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Posted on Dec 13, 2015
Is there a reason why soldiers aren't paid how they deserve to be?
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A pro ball player can get millions but a Soldier who puts his life on the line against ISIS and the Taliban gets paid just enough to make ends meet.
Military Pay
Benefits
Money
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 32
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"Ends meet" is a misnomer. People spend what they make - often times more.
The Army gives each of us many things that the civilian world only dreams about:
Free health care (my premiums are about $14k/year)
Free housing, or subsidized via BAH.
Free food in the mess hall.
Clothing for work (officers excepted).
Education benefits good for a Bachelor's Degree at a Public University if you serve over two years Active Duty.
And then we get our base pay.
Soldiers are paid far more than they were just a decade ago. I remember the days when an E-7 made what an E-4 does now, and it wasn't that long ago.
I spend $3000 a month on things that Soldiers get for free. Apples to apples, Soldiers are pretty well compensated today.
The Army gives each of us many things that the civilian world only dreams about:
Free health care (my premiums are about $14k/year)
Free housing, or subsidized via BAH.
Free food in the mess hall.
Clothing for work (officers excepted).
Education benefits good for a Bachelor's Degree at a Public University if you serve over two years Active Duty.
And then we get our base pay.
Soldiers are paid far more than they were just a decade ago. I remember the days when an E-7 made what an E-4 does now, and it wasn't that long ago.
I spend $3000 a month on things that Soldiers get for free. Apples to apples, Soldiers are pretty well compensated today.
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SGT Jeremiah B.
This pretty much nails it. I think a lot of guys who've been in the military since they left home don't realize just how much of their salary is disposable income or tax free. I make way more now than I did when I served, but I have a lot less to spend on what I want.
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PO2 (Join to see)
This is the grave misconception that America has about the military. The fact is this was true years ago, but now the private sector offers just as many benefits without all the restrictions. A lot of military benefits, most would choose to pay for to get better quality. The military needs to revamp benefits or continue to loose many memebers. Especially critical personal who honestly have better offers and benefits from the private sector. We are simply underpaid in every aspect, for what is required from us mentally, physically, and emotionally.
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SGT Jacob Graves
With the free healthcare you got what you payed for. Well I did anyways. I had to fight the army for 8 years 2 duty stations and a deployment to get my shoulders fixed.I ended up getting medboarded because of that and cutbacks. When the V.A. finnaly repaired my shoulders the Dr. Had to pull my muscles from my elbow due to the daily ripping of muscles. Then we have the medical personel changing diagnosis so units have their deployment numbers.
The on base housing sucks to. Houses were getting broken into every Christmas spouces of deployed soldiers were getting raped and murdered. Then when you leave the housing company makes you pay for new carpet because there's moisture or Atleist was moisture in the carpet. Guess I wasn't supposed to steamclean the carpet that was dirty when I moved in. Off base landlords charged ridiculous amounts for rent just because they knew the wait times on base housing was going to force people into looking off base. With has being around $4.00 then troops had to live close if they wanted to keep from getting screwed at the pumps.
That clothing allowance I got didn't cover new acus and boots. If I deployed that year it barely covered the alterations of the class A's. I never got payed to switch over to the dress blues the new guys got for free. So the clothing allowance was there to help lessen the blow replacing the faded and worn articles had on the wallet.
When I was an E4 I qualified for food stamps. That alone says the troops don't get payed propperly. And it gets worse for some outside the army. We have 40,000 homeless veterans some get financial benefits but it's still not enough to cover bills when their out. Because of my injuries in unemployable and my wife is supposed to take me everywhere I go but we can't afford for her to stay home. She's got to go work so we can afford to live above poverty like other veterans.
People can say we are compensated propperly all they want but I know that's bull shit when soldiers on active duty still have to decide between getting gas in their pov and eating lunch that week.
Back when. E7s were payed As much As our E4a now how much did it cost to live? I know the cost of living has gone up faster than the pay for the troops has.
The on base housing sucks to. Houses were getting broken into every Christmas spouces of deployed soldiers were getting raped and murdered. Then when you leave the housing company makes you pay for new carpet because there's moisture or Atleist was moisture in the carpet. Guess I wasn't supposed to steamclean the carpet that was dirty when I moved in. Off base landlords charged ridiculous amounts for rent just because they knew the wait times on base housing was going to force people into looking off base. With has being around $4.00 then troops had to live close if they wanted to keep from getting screwed at the pumps.
That clothing allowance I got didn't cover new acus and boots. If I deployed that year it barely covered the alterations of the class A's. I never got payed to switch over to the dress blues the new guys got for free. So the clothing allowance was there to help lessen the blow replacing the faded and worn articles had on the wallet.
When I was an E4 I qualified for food stamps. That alone says the troops don't get payed propperly. And it gets worse for some outside the army. We have 40,000 homeless veterans some get financial benefits but it's still not enough to cover bills when their out. Because of my injuries in unemployable and my wife is supposed to take me everywhere I go but we can't afford for her to stay home. She's got to go work so we can afford to live above poverty like other veterans.
