Originally posted by: eskimospy
Originally posted by: palehorse74
Originally posted by: eskimospy
Also, our troops aren't in Iraq for the money... they are in the Army for the money, which just at the moment happens to include Iraq. Anyone who tries to tell you that the average grunt is in the Army to defend America is LYING to you. .
wtf do you know about "grunts"? You were in the Navy ffs.
I do not know a SINGLE enlisted grunt who joined for the money to be made while on AD, even when it's tax-free. They have many reasons for joining, and educational benefits are probably near the top of the list, but I don't know a single one in it for the cash. Joining for money might be one of the dumbest ideas I've ever heard.
Everything you just wrote sounds like a super-pogue's view of life in the military. I suggest you go hang out with some
real grunts and ask them why they joined. If a single one of them says "for the money," I will be VERY surprised.
Go on, get out there and ask... I dare you.
This grunt says you are full of sh*t.
You realize that San Diego is a marine town as well as navy right? And that there are marines on all the amphibs here? I talked to Marines CONSTANTLY. I spent three months straight at sea with "real grunts". Guess what, they joined for money and benefits. (In my original posting I said money and benefits... but later that was changed to money, my bad).
That military pay scale only tells you 1/3rd of the story. The only pay that is mentioned there is the base pay. That tends to be around half of what a soldier who isn't straight out of boot camp makes in a month. So I did a little breakdown of what I would be making right now if I were still in.
Base pay: $2273
BAH: $1379 (tax free... so add 25%) Adjusted for tax rate- $1723
BAS: $279 (tax free) Adjusted for tax rate -$350
Sea pay: $300
Total $4646 per month, or $55,752 per year for someone with 6 years in who has nothing more then a high school diploma. Not bad at all if you ask me.
And honestly palehorse, shame on you for only mentioning your base pay... you know better then that. By omitting some of the largest sources of income for military members you badly misrepresented their pay. That just damages your credibility.
Note: There are many other incentive pays that I chose not to include that could jack it up even further.