Army pay?

[Jiddy78]

Is it fair?

Came up in discussion last night....An acquaintance argued that it is peanuts, being of the liberal persuasion it seemed to me as a means to promote a "Army soldiers do it strictly for the love of America"....I would assume that it's more for the pay...but I could be wrong...

Anyone got that info? Compensation? Benefits? Housing? Etc etc?

Opinions?

[hannitykillspuppies]

Is it fair?

Came up in discussion last night....An acquaintance argued that it is peanuts, being of the liberal persuasion it seemed to me as a means to promote a "Army soldiers do it strictly for the love of America"....I would assume that it's more for the pay...but I could be wrong...

Anyone got that info? Compensation? Benefits? Housing? Etc etc?

Opinions?
considering what they're asked to do, i'd say it's peanuts.

[LSU]

considering what they're asked to do, i'd say it's peanuts.



Considering what they're asked to do now, I'd say it's peanuts. Considering what they were asked to do in 2000, for the most part, certainly changes the notion.


Of course, I think most of that is known before the signature is provided.


I think the military should be compensated well. Not overly well, though. But taken care of...

[IBC]

Considering what they're asked to do now, I'd say it's peanuts. Considering what they were asked to do in 2000, for the most part, certainly changes the notion.


Of course, I think most of that is known before the signature is provided.


I think the military should be compensated well. Not overly well, though. But taken care of...
Benefits should be very, very good. And they can be, unless you are coming back to the VA.

[LSU]

Benefits should be very, very good. And they can be, unless you are coming back to the VA.

Very very good relative to what? A doctor? A machine worker? A cab driver? A burger flipper? At all times? Just in times of deployment? For all experience levels?

[Jiddy78]

considering what they're asked to do, i'd say it's peanuts.

Considering I don't even know what the pay scale is or has the potential to be after years of service, I won't qualify that...

But I see your point....I'm just trying to look at this more objectively...

I've found a table on base compensation...but nothing about housing, benefits, retirement pay (and how much time needed to earn it), bonuses etc etc...

I'd be interested to see it and hear others' opinions...

I'm not soldier bashing...but my acquaintance made it seem like soldiers were in the welfare lines (seriously)....going off on how a good majority of them in Virginia live on food stamps etc....

I find that hard to believe...but I'm not going to question something without any knowledge about it.

[hannitykillspuppies]

Considering I don't even know what the pay scale is or has the potential to be after years of service, I won't qualify that...

But I see your point....I'm just trying to look at this more objectively...

I've found a table on base compensation...but nothing about housing, benefits, retirement pay (and how much time needed to earn it), bonuses etc etc...

I'd be interested to see it and hear others' opinions...

I'm not soldier bashing...but my acquaintance made it seem like soldiers were in the welfare lines (seriously)....going off on how a good majority of them in Virginia live on food stamps etc....

I find that hard to believe...but I'm not going to question something without any knowledge about it.my brother enlisted after 9/11 and after the war had already begun. he started out at $500 every bi-wekly and full medical. outside of that i have no idea what other kind of benefits he gets. he's either a corporal or sargeant now and have no idea what his pay scale is.

[hannitykillspuppies]

Considering what they're asked to do now, I'd say it's peanuts. Considering what they were asked to do in 2000, for the most part, certainly changes the notion.

Of course, I think most of that is known before the signature is provided.


I think the military should be compensated well. Not overly well, though. But taken care of...i don't think that's fair. anyone who signs on is accepting the possibility they will one day be deployed for combat.

[hannitykillspuppies]

my brother enlisted after 9/11 and after the war had already begun. he started out at $500 every bi-wekly and full medical. outside of that i have no idea what other kind of benefits he gets. he's either a corporal or sargeant now and have no idea what his pay scale is.
my brother is in the marines not the army, don't know if that makes a difference.

[Jiddy78]

my brother enlisted after 9/11 and after the war had already begun. he started out at $500 every bi-wekly and full medical. outside of that i have no idea what other kind of benefits he gets. he's either a corporal or sargeant now and have no idea what his pay scale is.

Does he get housing allowance? Retirement? (Isn't it usually 20 years vested?!?)

How about bonuses?

I'm sure these guys get some sort of down payment on home handout as well...That's almost a given based on what I see...


I'm just saying that it would seem to me that a soldier initially would be signing up for the pay incentive....Loyalty will grow as they take part...but initially I'd say it would be about the dough, considering you're taking the risk of having your ass lit up....

[hannitykillspuppies]

Does he get housing allowance? Retirement? (Isn't it usually 20 years vested?!?)

How about bonuses?

I'm sure these guys get some sort of down payment on home handout as well...That's almost a given based on what I see...


