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?

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.

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.

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.

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!

SFC(P) (Join to see), 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.