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?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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?