BW326 Loc: Boynton Beach, Florida

Military Pay

This is an Airman's response to Cindy Williams' editorial piece in the Washington Post about MILITARY PAY, it should be printed in all newspapers across America .

Ms. Cindy William wrote a piece for the Washington Times denouncing the pay raise(s) coming service members' way this year citing that she stated a 1.3% wage increase was more than they deserve.

A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her article below. He ought to get a bonus for this.

"Ms Williams:

I just had the pleasure of reading your column, "Our GI's earn enough" and I am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where this vaunted overpayment is going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between DFAS (The Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and my bank account. Checking my latest earnings statement I see that I make $1,117.80 before taxes per month. After taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through the calculator, I come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes, and $10,490.40 after.

I work in the Air Force Network Control Center where I am part of the team responsible for a 5,000 host computer network. I am involved with infrastructure segments, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment. A quick check under jobs for "Network Technicians" in the Washington , D.C. area reveals a position in my career field, requiring three years experience in my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year. No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum............ I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions.

Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you NEVER had the pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces.

Before you take it upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership for attempting to get the families in the military's lowest pay brackets off of WIC and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying soldiers headed for AFGHANISTAN ; I leave the choice of service branch up to you. Whatever choice you make though, opt for the SIX month rotation: it will guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and friends, thus giving you full "deployment experience."

As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure to note the spouses and children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also take care to note that several families are still unsure of how they'll be able to make ends meet while the primary breadwinner is gone. Obviously they've been squandering the "vast" piles of cash the government has been giving them.

Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are perennial favorites.. And when you're actually over there, sitting in a foxhole, shivering against the cold desert night, and the flight sergeant tells you that there aren't enough people on shift to relieve you for chow, remember this: trade whatever MRE's (meal-ready-to-eat) you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to everything. This gives some flavor.

Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it won't be nearly long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be thankful for it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with most of the points you present in your open piece.

But, tomorrow from KABUL , I will defend to the death your right to say it.

You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First Amendment right and every other right you cherish...On a daily basis, my brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like you can thumb your collective noses at us, all on a salary that is nothing short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most people cringe. We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private sector because we can't offer the stability and pay of civilian companies.

And you, Ms.. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we deserve?

Gidgette Loc: Boerne,Texas

Boy that is a "vast" amount. When I was in, I only made $72.00 a month, then when I made A2C I made $114.00. The military is one of the most under paid services there is and that includes housing and medical. How many making $70-80,000 or more will fight for their country at that military price and maybe give their lives also?

kevindunne

Ms. Williams need to hear a few rounds go by her head, listen to a 19yr old scream for his mother or zip a body bag closed before she would be qualified to comment on military pay.

Dsquared Loc: Lubec, Maine

The original editorial was written by C. Williams (not the actress, but a former Clinton staffer) in January of 2000. This has been roaming around the Internet for some time. Let's be careful of our facts, as I used to tell my students!

Lest anyone think I am NOT in favor of increasing military pay, let it be know that I am father and father-in-law of two army sergeants (my son and his wife!) and those kids work pretty cheaply to defend everything we hold near and dear!

All the best to my fellow shutterbugs.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Well said, BTW when I was in the Navy, we figured we made 0.25 an hour , of course we did get paid while we slept if we got any sleep, Bob.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Holy crap...was this woman serious???

They are paid too much??

it boggles the mind how insane people are...

Profss35 Loc: Superior, WI

I looked up the Washington Times article by Cindy Williams on the search engine I use ixquick and found out that the article was not the famous Cindy Williams but another Cindy Williams. Also the Washington Post was the news paper the article was in. Snopes poped up with the information noted but declared it incorrectly attributed (to Actress Cindy Williams) and noted other areas of question. Sounds like this article has been around for many years. Check out the newspaper and Cindy Williams and/or Snopes for what they found, too much to add here.
By the way, I entered the Air Force in 1954 at a monthly Salary of $82 a month, $11 more than most due to 2 1/2 years in the National Guard.

ngc1514 Loc: Atlanta, Ga., Lancaster, Oh. and Stuart, Fl.

