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Military pay stinks

B

BaliBabyDoc

Lifer
Military pay
The minimum pay increase, 4.1 percent this year, is set by law at one-half percent above the average private sector increase. (Prior to 1990, military pay increases were capped at one-half percent below private sector increases.) In 2003, the average military pay increase was 4.7 percent. Pay increases for the military in 2001 were the highest in 20 years, averaging 6.9 percent.  

I guess DOD is recession proof.
 
The pay does suck relative to what non-military people make, but civilians also have more out of pocket expenses; these expensive are picked up for our service men & women by the government 🙂
 
Gee guys . . . read the article . . .
well, at least its a good system thats based on performance.
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Well actually it isn't with regards to everyone getting annual raises regardless of performance.

Like civilians, military members do get pay raises. Unlike much of the civilian world, though, military pay raises aren't tied directly to merit. "We give medals for that," said Catherine Ferguson, a spokeswoman for Defense Finance and Accounting Service. Promotions, which bring higher pay, are tied to merit, of course. Simple raises are tied to rank and years of service.
 
I used to be a helicopter/jet engine mechanic while I was in the Marines (on the same bird that crashed in Kuwait mind ya) and earned at most $12,000 a year in the 80's. Now a civilian doing the same job I did would have been paid $30,000 or more a year. Thats even after 4 years of service as an E-4.

I did live in the barraks and once I started crewing (flying) and was authorized flight pay, I had to pay for my meals (had to fly weird hours sometimes) at the chow hall.
 
Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
Military pay
The minimum pay increase, 4.1 percent this year, is set by law at one-half percent above the average private sector increase. (Prior to 1990, military pay increases were capped at one-half percent below private sector increases.) In 2003, the average military pay increase was 4.7 percent. Pay increases for the military in 2001 were the highest in 20 years, averaging 6.9 percent.

I guess DOD is recession proof.
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That chart is skewed. There is no such thing as Sergeant 1st Class with less than 2 years. Or, Master Sergeant or 1st Sergeant with 8 years, more like 15+ year. In fact that chart is AFU.

Also there are number of compensations (other than base pay, must be allowance) that are tax free, things like BAS, COLA, Uniform Allowance, etc.
And, there are other PAY like Combat Pay, Flight Deck Pay, Sea/Submarine Pay, Hazarous Pay, Family Sep Pay, etc.
There are additional benefits, free medical, partial dental, no sales tax on base. If live in base, no utility bill.

There are many other compensations other than BASE PAY, btw, at time of war, all compensations including base pay are tax-free.

Also, there are many MOS/Rate that has 20k - 30k re-enlistment bonus and Officers in certain MOS/Designations has continuation bonuses.




 
Enlisted pay does stink, but when you factor in the enlistment bonuses available, a free college degree, BAH, BAS, the various flight/combat/airborne pays, etc it is liveable.

even officer pay is not that good. roughly 35-50k/year as a 2nd LT depending on where you live. Senior Fighter Pilots are where its at with the fringe benefits. Your own F16 to fly wherever you want to go.
 
Funny, I had to pay for my unis out of my base pay and COLA is the Cost of Living Allowance raises we got every year (if congress was nice enough to grant it to us.) The only uniforms I was issued free was my flight gear, though if I lost the stuff I woudl have had to pay for it. Worn out stuff was replaced free.
 
The uniform thing is a little ridiculous. They tell you to bring $1700 for inital uniforms and supplies to OTS and I think the first year clothing allowance is only like $700. Hair cuts are also like $7 each!

 
I got a haircut maybe once a month even tho Marines have the strictest regs concerning hair lenght, funny thing is I keep it shorter in front now than I did then.

The only thing I miss about the Marines is the flying.

