Do you get paid too much in the military?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 19:46:42 -0500

There are the constant hubris over pay and benefits but is the course we are on will cripple the military once again. Back in the 70s and 80s military pay was shameful and hampered by a Congress that really does not like us. Some support the military and this comes from both parties. I got the help I needed so I get the need to help the common man and the poor.

I chafe at the notion that a strong military is not important and that our country is special in some ways. What is your take?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 7:50 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 19:50:46 -0500

I think the current military salaries are about right. I was there, SSgt Private RallyPoint Member, in the 70s and 80s. It wasn't that bad then ... We made it through.

Response by Cpl Brett Wagner made Dec 27 at 2014 7:52 PM

Cpl Brett Wagner — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 19:52:56 -0500

SSgt Larry L Ol I remember this and those pieces of fecal matter on the hill, as usual, gave themselves a huge pay raise. I voted that I am under paid now since I have taken $15,000 in pay cuts since 2010.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 8:05 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 20:05:58 -0500

I remember in the base weather station an informal and formal channel to vent because we worked rotating shifts and thus when we had commander's call some would lose sleep. You do not want to do that because of how sensitive the job is. Loved my time in Germany but our government was paying us better and more than that, there was a sense of pride in being in the military. How can that not be good? Can we overlook what it took to be great again.

I believe in our country but I am shakened and saddened by the losses we are incurring.

Response by SSG Keven Lahde made Dec 27 at 2014 8:09 PM

SSG Keven Lahde — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 20:09:33 -0500

Overpaid?????????? I think not. Why do you think people get out of the Military for?? The will get more in the civilian sector. Though its getting a lot better now.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 8:19 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 20:19:12 -0500

I care about the visceral component of serving. The need for family and nation and the recognition to all who serve. Who can be called at a moment's notice and their lives totally changed and their families. One person here called out wives for wanting respect. Many deserve it. Being a woman and keeping it in tact is a service so valuable that it's premium cannot be fully appreciated.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Dec 27 at 2014 8:39 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 20:39:53 -0500

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member, I do not think our current military is overpaid and I would hope that pay cuts do not occur.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Dec 27 at 2014 8:43 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 20:43:52 -0500

Vote of not sure. And here is why. Military wages are really good these days. Cpl Brett Wagner before you bite my head off, hear me out. (that was humor)

Right here in Alabama for example, a E-5 (AF SSgt) with 10 years of service makes more than a Police Officer with comparable time on the street. This is not to say that military pay is all it should be, and it is not to berate the pay of the local Police. But it is to put things in perspective.

How do you put a viable dollar figure on the guys who are fighting overseas? Don't know.

What I can say is that the military IS earning a good wage these days (when you take all the bennies into consideration).

The pay IS good enough nowadays that in many cases, there is loss of income upon separation and entry into civilian job market. Not always, but in many cases. Makes those decisions difficult (I didn't really have that problem when I got out the first time, because we didn't make a lot.

What I AM certain about is that junior enlisted families should not have to take WIC or Food Stamps to make it. And I know that many do. That tells me that the junior grades need some revamping, which of course would indicate that they all do.....which is why I voted Not Sure.

If you do a true analysis of hours worked vs hours paid, the calculation would probably put the salaries lower than they actually are (kind of like the Gov't).

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 8:44 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 20:44:43 -0500

This article must have been written after several years of no raises, because a 10% raise is unheard of today. Now we only see 2-3% annually...

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Dec 27 at 2014 9:32 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 21:32:21 -0500

I was so overpaid it wasn't funny. 3 hots and a cot and the ability to shoot people, dang collecting a paycheck on top of all that seemed criminal. Now Hollywood actors that make a thousand dollar for 30 seconds of camera time and US Government officials who can't make decisions, they are the underpaid folks.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 9:45 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 21:45:58 -0500

I'm sorry but the military is underpaid and congress is overpaid.

Response by SSG Dedrick Benson made Dec 27 at 2014 10:29 PM

SSG Dedrick Benson — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 22:29:20 -0500

I have always felt that the military is underpaid.