It should also be kept in mind that the military pay scale is public knowledge and known before signing on the dotted line. The author of the letter freely chose a career path knowing the pay scale and knowing there were no guarantees for pay raises other than for time of service and rank.

oldmalky Loc: West Midlands,England.

I find it hard to believe that anyone can say our armed forces
(American/English)are paid to much, I would have liked to have met this person when my son was risking his life in NI up against people who didnt wear uniforms or when in Iraq or the other places he put his life on the line just to defend the freedom of idiots like this.He couldnt choose who to defend but he did what he did with a smile.

ggttc Loc: TN

I agree...this article is internet hype and been around for a while...

But the young mans response was articulate and painfully true.

littlejon Loc: northern minnesota

I spent 5 years in the navy.Got married the last year before i got out.Had my first child before enlistment was up.PAY GRADE E-5.Made so little we could have applied for for food stamps.Was forced to eat only mac and cheese at home.Wife ate alot better though.Was stationed overseas at the time,road a bicycle to work and back.Ate breakfast and lunch on the ship,took extra duty for cash from other enlisted single guys who wanted to hit the town.Delivered and set up washers and dryers in my spare time.So i do feel the enlisted men out there.A single guy can survive but a married guy had better think twice.To this day i still cant eat mac and cheese out of the box.haha

4ellen4 Loc: GTA--Ontario

Any one that thinks that the wonderful men and women that are in the Services are over paid is a fool.
I know have a Navy Seal in active duty and even though he has an officer rank--not paid that much and certainly is not over paid for what he does.
Lets send her to anyone of the current situations and see if she changes her story.
Saw this when it first came out and was angry then and am when I see it not and this broad[only word befitting] needs to remember the HONOUR that these men and women deserve
Ellen

Emmett Loc: Onalaska, Texas

:thumbup:

tschmath Loc: Los Angeles

I have a question for current military.

According to military.com, an 18-yr old kid fresh out of high school stationed in Mobile, Alabama makes $17,892 per year as an E1. In addition, he/ she receives $9244 in housing allowance, for a total of $27,732. Within two years, as an E7 he or she makes $32,138 plus $13,392 for a total of $45,530.

My question is this: Is it unusual to rise to an E7 within two years? While it isn't going to make someone rich, $45,530 a year ain't chump change. What rank will a typical recruit be after two years?

A military lifer who rises to an E9 (Master Sargent) can make as much as $87,732 plus $16,956 for a total of $104,688 after 38 years. Assuming a person does his or her 20 and out, that still comes in at $63,216 plus $16,956 for a total of $80,170. When you factor in free medical and the military pension plan, the salary ain't too bad.

That being said, I've always felt our military deserved higher pay. Or, they deserve higher pay when they are deployed to a war zone. Working at an Air Force base in the U.S. or Germany is a whole lot different than standing guard at a post in Fallujah. These soldiers should be compensated for the dangers they face as well as the time they are separated from their families. I salute the sacrifice that these people make.

Other than that, though, staying in the military is a choice. No one goes into the service to get rich, and no one goes in without knowing the salary. It's a great way for a kid to get some career training and on-the-job experience.

buckwheat Loc: Clarkdale, AZ and Belen NM

I have seen the pay charts, and in some ways they are fantasy. If anyone can rise from E-1 to E-7 in two years, I suspect he can also walk on water. There is a requirement for time in grade and appropriate skill level for promotion. (anyway in the Air Force). My sister-in-law is one of the few female Command Sargent Majors in the army (E-9) with over 30 years of service. I don't begrudge her the pay she gets, as her responsibilities are "vastly" greater than that pay level as a civilian.
I joined the Air Force at age 19, at $80.00 a month.