6 (Staff Sergeant) with 8 years in....

Answer 6

In the 70's I got $408.00 per month,an that's $50.00 hazardous duty pay too.
Bogus B.S.,an couldn't get my pay check until I got a swine flu shot,which made me feel like death warmed over.That was 3 months before anything was said to the public through the media.

Answer 7

Enlisted members get paid okay, their benefits are unlike any other compnay in the country...officers went to school and bust their butts to do their jobs....military members in general should get a raise!

Answer 8

I would love it. And on top of that, decrease congresses pay as well, (since they get to make their own pay raises) and put it toward the enlisted force.

Answer 9

fu*k yea! thats y im voting for him!! we do the work but dont see the reward. the officers sit on there a$$es all day and get paid. while we buts our a$$es and get just enough cash to make it by. with no extra money to spare.

Answer 10

if my husband is making 10,000 a month he is certainly hiding over half of his paycheck then!