I'm just saying that it would seem to me that a soldier initially would be signing up for the pay incentive....Loyalty will grow as they take part...but initially I'd say it would be about the dough, considering you're taking the risk of having your ass lit up....
he lives on base. from what i've gathered from him, must everyone lives on base unless they are married. i have no idea if they give an allowance or subsidize of base housing. retirement i have no idea, but 20 years would seem logical.

i believe he got some kind of bonus for each of his promotions, not sure what kind of salary increase came with those though. he told me if re-enlists in october that he would get a 30k bonus. i don't know if that's true or if he was trying to piss me off. don't know about the home, but i think that there are alot of benefits from using the government bank.

i don't think it works that way initially.

[Vegas]

http://www.dfas.mil/militarypay/2006militarypaytables/2007_Web_Pay_Table.pdf

[Jiddy78]

http://www.dfas.mil/militarypay/2006militarypaytables/2007_Web_Pay_Table.pdf


That's the one I found...Looks like peanuts for the starter...but I'm pretty sure there are signing bonuses...and advancement bonuses...etc etc...on top of housing allowances...

If you just go off that chart alone...Army folk get pissed on early on....which would make me wonder why they don't all just become mortgage brokers...

[Vegas]

That's the one I found...Looks like peanuts for the starter...but I'm pretty sure there are signing bonuses...and advancement bonuses...etc etc...on top of housing allowances...

If you just go off that chart alone...Army folk get pissed on early on....which would make me wonder why they don't all just become mortgage brokers...

Everyone in America will eventually be a mortgage broker or insurance salesman. Or maybe at the top of an Amway pyramid. We'll all be millionaires.

[LSU]

i don't think that's fair. anyone who signs on is accepting the possibility they will one day be deployed for combat.


Either way, they probably should get more than they're getting, but on the other hand, they do know what they're getting into. It's not like one day they wake up and are like, "What?? Shoot someone?"

[Vegas]

Either way, they probably should get more than they're getting, but on the other hand, they do know what they're getting into. It's not like one day they wake up and are like, "What?? Shoot someone?"

I remember seeing a guy preparing for a deployment on a news show. The guy was all pissed off and said, "If I had known I was going to war, I wouldn't have signed up."

I laughed.

[ryr8828]

A few servicemen have explained it to me this way.

The army spends a ton of money training these people.

[hannitykillspuppies]

I remember seeing a guy preparing for a deployment on a news show. The guy was all pissed off and said, "If I had known I was going to war, I wouldn't have signed up."

I laughed.

at least he was honest.

[hannitykillspuppies]

A few servicemen have explained it to me this way.

The army spends a ton of money training these people.my brother said that's why he isn't in iraq. they've invested too much money in him and his trade.

[Hotpapa666]

The Military offers young people free training, out of high school, with pay. There is nothing of its kind available in America. In Europe you can go to college for free and recieve the same training. Not a condemnation of the American, system just...

There is allot more to the military than going off to fight someone-else's war. There are hundreds of thousands of people out there, who are just trying to make a living in the military. It's unfortunate that these people (remember these are people) have to go off and face death for Bush's vision; think about that one. Are you willing to face death for someone-else's vision of how the world should be? I'm not and I am genuinely sorry for the folks who signed up for George Bush's lie.

[Iron Jaw]

I joined the Marines in 1974. When I completed my three-year enlistment in 1977, I was a sergeant making about $430.00 a month. Of course, as a young, single man living in the barracks, getting free meals and health care, I thought I made pretty good money - but then, I didn't have many bills (heck, I made 109K last year and I think I had more spending money as a young Marine:confused:).

And of course, when I joined, we were still operating under the WWII G.I. Bill (that version ended on the last day of 1976 I believe). The G.I. Bill gave me a paycheck of $342.00 per month while I was attending college. Unlike subsequent versions of the Bill, I didn't have to put in any money while on active duty. Going to college from 1977-81, the $342.00 per month was a pretty good chunk of extra cash for a college kid (I mean, tuition at the time for me, was only $250.00 per semester for a full time student). The G.I. Bill also featured different loans, including government guaranteed homeowner loans, which I have utilized on many occasions (never made a downpayment on a house). Also, student loans were guaranteed if needed, and excensions on the basic payments for grad school were available.

