Don't Think Enlisted Pay is Comparable to Officer Pay?

2013-11-17T17:51:41-05:00

If you are an enlisted Soldier complaining about how much officers earn, you have choices...get an education and/or apply for a commissioning program (i.e., OCS, West Point, ROTC, etc)<br><br>Also, if you're complaining about an officers pay, are you really serving for the right reasons?  Public service was never meant for someone to get rich from.<br>

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Nov 17 at 2013 6:06 PM

2013-11-17T18:06:55-05:00

I think the pay scale is fine.  I do believe however that there should be a road to commissioning that doesn't include a degree.  I think years of demonstrated performance and leadership should weigh more than completing an arbitrary degree in whatever field.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2013 6:09 PM

2013-11-17T18:09:22-05:00

MSG Quick,

Coming from an enlisted background before I became an officer, I couldn't agree with you more. When I was putting together my Green to Gold Packet, nobody had as much interest in my career except for me. There were times when I was going through the application process that I was presented with nearly impossible deadlines on documents needed for my packet. But I didn't quit at the first sign of resistance. Looking back, I view, that as the first test of being an officer. Officers are supposed to think on their own without nobody telling them unsolicited advice. So, to all those that aspire to become an officer, I say to you: You have to be your best advocate!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2013 2:52 PM

2013-11-20T14:52:40-05:00

I know I joined for the right reasons, but the aurora of 'being in the Army' wore off a long time ago. Feeling proud to be serving the public wore off right along with it, especially when a politician tells me that he's proud of me, then turns his back and double dips into someone elses salary a little more for his own profit. I have a family to support, and I can't feed them off of warm fuzzy feelings of public service.
Yeah, I do with what I have, I teach my children to be appreciative for what they have. However, how does having a Masters degree in BASKET WEAVING make you a better or more qualified leader? It just means that you got a degree to get a degree. The Army pushes you so hard to get a degree, and I'm not sure why. Joe Snuffy is pursuing a Business degree right now, on the Army's dime. How does that help the Army as a whole? In the long run? If the degree is relevant, then yes, absolutely. But the system is flawed. The whole promotion system. It should be based on merit, not on how good you look on paper. This is the military, not some scholastic job fair. Resumes should be less important in our environment, if you catch my drift.

Response by GySgt Moses Lozano made Jan 4 at 2014 3:33 PM

2014-01-04T15:33:55-05:00

I don't believe these two different kinds of pay should be ever be the same. However, I do believe that the existing disparity between mid to senior enlisted and junior officers should be re-evaluated. Why should a boot lieutenant who does not have a clue at first get paid way more than an experienced SNCO? Just the fact that they have a college degree is not reason enough. I agree with what MSGT P said about how military service in general should not be all about the pay. Nonetheless, there are plenty of enlisted who have or eventually acquire college degrees and are not paid any extra.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2014 1:23 PM

2014-03-10T13:23:17-04:00

The pay isn't the only reason this job is done, but some can view it as disheartening to have Soldiers on the payroll that can't support a family on the economy of some locations. True some Soldiers get carried away with things their wants versus needs but as a PSG I had Soldiers that were supporting more then just their wife and kids, as they were supporting their parents now due to illness. I've had Soldiers that lost their job on the civilian market that came in and had to take a dramatic pay cut, and start looking for government resources like WIC and food stamps. It's sad to know that PVT's to PFC qualify for programs like that when they work within the system that says "we'll take care of you". There is a reason toys for tots is established in a military community around Christmas.

I'm not asking for a pay hike for Enlisted members, as I've expressed to a few elements of our elected officals; perhaps a cut in income tax would be suitable. As this would perhaps provide a break for Soldiers and the government.

There are reasons also that other MOSs in different professions dont run to the officer side of the house.

For the Senior NONCOMs I think targeted raises should happen, as a MAJ with eight years and SGM with 20 are making the same thing. How can we really argue this point?

Response by SFC Christopher Perry made May 9 at 2014 4:51 PM

2014-05-09T16:51:44-04:00

I am way too old to transition at this point. I've never really considered transitioning anyway. I feel I am right where I belong. If it was about the money, I would have stayed in the civilian world.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made May 9 at 2014 5:34 PM

2014-05-09T17:34:31-04:00

Job compensation (pay), whether in the public or private sector, is based upon several factors. Pay level can be defined as "the relative position or an organization's pay incentives in comparison with those of other organizations in the same industry employing similar kinds of workers". Meanwhile, organizations arrange jobs into categories reflecting their relative importance to the organization and its goals, level of skill required, and other characteristics. Using these two definitions, let's look at the characteristic differences between officers and enlisted including but not limited to: education, responsibility, authority. Officers are required to have higher degrees, enlisted are not. Officers have command responsibilities, most enlisted do not but for some seniors NCOs in command positions such as NCOA Commandants. Officers have authorities granted by UCMJ, law and regulation that enlisted do not. These differences are reflected in the respective pay scales. My main argument is that military compensation follows the same protocols that are used in the private sector. If a person wants more pay then generally they need to seek out more education, more responsibility, and more authority.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2014 9:55 PM

2014-08-01T21:55:07-04:00

SGM, I went OCS as a result (being a former SSG), but pay was only a partial motivator. It really comes down to what you are saying "the right reasons". I wanted a challenge, see a different road, and utilize my NCO experience to help assist my NCOs and Soldiers. I actually seen people who dropped their "O" status to go warrant and one who became an NCO because they wanted the "hands on".

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2014 12:22 PM

2014-08-04T12:22:11-04:00

I spent 12 years in college and $100k in student loans - if you want people with advanced degrees, it's going to cost because you have to compete with the private sector.

Response by SCPO Frank Carson made Dec 27 at 2016 3:22 PM

2016-12-27T15:22:05-05:00

Right on bro! If you are talking money then you are in it for the wrong reasons. All the talk about 15 dollars an hour for hamburger flippers and then say look at me I am making 16K in a combat zone. At least use real numbers, and besides hamburger flippers aren't getting has duty pay. It makes us look like we are entitled, and makes it hard for the recruiters. There are only two reasons to join up Adventure, and Necessity. I joined for the adventure! 71 countries later, I wasn't disappointed.