Posted on Feb 14, 2019
What are your thoughts on Military members not being paid?
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I understand that this board is mainly made up of veterans. How would you have felt during your active duty time, not receiving your pay check?
With the possibility of another partial government shut down, the Coast Guard is again facing a possibility of not getting paid. In the last shut down active duty Coast Guard members were paid about 8 days late.
Remember as a service member, you are essential personnel. Patrols needed to occur, search and rescue missions did not stop, marine safety exams continued. Coast Guard personnel nation wide were utilizing food banks.
Now those of you who are thinking “that wouldn’t happen with the Marines/Navy/Army/Air Force”, need to realize that it didn’t happen because the DOD already had its budget approved for the year. If it hadn’t DOD would have been in the same position as the Coast Guard. It would have taken an act of Congress for the military to continue being paid.
There were bills in Congress to continue paying the Coast Guard, but with only about 40,000 active duty, the constituency wasn’t large enough for the powers that be to act.
I really wasn’t too worried about senior enlisted and officers. I was and am worried about junior enlisted with families. Another late paycheck can/will have negative effects on both Morale and Readiness.
With the possibility of another partial government shut down, the Coast Guard is again facing a possibility of not getting paid. In the last shut down active duty Coast Guard members were paid about 8 days late.
Remember as a service member, you are essential personnel. Patrols needed to occur, search and rescue missions did not stop, marine safety exams continued. Coast Guard personnel nation wide were utilizing food banks.
Now those of you who are thinking “that wouldn’t happen with the Marines/Navy/Army/Air Force”, need to realize that it didn’t happen because the DOD already had its budget approved for the year. If it hadn’t DOD would have been in the same position as the Coast Guard. It would have taken an act of Congress for the military to continue being paid.
There were bills in Congress to continue paying the Coast Guard, but with only about 40,000 active duty, the constituency wasn’t large enough for the powers that be to act.
I really wasn’t too worried about senior enlisted and officers. I was and am worried about junior enlisted with families. Another late paycheck can/will have negative effects on both Morale and Readiness.
Military Pay
Coast Guard
Government Shutdown
Morale
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 9
CWO3 Dave Alcantara It may be late, but military members will be paid. Folks in the military and civilian world should learn money management skills (living beneath your means) so that they are not living paycheck to paycheck.
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CWO3 Dave Alcantara
I concur with that thought, but how many 18 to 21 year old junior enlisted did you know that were not living paycheck to paycheck? Especially married service members.
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SGM Bill Frazer
Got to remember the USCG is neither fish nor fowl, they are the only branch that works for Homeland Security, unless of war- so your pay comes from outside DOD.
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Honestly, it straight up blows. I know several who were hurting because of that non-sense, but I also know people taking the hit who were still for it. It shouldn't be a thing, but my wife and I know the reality that it is a thing. Which is why we use a bank that provides loans during such events, and we keep an emergency fund as well as a CC with enough room to cover immediate needs. I hate it, but I accept the reality of it.
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CWO3 Dave Alcantara
As a retiree, I have planned for issues like this. But if it were to continue for more than 6 months, I would be adversely effected. My retirement check is about 45% of my monthly income.
I am trying to steer away from politics on this. And luckily so far, I have not been effected, yet.
But I feel for the young E-3, with a wife and child leaving home for a deployment, unsure if his family will be taken care of. Our military personnel are proud folks. I am certain they were embarrassed having to go to food banks and look for donations.
I am trying to steer away from politics on this. And luckily so far, I have not been effected, yet.
But I feel for the young E-3, with a wife and child leaving home for a deployment, unsure if his family will be taken care of. Our military personnel are proud folks. I am certain they were embarrassed having to go to food banks and look for donations.
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When I was an E-5 and reaching the end of my first enlistment (early 80s) the paperwork got messed up some how and I wasn't getting paid. I had a wife and 2 children at home to support. I was stationed near family so I could provide additional support to aging parents so it was especially trying times. When the second paycheck was missed and request to travel to the District for an off cycle pay check was denied the Chief told me not to come to work. He said if they won't pay you then you need to have the time to work somewhere that will until they get it straight.
It was only a week but I was able to work with a house painter that paid me in cash at the end of each day so that was helpful.
I realize that would never happen today and certainly isn't the same situation as a service wide gap in pay.
The junior enlisted folks that make up the bulk of the services are usually the ones to feel the pain of any shortcomings and that isn't right.
It's truly shameful that Congress can't even pass a budget to present to the President or that Continuing Resolutions are the norm over the last few decades.
It was only a week but I was able to work with a house painter that paid me in cash at the end of each day so that was helpful.
I realize that would never happen today and certainly isn't the same situation as a service wide gap in pay.
The junior enlisted folks that make up the bulk of the services are usually the ones to feel the pain of any shortcomings and that isn't right.
It's truly shameful that Congress can't even pass a budget to present to the President or that Continuing Resolutions are the norm over the last few decades.
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