Response by SPC(P) Micah Lavigne made Dec 27 at 2014 10:42 PM

SPC(P) Micah Lavigne — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 22:42:51 -0500

If a politician can get paid 100,000 a year and vote his pay up why cant I get a bit of a boost? After all I am entrusted with millions of dollars in equipment and who do you think has to pay for it if it is lost damaged or stolen? I got a Family after all.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Dec 27 at 2014 10:51 PM

CMC Robert Young — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 22:51:17 -0500

I would opt for the idea that it's about right....at least right now counting the benefits & perks of military service. Over the last 10-15 years, we have made up ground lost through less than supportive presidents and congresses, but if we don't work to maintain our standing, we will revert to the way things were which I presume is the target point of the article.

I know that we have some junior members (E1-E4) who struggle, and probably always will at those paygrades. It seems systemic. However, I remember a time when it was common to see the E1-E4 crowd with a spouse and single child living on food stamps, WIC, welfare, etc and staying in fleabag off base housing because there was on base housing for families.

If congress is serious about reducing government spending, let them start with the pay, benefits, perks and retirement plan that's in place for congress.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 11:30 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 23:30:02 -0500

Overpaid??? Really? Overpaid!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

SSG Daniel Deiler, PO1 Private RallyPoint Member, SFC Private RallyPoint Member, SFC Brian Lehnhardt, SSG Kevin McCulley.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2014 3:53 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 03:53:18 -0500

It is definitely overpaid if you are single especially on the Officer side. But being married changes things completely especially in my case - starting from scratch. I had to be frugal with my money and because of that I barely made ends meet. My wife couldn't find a job since my installation was in rural area and many times most bases are. Constantly I struggled living check by check paying bills. I am not a person to waste endless amount of money on accessories this includes my wife. A child is out of the picture it would only worsen my financial status. I try bettering myself continuing my studies to hopefully earn more money for my family's sake and even then its an issue paying for books although I have the Pell grant it can only take you so far (If you are going to school I suggest you invest time in applying for the pell grant). Again I started off with nothing no furniture, car, or housing. Sure, I could have waited but not always do we have these opportunities. Finally, I have finished paying back those awful bills. I now escaped out the poverty scale I was in for 2 years and things are much more balanced now. But I am grateful to the military because without it my family wouldn't be well off like it is today. I have and always will thank the military for helping us.

Response by SGM Ron Crump made Dec 28 at 2014 3:53 PM

SGM Ron Crump — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 15:53:35 -0500

For the sacrifices we make (loss of family time, missed birthdays/anniversaries, missed first steps/words, school events, etc) there is no compensation large enough, but the pay received is will never be enough until the public demands it and the Congress stops looking out for themselves first.

Response by MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2014 4:00 PM

MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 16:00:54 -0500

If I didn't think it was adequate I wouldn't be in uniform.

Response by Cpl Brett Wagner made Dec 28 at 2014 8:25 PM

Cpl Brett Wagner — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 20:25:43 -0500

CPT Philip Yi - if you are going to vote someone down at least have the nads to comment on why you did it. BTW did you ever ride a horse? Did you ever cross a bridge?

I will assume you think you are getting paid too much like a lot of the people here. Next time I hear about a troop on food stamps I am going to provide that troop with this thread so they can come and ask all of you for that extra cash you are getting paid.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2014 11:31 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 23:31:49 -0500

I'm thinking that, in order to say that military pay is crap, you must have come from an upper-middle class background.
For those of us "trailer-park" kids, joining the military was the best thing, financially, we ever did.
Even Guard...college tuition waivers, FTA, military scholarships, Space-A, AGR, ADOS...