Me At Work
 
Originally posted by: WhiteKnight77
Funny, I had to pay for my unis out of my base pay and COLA is the Cost of Living Allowance raises we got every year (if congress was nice enough to grant it to us.) The only uniforms I was issued free was my flight gear, though if I lost the stuff I woudl have had to pay for it. Worn out stuff was replaced free.
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sometimes worn out stuff was replaced. I was told once to go to supply and get a new gortex jacket because the one i was wearing was a little too faded. Well the crusty NCOIC of supply told me that i had to go to clothing sales to buy it ($125.00) because it was normal wear and tear and that is what the yearly clothing allowance is for :| .

I refused to shell out that much cash on E-5 pay so I waited about a month and took a knife to the back of it made a small hole in my "faded gortex jacket" and then stuck my finger in it and made a nice and very "out of uniform" rip in it. I asked my Lt for a letter for authorization for a uniform replacement due to damage from offical duties... I took my nice letter from my Lt and a visited the crusty NCOIC and told him it got ripped in an exercise, he grumbled and i had a pretty good idea he knew what i did. but i got a brand new moth ball smelling gortex jacket. 1 month before i got out too.... 😀
 
Flight gear is issued by the squadron and not from supply. All flight gear except your flight suit and gloves are kept in the flight equipment room and that includes your helmet and survival gear including radio, vest, and beacons. Life rafts were kept on the birds. Gunners belts were kept in your helmet bag and could be replaced when worn. Being that we never flew over 10,000 ft there is no need for O2 systems in a helo.
 
I don't really complain about my pay. I make a living.

Of course, if I were a civilian....I would be making many livings. Ya see, I get paid the exact same amount (monthly) as any other guy my rank and my time in service. He could be slinging hash in the chow hall, he could be fixing zillion dollar airplanes, he could be guarding a gate. I am a network engineer. I have a 7000+ node network, ATM + Gig backbone over many square miles. Throw in some wireless, some military only goodies, a couple of different NOCs (Network Operations Centers) and you got my daily headaches. Add in the long haul stuff, some satty shots, some microwave...then add on the many months a year I spend in some hellhole. Next prison inmate complaining about their cable being out will get a swift boot to the head...steel toe and shank! 🙂 More CCIEs are born in my career field than any other in the AF. Yet, I get paid the same amount as....

Then comes the bonus. That is where it becomes a little more fair. But than, again...still about half what a civilian makes per year (equal duties). I get a nice 4 page report from the military pay system every year telling me what I ACTUALLY make (including medical bennies, tax incentives, etc.) I think I made $49K last year. Not too shabby. Last year was a good year, spent time in a combat zone (no taxes), got a stout little bonus....this year, I am being relocated to overseas and into a government dorm...I am 28 years old, can I live in a dorm!?!

Since I stoppped flying (2001), I have to buy my uniforms. How worn can they get sitting in a NOC?

There are people that barely get by. Most of them just need some money management skills. You all know how it is. First job, guaranteed paycheck = new car, phat pad/crib/whatever an insect infested apartment is called these days, and some dope threads. 🙂





 
Can't complain from where I'm sitting at O-3 over 8. It's the very junior enlisted that have the pay problems as well as the slightly more senior ones with 5 kids, who apparently didn't invest in condoms. My career field doesn't have Officer bonuses, but being overseas helps with the COLA monthly payment (which is why I want to stay overseas!). More senior enlisted still don't make a great deal until they reach the upper ranks, which are often exceptionally difficult to reach (E-8/9). I haven't the foggiest notion of how to fix it and still maintain the officer/enlisted separation.

Enlisted bonuses can be awesome in the right job, and so can the Officer ones. Pilots receive something in the neighborhood of $25,000 per year for 6 years -- can't recall exactly, but it's considerable. Enlistment bonus for a Korean linguist (rare!) is $50,000! The military has been scolded lately, however, for the amount paid out for bonuses in recent years. I wouldn't be surprised to see those lowered or eliminated in certain cases in the near future.
 