People can say we are compensated propperly all they want but I know that's bull shit when soldiers on active duty still have to decide between getting gas in their pov and eating lunch that week.
Back when. E7s were payed As much As our E4a now how much did it cost to live? I know the cost of living has gone up faster than the pay for the troops has.
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There's less of them, and the Law of Supply & Demand in a Capitalistic Society (Free Market) promotes it.
When you have a limited resource (ball players), their value goes up with their demand. Demand is relative high in the entertainment field.
When you have a relatively unlimited resource (conscription age adults), their value is static. Demand is relatively low.
When you have a limited resource (ball players), their value goes up with their demand. Demand is relative high in the entertainment field.
When you have a relatively unlimited resource (conscription age adults), their value is static. Demand is relatively low.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
SSG John Thornton - Limited slots for soldiers too. Just a lot less limited. The parallel remains.
However, it's the Limited QUALITY Ball Players, which drives down QUANTITY. No one cares about Rank B-D ball players.
However, it's the Limited QUALITY Ball Players, which drives down QUANTITY. No one cares about Rank B-D ball players.
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SGT (Join to see)
The way I see it is, the military may have less people in it but the pro-sports team make more money than the government supplies the military to pay its troops. In my mind that's the key thing. Amount of money able to be paid out to the workers in each part
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SGT (Join to see)
What I was trying to say is there is no way for the us to spend more money on the troops without taking away the fancy equipment that some many love and learn to life with. Yes i understand that higher ups get paid very well. But compared to the work they do in the civilian sector they would be under paid.
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SGT(P) Daniel McBride great question, my reasoning is Congress and politics are not on the same sheet of music for the veteran on pay. Oh by the way POTUS is not advocating any good raises. Its a shame, but we do it for our nation and there is no price on defending freedom and liberty in my opinion.
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SGT(P) Daniel McBride
True but in my opinion pay is kept to a basic minimum to maintain tact and discipline. Not saying all soldiers would turn astray but some would lose their minds with that kind of money
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TSgt (Join to see)
Every president advocates for pay raises. The trick is having a Congress willing to work with you to make it happen. But beyond simply waiting on politicians to pay us we have military lobby groups that are fighting day in and day out to ensure we get our fair shake.
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Being in the all-volunteer military isn't about getting paid, it's about service. I can guarantee you that what you get paid now, is no where near what I was getting even 30 years ago. Suck it up, serve with honor or get out and get a skill worthy of getting paid.
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Capt Mark Strobl
MAJ Bryan Zeski - Yes, we are. Sorry. As a reviewed my comments, I became confused as well. I was thinking one thing. But, completely failed to type it out (twice). Just never mind this one. Just an ol' Marine with a keyboard...
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MAJ Bryan Zeski
Capt Mark Strobl - I figured it was just because I hadn't finished my first cup of coffee this morning.
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MAJ Bryan Zeski
Capt Mark Strobl - I figured it was just because I hadn't finished my first cup of coffee this morning.
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1SG (Join to see)
SGT(P) Daniel McBride
I joined as an E-1 right out of high school and took a huge pay cut coming in because I wanted to serve my country. My wife and I have 3 children which we did not pay 1 medical bill for. If you look at all the benefits and add that in to our pay, we all make out pretty good.
I joined as an E-1 right out of high school and took a huge pay cut coming in because I wanted to serve my country. My wife and I have 3 children which we did not pay 1 medical bill for. If you look at all the benefits and add that in to our pay, we all make out pretty good.
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SGT(P) Daniel McBride
What were they being paid before they came into service? Most join the service with a High School Diploma, no skills, no insurance, in need of medical services (dental)...
Everything you need to do your job and live is provided for you unlike in the civilian world where you would have to purchase those items yourself.
The military spends 50 to 60 thousand dollars per soldier just to get them trough AIT. After that meals, housing, clothing, insurance, vacation time, a retirement plan, education benefits are all a part of the package.
What were they being paid before they came into service? Most join the service with a High School Diploma, no skills, no insurance, in need of medical services (dental)...
Everything you need to do your job and live is provided for you unlike in the civilian world where you would have to purchase those items yourself.
The military spends 50 to 60 thousand dollars per soldier just to get them trough AIT. After that meals, housing, clothing, insurance, vacation time, a retirement plan, education benefits are all a part of the package.
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Service members are more than well compensated for time and efforts made while on active duty. I spent 32 years on active duty. Never was I out of pocket or without ample compensation. Housing benefits... every dollar toward my undergraduate degree and now my dependents four year college education. Additional dollars while deployed (3 Years). No other profession pays the benefits that out military does. You can't compare professional sports to anything. They make 10 to a 100 times what doctors make...
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When you actually look at what Soldirs are paid, it isn't bad at all. Civilians don't get the medical care we get. They also don't get the 3 and 4 day weekends, 30 days of paid vacation and free housing.
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Salaries are subject to the same economic principles that drive the prices of everything from labor to bread and butter - supply and demand. How many people can be inspired to lay down their lives for their country? How many people can hit a curve ball with any regularity? How many people can design and build a rocket ship? How many people can perform brain surgery? How many people can sweep the floor? Now think of the relative value of each of these...
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