During my time in the service the medical and dental were free of course - and the quality wasn't bad at all. Actually, the military is a pretty good place for the young doctors and dentists to do their internship - they are commissioned officers who garner respect and receive an officer's salary with bennies. And of course, as an honorably discharged vet I can utilize the VA hospital any time I please - of course with my current career it isn't necessary. VA hospitals and doctors are the luck of the draw - it depends upon where you live. My father dealt with good ones and bad ones over the years. But then, judging from the looks of some local hospitals and doctors I've dealt with in the civilian world, it isn't rosey on the outside either. For the last month I've been trying to get my M.D. and a couple of clinics to take care of a stinking infected toe cause by an ingrown toenail. They kept writing prescriptions for anti-biotics to take down the infection. I finally went directly to a podiatrist to cut the thing out and clean the infection. I almost went south of the border - I know the M.D.'s down south would have done it. But then, half the docs I deal with on our side are from India or Pakistan. :cool:

The pay in the military is not great - but it's tolerable. For officers it's better. After I graduated from college I returned to the Marines as a reservist and obtained my officer's commission. My active duty time during my second tour of duty was about one-year (12-weeks OCS, 6-months basic school, 4-months occupational school) - I was teaching junior high school prior to leaving for OCS......I think the pay and bennies were better than I received from the school district.....which is why I joined the Border Patrol shortly afterwards.

The military also has a 20 year retirement plan. A person can enter on duty at 17-18, do 20 and retire at 37-38 - then become a "double dipper." A college grad of course, can obtain officer status from the get go if he/she qualifies. Now we have a 20 year retirement plan in the Border Patrol, but BP Agents cannot collect the retirement until the age of 50. Which is where I'm at right now (20+ and 51). My military time is added to my retirement time as well. Thus if I stay in the maximum amount of time (57), I would have 26 years in the patrol but a 30 year retirment with the added USMC active duty time.

Funny thing - when I joined the Marines originally in 1974, the salary had nearly tripled a couple of years earlier. When my brother was in the Army in 1970, he made about $150 a month.

[Jiddy78]

I joined the Marines in 1974. When I completed my three-year enlistment in 1977, I was a sergeant making about $430.00 a month. Of course, as a young, single man living in the barracks, getting free meals and health care, I thought I made pretty good money - but then, I didn't have many bills (heck, I made 109K last year and I think I had more spending money as a young Marine:confused:).

And of course, when I joined, we were still operating under the WWII G.I. Bill (that version ended on the last day of 1976 I believe). The G.I. Bill gave me a paycheck of $342.00 per month while I was attending college. Unlike subsequent versions of the Bill, I didn't have to put in any money while on active duty. Going to college from 1977-81, the $342.00 per month was a pretty good chunk of extra cash for a college kid (I mean, tuition at the time for me, was only $250.00 per semester for a full time student). The G.I. Bill also featured different loans, including government guaranteed homeowner loans, which I have utilized on many occasions (never made a downpayment on a house). Also, student loans were guaranteed if needed, and excensions on the basic payments for grad school were available.

During my time in the service the medical and dental were free of course - and the quality wasn't bad at all. Actually, the military is a pretty good place for the young doctors and dentists to do their internship - they are commissioned officers who garner respect and receive an officer's salary with bennies. And of course, as an honorably discharged vet I can utilize the VA hospital any time I please - of course with my current career it isn't necessary. VA hospitals and doctors are the luck of the draw - it depends upon where you live. My father dealt with good ones and bad ones over the years. But then, judging from the looks of some local hospitals and doctors I've dealt with in the civilian world, it isn't rosey on the outside either. For the last month I've been trying to get my M.D. and a couple of clinics to take care of a stinking infected toe cause by an ingrown toenail. They kept writing prescriptions for anti-biotics to take down the infection. I finally went directly to a podiatrist to cut the thing out and clean the infection. I almost went south of the border - I know the M.D.'s down south would have done it. But then, half the docs I deal with on our side are from India or Pakistan. :cool:

The pay in the military is not great - but it's tolerable. For officers it's better. After I graduated from college I returned to the Marines as a reservist and obtained my officer's commission. My active duty time during my second tour of duty was about one-year (12-weeks OCS, 6-months basic school, 4-months occupational school) - I was teaching junior high school prior to leaving for OCS......I think the pay and bennies were better than I received from the school district.....which is why I joined the Border Patrol shortly afterwards.

The military also has a 20 year retirement plan. A person can enter on duty at 17-18, do 20 and retire at 37-38 - then become a "double dipper." A college grad of course, can obtain officer status from the get go if he/she qualifies. Now we have a 20 year retirement plan in the Border Patrol, but BP Agents cannot collect the retirement until the age of 50. Which is where I'm at right now (20+ and 51). My military time is added to my retirement time as well. Thus if I stay in the maximum amount of time (57), I would have 26 years in the patrol but a 30 year retirment with the added USMC active duty time.

Funny thing - when I joined the Marines originally in 1974, the salary had nearly tripled a couple of years earlier. When my brother was in the Army in 1970, he made about $150 a month.



Thanks for the perspective, Iron Jaw.

[coloradoduck]

my brother is in the marines not the army, don't know if that makes a difference.