4.1 percent this year, is set by law at one-half percent above the average private sector increase.
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Be greatful that the increase is above the private sector increases. The private sector is pretty flat at the moment, so the military folks are actually making more than 1/2% more in their increase. Also, the private sector does *not* always adjust salaries on a yearly basis. Again, it's based on performance and for most folks, it gets extended out to 14, 16 or even 18 months.

Being former military myself, I guess I'm on both sides of the fence with regards to pay. The housing allowances are pretty generous when they put you in an expensive area. Then again, lots of expenses are covered. Food is cheap (both in the commisary & chow hall.) Then again, you have to look at the pay from the perspective that you work for Uncle Sam 24 hours per day and are at his mercy during this period of time. There were many times when I was restricted to base for 2+ weeks at a time and the duty days were long - sometimes in excess of 15 hours. At those times, I felt a little underpaid.
 
And how many 18 year olds in the private sector work on helicoptors? You would be lucky to have a civilian agency let you sniff the seats.
 
The pay only stinks for the enlisted that sign up for the short duty.

Stick around a few extra years and make yourself useful, then it pays really well.

Go in as an officer then it pays extremely well for what some of them are worth.

Stick around for twenty and then you'll have the flexibility to live however you want.
 
Also there are number of compensations (other than base pay, must be allowance) that are tax free, things like BAS, COLA, Uniform Allowance, etc.
And, there are other PAY like Combat Pay, Flight Deck Pay, Sea/Submarine Pay, Hazarous Pay, Family Sep Pay, etc.
There are additional benefits, free medical, partial dental, no sales tax on base. If live in base, no utility bill.
Click to expand...
Yep, lots of good little bennies. I always looked at it from the perspective of "it's not what you have, but what you make of what you have". Case in point: Received about $600 mo. for BAQ as an E-7, yet lived in an apartment in which the rent and total utilities totaled $500. Additionally, the apartment was shared with another E-7, so I got about $250 mo. from him. Never consumed the amount allocated for BAS. Literally banked $600 per month in COLA while in Germany for an extended period of time. Incentive pay during various deployments was always a welcome addition. Wheeled and dealed all the time in everything from used cars to computers.

It's the very junior enlisted that have the pay problems as well as the slightly more senior ones with 5 kids, who apparently didn't invest in condoms.
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LOL. As a leader, I always had the worst headaches with lower enlisted and their respective outlook on financial management. No matter the amount of counseling and mentoring, there were always three or four in every group who were delinquent on their obligations.

I remember bringing home around $250 mo. as an E-1 after taxes, etc. in 1980. Adjusted to living a conservative lifestyle, with some exceptions for material dreams, that stuck with me for 20 years. Don't mean to boast, but I reap the benefits now! Life is good.
 
Originally posted by: WhiteKnight77
I got a haircut maybe once a month even tho Marines have the strictest regs concerning hair lenght, funny thing is I keep it shorter in front now than I did then.

The only thing I miss about the Marines is the flying.

Me At Work
Click to expand...

Wow, when I was in the CORPS haircuts cost us .25 ! :Q
 
The pay's not the best, but the benefits are pretty good, many states have an organization similar to Texas Vet's Commission

Plus the current Federal benefits.

And the big plus of being able to met strangers in a foreign land & kill them😀
 
Originally posted by: Tiles2Tech
There were many times when I was restricted to base for 2+ weeks at a time and the duty days were long - sometimes in excess of 15 hours. At those times, I felt a little underpaid.
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Tho I pulled my share of duty on the weekends, (really stunk, but when you work for Uncle Sam you have no choice really) and pulled my share of late nights too. Even though we had a night crew there would be a couple of times a month that even after my 5 hours of flying, I had to pull the heavy maintenance and work til 8 or later at night. I really liked night flights tho, go in late, start the flights around dusk and fly til 10 including doing GCAs over Disneyland into Los Alomitos AAF. Killer sights of the fireworks as you flew over them.
 
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