How many feel that our pay or lack thereof is a problem?

SFC Stephen King — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 10:08:09 -0500

Response by SGT Richard H. made Nov 20 at 2015 10:11 AM

SGT Richard H. — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 10:11:27 -0500

I'll say this: The most broke I've ever been was right after I got out and had to start paying for my own housing, food, electric, etc. Suddenly the fact that I had been making a couple of dollars less per hour than the average civilian of my age didn't seem so bad.

Response by SSG Todd Halverson made Nov 20 at 2015 10:18 AM

SSG Todd Halverson — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 10:18:06 -0500

Yes, the Military has always had a pay discrepancy compared to their civilian counterparts. It would be great if the Military would get compensated at a comparable rate as the civilian. But when you take into consideration the added benefits, the Military's overall compensation is as good or better than that of the civilian world. Those of us in the civilian world do not get benefits from day one at most jobs. There is no 30 days of vacation, we usually only have our vacation time expressed in hours. Unless of course you are in a management position. We have to pay for our health insurance and other items, which correlates into the overall cash compensation.
So, the Military is paid less cash, but has better benefits that help offset the difference.

Response by SPC David S. made Nov 20 at 2015 10:19 AM

SPC David S. — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 10:19:03 -0500

You can't cash a "thanks" at the bank - however as we have one of the largest all volunteer forces I think that is a good indication that the current pay is not a problem - otherwise individuals would elect civilian careers. As well I would bet most service members didn't sign up with hopes of making millions - it was something larger than themselves.

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Nov 20 at 2015 10:23 AM

SSG Audwin Scott — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 10:23:25 -0500

The way I see it, the military doesn't plan to make you rich, but Job security is a lot more guaranteed then in the Civilian sector. The fact that the military alone pays for your medical and dental is a great benefit. Hell I went to the dentist to get a root canal and they wanted 900 bucks and I was like what does the insurance cover? Very expensive in the civilian sector is what I have to say.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2015 10:26 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 10:26:23 -0500

It is really about financial management skill than "pay".

I see some of my shipmates living super nice right after 20 years of service. So, I really think the military pay pretty alright.

Catch that word "alright" only?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2015 10:26 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 10:26:46 -0500

Just as others have said, what we lack in pay we more than make up for with benefits. The problem is that young soldiers don't realize the weight of those benefits until they get out so they spend their time complaining until they get out and realize how good we have it.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Nov 20 at 2015 10:28 AM

SFC Stephen King — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 10:28:31 -0500

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/have-you-compared-military-vs-civilian-pay

Have you compared military vs civilian pay? | RallyPoint

Why do lawmaker compare our pay rates to those on the covilian sector? We do more then them, deployments, hours and more!

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2015 10:50 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 10:50:22 -0500

When one takes into account the allowances AND the fact that the allowances are non taxable, one will most likely find that the total compensation is pretty even.

I will say that in my last working day (almost 11 years ago) I would have gladly traded my paycheck for what a person in the military with my rank and time in service was making.

And, I was paid fairly well.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2015 10:50 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 10:50:49 -0500

It is a problem when you consider retaining top talent and valuable technical MOS' that transfer easily to the civilian job market.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 20 at 2015 1:39 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 13:39:17 -0500

Two debates for pay: Enlisted vs Officer and Military vs Civilian.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Nov 20 at 2015 3:26 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 15:26:45 -0500

I certainly feel that the deliberate minimizing of pay increases is having a detrimental impact on both active duty military members and retirees SFC Stephen King.
The chart you are displaying doe not reflect the true impact on the lower pay grade because it is an aggregate chart or federal employees.
The administration has gone to lengths to keep the pay raises low unfortunately.

Response by SPC Ryan D. made Nov 20 at 2015 3:32 PM

SPC Ryan D. — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 15:32:14 -0500

For any single soldier, of any rank, that is required to live out of barracks, I would argue that in no way is pay adequate. Unless you're a shift worker, they issue you a meal card, and put you in a shared room without a full kitchen, that is less than 600sqft. If you're married, or of a higher rank and are not required to be in barracks, then yes the benefits equal out. The military intentionally uses the single, lower ranking soldiers as cost savers under the guise of "discipline and control". Those not in barracks get BAH (often times more than enough to cover housing so extra is left over for whatever they want) along with BAS so they can go buy what THEY want to eat and cook it in the kitchen INSIDE their house. They don't have to walk 100 yards outside to the shared kitchens just to cook a meal, or be forced to eat the flavorless crap found in the chow hall.

When I ETS'd, I got a job with comparably equal responsibility but half the hours (and no deployments). I make twice as much as I did in the military, own my own 2300 sqft home, and I'm considerably happier. I have company insurance, company backed 401k with 50% match, stock purchase plan with an incredible discount, and a ton of other perks. The military pay and benefits I had don't even come close.

Response by PO3 Michael James made Nov 20 at 2015 3:49 PM

PO3 Michael James — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 15:49:11 -0500

YOUR LIVES ARE ON THE LINE... I feel that in comparison to other civilian pay scales, Especially Congress..... our Military is WAY UNDERPAID !!!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2015 1:39 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 13:39:59 -0500

The military pay's significantly more than most civilian counterparts, the obvious exception is Senior NCO ranks, but when you factor in the early retirement benefits, financially 20 years in the military is a great deal.

Response by Cpl Shane Cunningham made Nov 22 at 2015 2:45 PM

Cpl Shane Cunningham — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 14:45:16 -0500

The fact that government employees can't even keep up with inflation is a problem

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2015 6:37 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 06:37:55 -0500

The pay is not a problem. The appeal of the post 9/11 GI Bill is more of a problem. They have made that benefit so good that when you combine the pay with the amount of bullshit we deal with, the post 9/11 GI Bill pushes folks out to what they believe to be greener grass. 3 years later, they realize that it eventually runs out and are slapped with reality.