Posted on Feb 26, 2014
What are your thoughts on the proposed budget cuts put forward by the SECDEF and CJCS yesterday? How will this impact your Soldiers?
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Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
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It has already lowered the morale of many of my co-workers. Very frustrating that we don't have the power to stop what is happening. Feels very much like a betrayal of our leadership.
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This is not really a response to the question but maybe some food for thought. Why is a congressman's service to the country more important than those serving in the Armed Forces. Think a moment they will get free medical and dental benefits for life for serving one tour, it takes a soldier 20 years to earn that and we still have to pay for it in the end, because it is not free. Why do Congressman and Senators get retirement pay after and don't quote me o this one term (not sure it it is 1 or 2) but it is a short period of time condsidering a member of the Armed Services has to serve 20 yrs or over to get the same benefits and the money service members gets is a HELL OF A LOT LESS then Senators and Congressman. Congress and subsequently the SECDEF and CJCS when looking to cut the budget always look to cut benefits of either thosed who served (Retired or Medically Retired) and those on active duty first because it is the largest chunk of the budget. I say we earned those benefits and they should never be touched by the SECDEF and the CJCS.
To those who have served and are currently serving it is this thankless act that is so quickly forgotten by those who lead this country, yet they are so quick to put our service members in harms way when the need calls.
Impact every little cent that is taken from the serving and served members of the Armed Services is a travesty. Remember those who serve the contracts won for equipping the Services and modernizing the Services do not go to the best solution the majority of the time they are awarded to the lowest bidder because of budget cuts and constraints. What is the price of Freedom and the unallieniable Rights our Four Fathers Started this Great Nation Upon worth, I will tell you "The Blood Sweat and Tears" of those who have served, are serving and will serve in the Armed Forces of America. We don't do it for the money, the glory or the rcognition; we do it for the people and future of this great nation. So why do we contiue to see our benefits cut and diapear? I say Congress and The President need to look from within and cut their own benefits befor they touch ours!
To those who have served and are currently serving it is this thankless act that is so quickly forgotten by those who lead this country, yet they are so quick to put our service members in harms way when the need calls.
Impact every little cent that is taken from the serving and served members of the Armed Services is a travesty. Remember those who serve the contracts won for equipping the Services and modernizing the Services do not go to the best solution the majority of the time they are awarded to the lowest bidder because of budget cuts and constraints. What is the price of Freedom and the unallieniable Rights our Four Fathers Started this Great Nation Upon worth, I will tell you "The Blood Sweat and Tears" of those who have served, are serving and will serve in the Armed Forces of America. We don't do it for the money, the glory or the rcognition; we do it for the people and future of this great nation. So why do we contiue to see our benefits cut and diapear? I say Congress and The President need to look from within and cut their own benefits befor they touch ours!
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Gentlemen MSG (Join to see) and LTC (Join to see) I think you are both spot on. We have gone through this many times in the past. The military/DOD are always a target and they never look at the social welfare programs and those that play the system and get away with it. They "congress" never put themselves and their benefits on the line either.
Why do congressional members receive medical and retirement for life so easy? How do they receive high pay raises when DOD and Federal personnel get 1- 1.3% raises.
You want to impress me and other Americans quickly? Take your paycheck Senator and send it right back to the treasury to help bring down the deficit. Really impress me and sett a wage of $50,000 per year for Senators or Congressmen while they serve. Really impress the nation and the people you work for by working your term at the nation's lowest minimum wage and then talk to us about cuts and raises. JMO
Why do congressional members receive medical and retirement for life so easy? How do they receive high pay raises when DOD and Federal personnel get 1- 1.3% raises.
