I've Solved the Deficit

[DaShi]

Yeah, I want a bunch of trained killers running around with enough cash to by guns and lawyers.

[giblets]

gribbler, think that through a while longer

Well, I guess lowering food prices might cause food producers in other countries to produce smaller quantities, so their revenue would decrease by a greater percentage than the decrease in price.

[Hauldren Collider]

A brand new E-1 makes $17,364 pre-tax in annual salary. Of course there are other benefits that add to the total compensation package but let's not act like the military is paying big bucks, especially for the importance and risk associated with the work.

The average serviceperson is probably an E-4 (specialist, corporal, petty officer). An E-4 with 3 years of experience makes $25,128/year.

But you have no expenses. No car loan, no house loan/apartment rent, no food, no healthcare. All of that is provided by the military.

[Al B. Sure!]

But you have no expenses. No car loan, no house loan/apartment rent, no food, no healthcare. All of that is provided by the military.

Yeah if you're single with no kids. What about if you have a family?

And no, even if you live on-base, you still pay for food at the mess hall (you may get a food allowance though). I don't know why you think you wouldn't have a car, though, or have it paid for.

[Hauldren Collider]

1. Your wife can get a job I guess? I don't know, I figure people aren't at E-1 for that long. Most people who are enlisted aren't married and are only in for a few terms IIRC.

2. Doesn't the army usually transport its soldiers? In helicopters and humvees and strykers, no less, frankly that sounds awesome.

[Al B. Sure!]

Only on Apolyton would people honestly think we pay people who serve in the military too much.

[giblets]

Who cares about federal workers. We are talking about paying people who are willing to give their lives for this country. Every dollar a serviceperson earns is well-deserved.

Out of all the Americans that have gone to Afghanistan, what percentage of them have died? It's a pretty small percentage. Sure, there's a risk but I don't think enlisting takes very many years off of someone's life expectancy.

[Al B. Sure!]

Here we go:

Ms. Williams:

I just had the pleasure of reading your column of 12 Jan 00, "Our GI's Earn Enough," and I am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where this vaunted overpayment is going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between DFAS (The Defense Finance and Accounting Servie) and my bank account. Checking my latest leave and earnings statement (LES), I see that I make $1,117.80, before taxes.

After taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through Windows' Calculator, I come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes and $10,490.40 after. I work in the Air Force Network Control Center (AFNCC), where I am part of the team responsible for the administration of a 25,000 host computer network. I am involved with infrastructure management, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment.

A quick check of http://www.monster.com under jobs for Network Technicians in the Washington D.C. area reveals a position in my career field, requiring three years' experience with my job.

Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year, nor does it pay less than this. No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum. I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions.

Also, you tout increases to Basic Allowance for Housing and Basic Allowance for Sustenance (housing and food) allowances, respectively as being a further boon to an already-overcompensated force. Again, I'm curious as to where this money has gone, as BAH and BAS were both slashed 15% in the Hill AFB area effective in January 00.

Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you have never had the pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces. Before you take it upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership for attempting get the families in the military's lowest pay brackets off AFDC, WIC, and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying soldiers headed for Saudi.... I leave the choice of service branch up to you. Whatever choice you make though, opt for the six month rotation: It will guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and friends, thus giving you the full "deployment experience." As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure to note the spouses and children who are saying goodbye to their loved ones. Also take care to note that several families note that several families are still unsure of how they'll be able to make ends meet while the primary breadwinner is gone- obviously they've been squandering the vast piles of cash the DOD has been giving them.

Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are perennial favorites. And when you're actually over there, sitting in a DFP (Defensive Fire Position, the modern-day foxhole), shivering against the cold desert night, and the flight sergeant tells you that there aren't enough people on shift to relieve you for chow, remember this: trade whatever MRE you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to everything.

Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it won't nearly be long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be thankful for it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with most of the points you present in your op-ed piece. But, tomorrow from Voltaire, I will defend to the death your right to say it. You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First Amendment rights and every other right you cherish. On a daily basis, my brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like you can thumb your collective nose at us, all on a salary that is nothing short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most people cringe. We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private sector because we can't offer the stability and pay of civilian companies. And you, Ms. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we deserve?

[Al B. Sure!]

1. Your wife can get a job I guess? I don't know, I figure people aren't at E-1 for that long. Most people who are enlisted aren't married and are only in for a few terms IIRC.

2. Doesn't the army usually transport its soldiers? In helicopters and humvees and strykers, no less, frankly that sounds awesome.

Holy **** at #2. What the **** are you talking about? Is that a reference to servicepeople not needing cars? Oh my god, HC. What the ****?

[Al B. Sure!]

Out of all the Americans that have gone to Afghanistan, what percentage of them have died? It's a pretty small percentage. Sure, there's a risk but I don't think enlisting takes very many years off of someone's life expectancy.

With the nature of modern warfare, anyone can be touched and nowhere is safe. Also, if you were to take out Navy and Air Force personnel and just look at Army and Marine Corps, the casualty rate is higher. Death is also not the only thing that can happen to you obviously and in fact with modern medical technology, you're more likely to survive things that would have killed you in the past but that doesn't mean that it's all dandy to have a prosthetic limb or have PTSD. Go tell some PFC in Afghanistan that statistically he's extremely likely to make it out alive; it won't give him any comfort when rounds are coming downrange.

Only on Apolyton.

[DaShi]

Veterans also get retirement bonuses, their own hospitals and cemeteries. They even get a holiday with free meals at participating restaurants. They get another holiday, if they are dead and yet another if they fought in WWII. Plus a load of other benefits.

[Al B. Sure!]

Only on Apolyton.

[giblets]

What I know is there have probably been hundreds of thousands of American troops in Afghanistan and ~1300 of them have died. That's a fraction of a percent. The number of wounded is much larger but still a very small minority.

I think it's also worth pointing out that the value of the war effort's results is dubious. I think that's relevant because I wouldn't feel any sort of reverence for someone who undertook a risky behavior that doesn't leave the world off, such as smoking.

[Al B. Sure!]

What I know is there have probably been hundreds of thousands of American troops in Afghanistan and ~1300 of them have died. I think it's worth pointing out that the value of the war effort's results is dubious. I think that's relevant because I wouldn't feel any sort of reverence for someone who undertook a risky behavior that doesn't leave the world off, such as smoking.

Wow. You just compared veterans to smokers.

[giblets]

No, I compared veterans in worthless, wealth destroying wars like Afghanistan to smokers.