Why is it that more and more everyday, I seem to find more soldiers who seem to be more of a pay grade than an actually soldier?

2014-09-05T17:31:29-04:00

Why is it that more and more everyday, I seem to find more soldiers who seem to be more of a pay grade than an actually soldier.

Example I have a soldier from another section going to the promo board next month, and I jokingly said that being an NCO is a headache (which at times it is, but I love my stripes), and his response was the pay isn't and neither is the BAH.

I was shocked, when I thought about getting promoted the furthest thing on my mind was the "awesome pay jump." But I find that there are NCOs, Officers, and Junior Enlisted who care more about their pay then they do about everything that goes along with the duty and honor of being a soldier.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2014 5:34 PM

2014-09-05T17:34:24-04:00

This is a selfish generation we live in. Seems like the only time we come together is being deployed and feeling the sting of luxury deprivation. Great point, glad you brought it up!

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Sep 5 at 2014 8:34 PM

2014-09-05T20:34:39-04:00

I've seen AC soldiers with families having to apply for welfare and food stamps to make ends meet. So I can see where a soldier could have that view because to them that pay makes a difference. I'm not saying it's 100% right because those stripes come with increased responsibility that the SM has to accept and work hard at. In some cases, Yes that may be the truth that SMs can't see beyond the Benjamins, but, like I said, I've seen the other side too.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2014 6:02 PM

2014-11-09T18:02:35-05:00

Financial gain is a motivator for a lot of people. I have no issues with someone who does something for money as long as they work hard and earn that money.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2014 8:18 PM

2014-12-04T20:18:12-05:00

In the Guard, we don't really see that as much. The jump between pay-grades may pay half the electric bill for the month, if that.
I think, possibly, this focus on money is something that the military has brought on itself.
"Want money for college? Join today!"
"If you go into this MOS, you get a bonus."
"If you re-enlist, you get a bonus".
We've become so focused on the financial benefits, we've lost sight of what "duty" and "honor" means. Which does bring up a kind of disturbing question: If these kids are enlisting solely because of the money, do these military concepts even matter to them?
Good question.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2014 8:22 PM

2014-12-04T20:22:06-05:00

You have E-5s, you have SGTs, and you have NCOs.

E-5s are in it for the pay.
SGTs are in it for the power.
NCOs are in it for the right reasons.

I used E-5/SGT as an example. The same applies to the other grades as well.

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Dec 4 at 2014 9:17 PM

2014-12-04T21:17:06-05:00

From a different perspective, some soldiers are already performing the duties and responsbilities of higher rank. Since they are already doing the work, I can understand why they would want to get paid for it. Hard to justify a SFC who does a poor job in an E7 position getting paid more than an E5 in an E7 slot doing an excellent job. The rank means nothing if you are unable to perform at that grade. I wouldn't have enlisted in the Army if I didn't get paid, so pay does mean something, especially to the lower paygrades. If money was the soldier's only agenda, I doubt being an NCO in the Army would have been his first choice.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Dec 4 at 2014 10:51 PM

2014-12-04T22:51:40-05:00

Soldiers care about the increase in pay and BAH because there are very few NCOs that really care about being an NCO. I still find it funny that young Soldiers come into the Army and complain about the MOS that they picked themselves.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2014 10:55 PM

2014-12-04T22:55:40-05:00

Pay and benefits are a great perk, but a Soldier should care about being a great leader in his/her next position. If pay and benefits is all the SM cares about, then maybe they should seek a career in the private sector. I think we all have aspirations to advance, but we need to ask ourselves if we are putting the right emphasis on advancing to the next level. I've seen many examples of it myself. Sometimes it's not just the Soldier, but the COC wanting the Soldier promoted for the wrong reasons. With the pay raise and benefits comes greater responsibility every Soldier needs to take seriously.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2014 11:28 PM

2014-12-04T23:28:21-05:00

After being a public servant for so long, I place a lot on my ability to learn quick and move up the ladder/payscale. For example every 6 months I would ask for a raise, and usually get it. More money to a SME is gold...I hated the fact we had a fixed income...I wish things like AAM, or Ranger School, or SERE school were worth more money...sort of like a CONUS hazard - duty pay. I loved the fact that I qualified for jump and dive pay...hell if there were other schools thst raised my pay I would of volunteered for them as well. I'm a numbers guy...Military enlisted pay is Sh**, not sure how you feel about it. I'm in it to win it...all or nothing. I should of been a career guy, but I am chiropractor now, and love my job. Don't bash a guy for wanting more pay...is all I'm saying.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2014 12:17 PM

2014-12-08T12:17:43-05:00

It shouldn't ever be only about the pay...... but that doesn't mean that pay shouldn't ever be on the list. It should just be close to the bottom of the list.

