Posted on Sep 5, 2015
How Much Did You Get Paid When You Joined The Military? My Take Home Pay Was $457 a Month as a (Army) Private in 1990?
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How much did you make when you joined the military? Back then I got paid on FRIDAY AND BROKE ON MONDAY!! (was not making too much-no family but me, myself and I). Times have changed since the days of your era. Who remembers the Green JUMPs Statement?(DA 3681-6) and getting once a month pay out the finance cage. Yes you had to salute the payroll officer. I remember in Basic Training getting American Travels checks and the Senior Drill Sergeant/1SG keeping it in a safe. Getting once a month pay(cold hard cash), this was before surepay, it was known as casual pay before direct deposit kicked in before the internet. I am referring to 1989-1990. Much respect to all the Army Veterans (Private Pay) who got $75 dollars a month in 1949. The Private in 2015 makes about $1430 a month(under 4 months). Use the link below if you served in the DOD since 1949.
http://www.militarypay.com/MilitaryPayCharts.php
http://www.militarypay.com/MilitaryPayCharts.php
Posted in these groups: 
Money
Military Pay
Money Military Pay
Edited 5 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 282
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Cool.... I wish I still had my first LES... Much less, as I was an E1 in 1980.
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Man, that green LES brings back memories. I was just telling my wife the other day that I remember in basic training get paid about $300 and I thought I was king of the world! LOL!
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How about, when did you have the least amount of money on travel. Arrived at LAX in Oct 1985 as a Sgt with 500 yen in my pocket. That was when I learned, never travel on Oct 1. New fiscal year and no budget to request advanced travel or pay. Thank God for my parents loaning me money for gas to drive back to North Carolina.
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2002: 981/ month as an AB. Sharp increase to 1100(ish)/ month after 6 months. But for me, I was an E-3 6 months out of basic, so my pay jump was a little sharper.
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I was Drafted. My first pay in 68 was around $97 or so. However then and now, keep in mind that we/you live in post, slept in Barracks, were/are on call 24/7. In other words we then and you now are paid even while asleep or for 24/7 time periods regardless or activity. You're a soldier 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, on leave all 24/7.
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SFC (Join to see)
I know we didnt make a whole lot back in the early 70's, but I enjoyed those times the best.
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"Joined" as a senior in Nursing school in 1970 as an (?) E-2 or E-3 (would have to dig out my first DD-214 to know for sure). It was a lot of money at the time! :-)
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I remember base pay of $ 573.00 per month in 1984. $233.00 every 2 wks plus meals, room and board, couldn't beat that with a stick.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SCPO Lee Pradia All I can say is sweet, your right, "can't beat that with a stick."
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