I simply don't understand the complaining regarding military pay-either way. If, suppose, you stepped down in life, financially, why did you enlist? And, more importantly...how do you have the right to complain.
Reconcile this dilemma for me, and I'll send you 1% of my GI Bill :)

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 5:16 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 17:16:10 -0500

Definitely underpaid.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 5:14 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 17:14:17 -0500

Whomever is being overpaid, give me what you think you don't observe. lol

Response by SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS made Jan 2 at 2015 5:06 PM

SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 17:06:48 -0500

I am quite biased and not sure I am objective enough to answer this question logically. As I am retired, I think I am underpaid. That is simply mu opinion. I selected not sure, as we have so many benefits, even as retired service members that they make up for the less pay.

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Jan 5 at 2015 4:56 PM

CMDCM Gene Treants — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 16:56:19 -0500

Okay, fire away because I voted - Not Sure. And the reason is - I am retired and have been for a few years. People on ACDU still drawing WIC are sure underpaid and no one will argue that - it is a FACT. Anyone in the country who works a 40 hour week and is eligible for any assistance is underpaid!

We are an All Volunteer Military - Welcome to the POST Vietnam ERA. Some of you still think, like my uncle that and e-2 gets paid $90.00 a month. Look it up and get a clue. Combat pay is still to little as well as many other hazard pays. If you are putting your life on the line you deserve more than the guy who is working for special services as a golf pro in Hawaii or a Ski Instructor in the Alps.

Pan and allowances need to be adjusted so that people in Combat, Deployed, at Sea, or others in the many hazardous jobs get paid for what they do. Boot Camp is an apprentice position, pay less until graduation, same for follow on schooling, once you are a real Soldier, Sailor, Marine, or Airman, full pay and allowances. Officers all pay and allowances need to be looked at and revamped: low at the O-1 and way to high at the O-10, either it is for service or money. Make it more equitable. Grandfather all present personnel so no one on ACDU loses pay.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2015 8:44 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 20:44:24 -0500

For everthing we are asked to do, I think we all should be paid more, across the board!

Response by SPC Stewart Smith made Jan 29 at 2015 8:45 PM

SPC Stewart Smith — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 20:45:38 -0500

I think E-1 - E-3 are overpaid, while not deployed. E-4 are paid just right, while not deployed. E-5 and up I cannot speak for.

I would also like to add civilian work as an example. For those young ones who have not been on the civilian side, trust me, you do not realize how easy you have it.
For those of you who were on the civilian side, just remember what it was like. No guaranteed pay check, free housing, food, education, health care, family health care, no free gym, and no free clothes.

You may not realize right now, but the military is much easier than you think, except deployment. There is no amount of money they can pay to ever make going to war worth it.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 6 at 2015 1:20 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 13:20:43 -0400

If I were to write an equation to justify pay for the military it will be challenging as we: PCS, Deploy, Train, and sometimes depreciate our Minds and Bodies, to include getting KIA.

Response by SPC Luis Mendez made Sep 7 at 2015 7:34 PM

SPC Luis Mendez — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 19:34:03 -0400

I don't believe is a matter of much or little. Unlike in civilian life (the real life) in the Military you're being paid even you're asleep. You're a soldier/navy/airman/marine, 24/7, on call 24/7 must respond 24/7. If awaken you must get up and get ready for duty. Therefore you're being paid even while asleep, resting, fooling around, eating chow, on leave, etc. all 24/7. On top of that you get FREE food, clothing, medical, dental, living quarters etc. etc.

In civilian seldom anyone gets paid while asleep or 24/7 like the military does. So some civilian like me now may think that yes you're outrageously overpaid. Though when I was in the service I though I deserved it.

Response by SGT Rick Ash made Sep 8 at 2015 2:38 PM

SGT Rick Ash — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 14:38:25 -0400

I enlisted in 1973 to avoid a Draft Number of 13. Got to pick my MOS or I would have been an 11 BB stacker. I posted my L.E.S. in the other thread and I still have every L.E.S. for all six years. $210 Net / $327 Gross the first month but there was a $60 Advance pay so I could fly home for my first anniversary. I always worked at a car lot wherever we were (Except Korea) and I sold the hell out of cars to military personnel. We lived an awesome lifestyle.

