How much do we really make? What are our other extra perks?

2014-04-26T23:25:53-04:00

Beside what you see on your LES and besides the obvious medical benefits. (I had a visit last year in the Cardiac ICU for 3 days that floated around $80,000 alone. (For this survey, exclude medical)
I know it's hard to put a number on it, but have you considered all the other perks? Here's a short list. Please add what you can think of.
1. Military discounts at stores/restaurants. Footlocker gives 20%. That's huge!
2. Tax free at the PX
3. No baggage fees on airlines (huge)
4. Frequent upgrade to 1st class free of charge (huge)
5. R&R (easily 3 grand)
6. Free tickets to professional sporting events.
7. Military resorts (Shades of Green)

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2014 4:55 AM

2014-04-27T04:55:10-04:00

Maybe it's just me, but I don't always find discounts at stores/restaurants unless it's the ones right outside post. For example, when I was stationed at Hood, I lived in Temple. The IHOP in Killen offered 10% but the one in Temple gave nothing. Footlocker is the exception to the rule, I do love their 20%! As for the PX, don't get me started, they are overpriced to begin with so the tax free doesn't help. You can't price match most big ticket items as the PX models are specific to the PX and therefore you can't find that same model off post. We tried to match a washer from sears, everything as the same but the last 2 digits. After some exhaustive research with the manufacturer, it turns out the digits represent models ONLY sold to the PX! Therefore, "price match" is impossible and false advertising!
Please share which airline gives free 1st class upgrade, I've asked and been turned down.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Apr 27 at 2014 8:58 AM

2014-04-27T08:58:14-04:00

National & State Parks are usually free to active duty/reserve or come with a military discounted admission fee. Museums also offer the same perks too.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Apr 28 at 2014 7:36 AM

2014-04-28T07:36:17-04:00

Don't forget the various tax breaks. Only Pay is taxed, allowances are tax free (and pay is tax free in combat zones).

Response by MAJ Steve Sheridan made Apr 28 at 2014 1:27 PM

2014-04-28T13:27:04-04:00

If you stay in long enough for a retirement that is a huge amount each month/year in benefits.

Response by SFC Stephen Carden made Apr 28 at 2014 2:02 PM

2014-04-28T14:02:09-04:00

So, to follow your list....
1. You got me here. It is always nice to get a little off of your meal or other purchase.
2. Have you shopped at the PX lately? Even tax free, I can get most stuff cheaper off base.
3. You got me here too.
4. I have never once received a free upgrade, even when I have outright asked for it.
5. R&R. Never got it.
6. Never received a free ticket to a sporting event.
7. SOG never seems to have any open rooms. I guess you have to make reservations, like, a year out? Who knows a year out if they can take a vacation or not?

In summary, while there are some benefits to military service apart from the pay and such, not many people in the military ever see most of them. I will say that the educational benefits have been first rate. I will have an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree, and a masters by the time I retire and I haven't paid a dime for them. My daughter will go to college for free on my GI Bill. So that is definitely worth a lot to me.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2014 3:28 PM

2014-04-28T15:28:55-04:00

The amount will actually vary depending on your circumstances and situation. Married Soldiers/Soldiers with dependents get more benefits annually (BAH, Separate Rations) than unmarried Soldiers or those w/o dependents.

Single Soldiers have the opportunity to have more fun (Thanks to the BOSS program, and can usually score free tix to many events IF they take advantage of them).

All Soldiers can get great educational benefits - even after the service if they retire or are combat injured.

AAFES/PX benefits are usually not the greatest or don't compare to other shopping (online usually) options, and selection is not the best either, but the Commissary is definitely cheaper than the local Wally-World. Additionally, most online shopping is tax free if the store you're buying from doesn't have a brick & mortar presence in the state you're shipping to.

Should you ever need them, Medical benefits are great for Soldiers and their families, but Family Dental SUCKS.

Life insurance of $400K is a little low on a Soldier, and barely useful on family members ($100,000 for the loss of your spouse is a joke. Get extra insurance!). I have an extra $800K on my life just so that my wife won't have to work for at least 5-6 years if something bad happened. Once you retire, SGLI becomes VGLI, and I have yet to decide if I want to consider it as I've heard mixed reviews.

Getting upgraded to first class is more and more difficult with airlines overbooking and filling their planes to capacity on almost every flight. Additionally, flight attendants are less likely to give upgrades now that the OIF and OEF are pretty much over and 9/11 is so far back in history that many of them weren't even flying at the time.

I've found it's actually easier to not tell them your a Soldier and to just use frequent flyer miles.

What I have found is that I can use the first class airport lounges at Delta and U.S. Air and score free drinks (in some cases) there by showing my military ID - they're still quite willing to do that.

With terrorism still a very real threat, and since I don't like to advertise I'm a Soldier to the general public, I never travel in uniform unless I'm required to.

I do ask at most places if they have a military discount, and take advantage of that if they do.

Overall, discounts, benefits, and value vary, but I'd say most Soldiers can get up to $5K/year if they're single, and up to about $10K-$20K if they're married/have dependents.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2014 6:16 AM

2014-07-14T06:16:22-04:00

Had a repairmen come out yesterday because the air conditioner in my home stopped working. Turned out he was former Army. After fixing the problem, I pulled out my check book and asked him how much - he said, "don't worry about". So, I gave him a coin.
I've found things like this to happen often - where military takes care of each other. Beyond all the normal pay perks/college tuition/etc., my favorite perk is being part of a community of really solid people.

Response by SPC Christopher Smith made Jul 14 at 2014 6:27 AM

2014-07-14T06:27:21-04:00

I say 5 to 10, although it is impossible to compare store and event discounts. My grandmother was a journalist and for years my family got free food, and tickets to events and shows. Now with sites like Groupon and Amazon, 20% is a joke in savings.
That leaves the px, r&r, free baggage during flight, free (not guaranteed) seat upgrades, and military resort (never heard of one, never would go).
None of what I'd left is a great addition to one's life. Just my opinion.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2014 7:25 AM

2014-07-14T07:25:41-04:00

If you add in housing allowance, I think it comes out to about $15,000 annually. Most of the flying (free bags and extra discounts) I do is TDY and that is covered as well but the ARMY get that discount not me and it is not often that I go TDY.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2014 1:34 PM

2014-07-14T13:34:10-04:00

We do get a lot of perks for being the 1% that volunteered.