You want to impress me and other Americans quickly? Take your paycheck Senator and send it right back to the treasury to help bring down the deficit. Really impress me and sett a wage of $50,000 per year for Senators or Congressmen while they serve. Really impress the nation and the people you work for by working your term at the nation's lowest minimum wage and then talk to us about cuts and raises. JMO
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CPT Erik Eriksen
This will probably be a minority opinion, but I don't entirely agree with all of these comments. First, let me state that I absolutely agree that cutting military benefits is abysmal and short-sighted. Abysmal because the soldiers that have earned these benefits have already paid the price (through their service). Short-sighted because the best and the brightest will shy away from service, in many cases, if it is not fiscally viable.
I don't agree with your assessment that the Congress and the President should take cuts. Bear in mind, none of this discussion has any bearing on whether or not they are doing a good job or deserving of our respect.
First, using the same logic that I read up-thread, reducing salaries and benefits on this very limited pool of people will impact little on the overall budget. It will actually have a much smaller impact than cutting military pay and benefits.
Second, when you compare their wages and benefits to what people in equivalent positions earn in the private sector you will find that it isn't even close. The President of the United States gets $450,000 a year for life after leaving office after trying to manage the impossible job of running a country this size with a very diverse 325 million people. A CEO of moderate size companies often get $10 million or more just for getting fired! Also, to get elected to office requires an incredible amount of work and money. These people have to watch everything they say and do every second of the day and understand that they will still be quoted out of context. They have to compromise and put their family and friends and personal needs on the back burner during the election process and, often, after being elected. (I don't feel sorry for them. They chose politics.)
Finally, do you want bargain-basement leaders running our country or would you rather attract the best and the brightest? If you owned a large multi-billion dollar company, would you be trolling for CEOs in the $500,000 range or the $10 million range?
We do need to cut spending. That is a reality. Cutting the salaries and the benefits for those who serve our country, in the military or in the government, is not the best answer. A reduction in size may be necessary. But, I believe, there are other ways.
I don't agree with your assessment that the Congress and the President should take cuts. Bear in mind, none of this discussion has any bearing on whether or not they are doing a good job or deserving of our respect.
First, using the same logic that I read up-thread, reducing salaries and benefits on this very limited pool of people will impact little on the overall budget. It will actually have a much smaller impact than cutting military pay and benefits.
Second, when you compare their wages and benefits to what people in equivalent positions earn in the private sector you will find that it isn't even close. The President of the United States gets $450,000 a year for life after leaving office after trying to manage the impossible job of running a country this size with a very diverse 325 million people. A CEO of moderate size companies often get $10 million or more just for getting fired! Also, to get elected to office requires an incredible amount of work and money. These people have to watch everything they say and do every second of the day and understand that they will still be quoted out of context. They have to compromise and put their family and friends and personal needs on the back burner during the election process and, often, after being elected. (I don't feel sorry for them. They chose politics.)
Finally, do you want bargain-basement leaders running our country or would you rather attract the best and the brightest? If you owned a large multi-billion dollar company, would you be trolling for CEOs in the $500,000 range or the $10 million range?
We do need to cut spending. That is a reality. Cutting the salaries and the benefits for those who serve our country, in the military or in the government, is not the best answer. A reduction in size may be necessary. But, I believe, there are other ways.
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CSM Michael Lynch
CPT Erik Eriksen you have some very valid points that could be considered, but as my representatives told me in the past we all need to sacrifice in these tough times, except they never bring them up as part of us in the sacrifice scheme.
I agree the impact of DOD budget cuts are a drop in the bucket overall compared with the costs that could be reduced elsewhere that are wasted by the government. Just some thoughts
I agree the impact of DOD budget cuts are a drop in the bucket overall compared with the costs that could be reduced elsewhere that are wasted by the government. Just some thoughts
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CPT Erik Eriksen
Good thoughts. Like you, I also feel angry when politicians try to impact on people or processes, but it does not include them. I felt intellectually betrayed when they passed Obamacare with mandatory participation throughout the country...but it didn't require them to participate. While I know the reasons for this were rational, it nevertheless made me angry. The same applies with budget cuts.
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