If you do this job for free, how are you going to support yourself?

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2014 1:13 PM

2014-12-10T13:13:36-05:00

I am a PV2 that joined late, 32 years old now, you would be surprise how high was my "pay jump" from what I was doing to what I do as a private. Even though I can admit that economic stability was a big part in my decision of joining, being part of a team that serve the country was a bigger part. I'm comfortable enough with the money that I making now to actually take care of my career without thinking about the money that I need for X or Y payment.
Because of my age, I feel better talking with NCO's, all of my age are, at least, E-6. That gives me the advantage of learning from people with experience, that knows how to get there and can teach me how to avoid the mistakes they have done.

Response by PV2 Abbott Shaull made Jan 2 at 2015 1:27 PM

2015-01-02T13:27:16-05:00

It is problem, but like so many Civilians can't seem to wrap their head around simple facts. If employers are unwilling to hire people to employ them work are working full time, and making above the poverty level for their size of family so they don't have rely on welfare and/or food stamps. Be able to afford to shelter, feed, and cloth their family and have reliable transportation. Then people will continue to look for positions that offer more money. For those in the Military, that means getting more Rank. Yes, I agree you shouldn't be joining if you looking for pay. Yet, the Military is force to cut benefits too, and it is a real shame that SM with families need to apply for such benefits to make ends meet.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2015 11:46 AM

2015-03-13T11:46:51-04:00

In the Navy never call a Chief an E-7, them are fighting words

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2015 11:09 AM

2015-03-14T11:09:42-04:00

Military is becoming lesser emphasis on a rank-and-structure operated, but more tech-savvy. With that said, wisdom and experience of more senior personnel is watered-down to being a resource/knowledge that could be pulled from the internet at any time by any junior service member. This phenomenon in effect creates a more bureaucratic, office atmosphere, demanding less regimental, rank and hierarchy structure.

Just look at a typical office setting occupied by military personnel: do they stick hard-core to rank and hierarchy means of conducting business, or do they perform seemingly same mundane office jobs with a tad more responsibility when they pick up rank? You can thank the internet and intranet for that.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Mar 14 at 2015 12:01 PM

2015-03-14T12:01:33-04:00

Let's be fair. In that scenario, you were the one complaining. He just trotted out a silver lining in response. There's nothing wrong with being happy about a pay increase.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2015 12:15 PM

2015-03-14T12:15:10-04:00

My experience goes back more years than most of you. I joined because we were poor. I had been accepted to a college, but there was no money available to make that happen. I had graduated from HS and did not want to be a financial burden to my family who were struggling.

So, a pay raise brought to me a new freedom, a new independence, and a better standard of living.

Rank was just a change in job responsibility and a new level of involvement. I hope I accepted the challenge and made an impact on those whom I had opportunity to lead.

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Mar 14 at 2015 12:16 PM

2015-03-14T12:16:06-04:00

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member, I'm an E4 with less than two years TIS. I have one dependent, my wife. With BAH, BAS, etc, I make more money than my dad did most of the time I was growing up, and he had a wife and four kids to support. So, I feel pretty comfortable on E4 pay.

I do look forward to E5 pay. I also look forward to growing as a person, as a soldier, and as a leader, and taking on new responsibilities.

If I were worried about money, I would have commissioned -- no offense or insinuations of any kind to any officers on here.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2015 10:11 PM

2015-04-22T22:11:58-04:00

Unfortunately, you see that a lot. Especially in certain special skill fields, where promotions can be based on skill qualifications. There's a linguist program called "striped for skills," where people are picked up faster because of their linguistic ability. And more often than not, it produces piss-poor NCOs as a result.

The Army used to have two rank branches for enlisted: NCOs, and Specialists. You could be an E-7, but instead of a Sergeant First Class, you were a Specialist-7. That was back during the Cold War when the Army had the people to split up. It allowed people with the skills and experience to be paid more commensurate with their technical abilities without placing them in leadership positions (even by default because of their rank). I really wish we could go back to that.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 24 at 2015 4:20 PM

2015-04-24T16:20:32-04:00

E-5s should be hungry, take care of the troops, become more technical and tactical proficient to become a better leader.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2015 7:59 PM

2015-08-10T19:59:04-04:00

Soldiers these days don't realize that the rank doesn't benefit the person earning it, it benefits the Soldiers under them! This new generation is all about their entitlements and I feel that if we went back to the old days of promotions and reductions, along with the discipline that comes with it, we would have a much more professional Army.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 6 at 2015 9:39 PM

2015-12-06T21:39:20-05:00

He found a stripper for BAH :)

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2019 4:39 AM

2019-07-08T04:39:01-04:00

Soldiers today aren’t in it for the pride anymore. It’s not about country to them, it’s about themselves.