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Sep 11 at 2015 10:03 AM

SGT Michael Glenn — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 10:03:25 -0400

I got too much!! Earning half of what the civilian sector was wayyyy too much, after all I didnt do anything...I didnt protect this country, I didnt live in a fart sack in a hole in the ground in the dead of winter like civilians do...nope I didnt go on field problems for 30 days, or deploy for a year at a time like civilians do.... Why did I wait so long to become a civilian????

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2015 3:38 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 15:38:56 -0400

To put ones life on the line daily while deployed several times for over a year each time, I don't think the word "overpaid" quite fits.

Response by 1SG Patrick Sims made Sep 11 at 2015 6:41 PM

1SG Patrick Sims — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 18:41:58 -0400

What's your life with???

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2015 6:53 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 18:53:31 -0400

What the military gets paid is irrelevant, in comparison to what politicians do!

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Sep 7 at 2017 6:32 PM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 18:32:06 -0400

You could tell that the past pos President had it in for the Military. 1/2 of 1% pay raise? You guys got hosed.. in a serious way ! Considering cost of living and all that goes with it.. you notice that after you got your minuscule 1/2 % raise, all the businesses raised prices 25% to keep you broke. They did it to us too. We did get that 100% raise in '71 I think it was.. So my pay went close to a little over $300.. my goal was the educational benefits then. I was s'what content.. I had a roof over my head, 3 squares that were there for me. Of course I had one of the best jobs I thought.. being a Cook.. downside? I had to really work hard to not be nibbling.
I drank gallons of water, forever hitting the head.. latrine, the loo, w.c. .. SSG asked why I drank so much water.. I told him so I didn't get as big as him.. I thought we were without company and I heard a lot of laughter.. the TSG didn't think it was funny.. I got a letter of counsel over it... I talked to the Chief and ask if he could persuade the TSG to rescind it.. "oh just wait 6 mo. It'll go away!" That was a long 6 mo.! Even trying to stay busy.. I saved my pay.. kept just enough out to have some fun, necessities.. had a savings bond coming out of. It.. when I got o'seas
I made Sgt. (AF) I upped the bond to a $50 and a $25.. I didn't even miss it..
I had it arranged those were sent home ..
I didn't need much over there.. I sent $$ home and still bought a nice stereo set up
A console with a reel to reel. Had it for several years.. my youngest brother thought I owed him s'thing and hocked it..
Dad searched around and priced what it would cost.. took $900 out of bro's account and gave it to me.. I had paid about $300 for it.. dad said if I had to replace it it would be close to that . I didn't trust that kid.. I had a safe.. a small one but a good one.. we came home and he was trying to bust it open with a sledge hammer, then his bud tried.. all that time I was taking pics.. he never got it open.. I lugged it back inside and did the combo..
opened it.. ta-da ! All I had was a half box of bullets and a military .38. Taken down. No money there ! And I got another $350 to replace the safe. I got it on sale but would have cost that much not on sale. Plus I had insurance through the safe company. Did I do a police report? Yes, I needed that to get paid by the insurance co... the judge sentenced my brother to a 100 hours helping to clean the river bank .. and river of clutter..
All he had to do was ask and I would have told him.. he did it the hard way .. I was glad when I got to go back in.. I had been going to Community college for Culinary arts/Restaurant Mgt. during that
time.. I worked with a guy I knew and he catered weddings, funerals, anniversaries.. we did some other types of parties.. not bad, get $50 for a couple hours work.. some times 3 hrs.. then he'd add another $10. The only party I worked during a week was on Thursday night and there was no school Fridays. Brother couldn't get how I could go to work at a catered affair a few hours and come home with $50-$60 .. he was going to a school
to work on computers and got assigned to a computer geek, go on a job and he only got $10. S'thing wrong with that pic ! He actually got more but they took $ for his tools and books.. I thought s'times I could have taken the option to go AF Reserve again.. but just going on the weekends and occasionally missing the chance to work a big catered affair because I had Reserve duty. So Iwent while hog back to active AF. I don't regret it, not one bit !...