No, pay for DoD is pay for DoD across the board. There are special bonus programs for each service but base pay, housing and rations are all figured across the board to every service. So an E-5 in the Army makes the same pay as an E-5 in the Navy, Marines or Air Force.

[coloradoduck]

he lives on base. from what i've gathered from him, must everyone lives on base unless they are married. i have no idea if they give an allowance or subsidize of base housing. retirement i have no idea, but 20 years would seem logical.

i believe he got some kind of bonus for each of his promotions, not sure what kind of salary increase came with those though. he told me if re-enlists in october that he would get a 30k bonus. i don't know if that's true or if he was trying to piss me off. don't know about the home, but i think that there are alot of benefits from using the government bank.

i don't think it works that way initially.


OK, here is the skinny on military pay...

You do not get a bonus for getting promoted but you do get pay raises in both base pay and your housing allowance.

You usually have a choice of living on base or off base depending on the availability of on-base housing. Most of the time the on-base housing is the best option for junior officers and junior enlisted because their housing allowance does not cover rent for a decent home. However, as people get promoted to the field grade officer and senior officer range and senior noncommissioned officers ranks it is usually better to live off base. This is because they pay most, if not all, of your rent or mortgage. Housing allowance is based on an average price paid for a home of a certain size (ranks are authorized certain size houses in base housing and the equivalent in pay for off-base housing) in the area each person is stationed.

The reenlistment bonus is one of the biggest attractions to get people to stay that are in "critical" fields. These critical fields can either be combat related or high recruiting from civilian companies for certain specialties. There are limits on the amount that can be given though and it is based on a system in half increments up to 3 times the amount of your base pay for a month times the number of years you reenlist.

[IfHilaryWinsImMovingToCan]

Some comments on this topic from a guy who is active duty:

I am an E-6 with 8 years experience. I am going to say something that I wouldn't tell too many people in my circles: I am paid very adequately. I own a house, I own 3 cars, I have almost zero credit card debt, I have a family that I never have trouble feeding or sheltering, and in most cases if I want something, I can buy it. I have full medical and dental care...hell, I don't even pay for prescriptions. I get to travel, and when I do, I get paid pretty damn good per diem rates. When I'm called to deploy, I get paid extra for being in harm's way, last time it was to the tune of around $700 monthly extra with all entitlements (family separation, hazardous duty pay, imminent danger pay). Oh, and that's not taxed because I'm deployed.

Every promotion comes with a decent pay raise. Every two years that I'm in, I get an additional pay raise. Every year I get a clothing allowance, this year it'll be around $350. I assure you, I don't have $350 worth of uniform items to purchase/upgrade, so that's mostly going into my pocket. I re-enlisted this year and received a hefty bonus, most of which I was able to invest. So now I've got a great investment fund going in addition to what my pension will be when I am eligible to retire. Groceries are much cheaper at the commisary than they are at the Food Lion or other such grocery stores. I don't pay sales tax on anything I buy on base, which may not amount to much for some items, but for a 61" big screen tv, that saved me a nice chunk of change.

When I first joined in the 90's, however, I wasn't making jack. In the 8 years that I have been in, Congress and the Bush admin have made great strides in bettering my compensation. My wife doesn't work, she can stay at home and raise our child and future children. I can't tell you how much that means to me and my family that we are in a position to do that.

Oh, and I forgot, if I want to travel on leave, almost region I would want to travel there are military lodging facilities (beach hotels, beach cottages, etc) that I can stay at for pretty cheap. I can take "space available flights" and fly for almost free. For instance, my wife and I want to go to New Zealand. A "space-a" flight from Hawaii to New Zealand will run me about ---- $20.

But it wasn't always like this. There was a time, not long ago, when military members WERE on food stamps and welfare, and to be an E-5 or below with a family pretty much meant you were living in poverty. That simply isn't the case today, thanks to Congress and the Bush admin.

If someone you know is currently in the military and they say they aren't given fair compensation, well all I can say is that they might want to reconsider how they handle their finances. I am not an officer, I'm a mere E-6, and I am doing quite well for myself.

I say absolutely none of this to brag about ANYTHING, only to state that the military has come a long way in compensating its members. Sure, there were times in Iraq when I said to myself "they don't pay me nearly enough for this shit", but to be paid "enough" for putting my life on the line, well, its unquantifyable anyway. They can't pay me enough for that, and they (you, really) shouldn't have to. I volunteered to do this for a living...I knew what the pay and benefits were like when I joined. I joined out of a sense of duty to the country that has given me so much. I didn't join to make a lot of oney. Hell, I didn't even join for the college money, because frankly, I don't give a rats ass about college. I joined to give back, and to attempt to do what those long before me did, which is to do my part to fight for our freedoms that which are so easily taken for granted. And for my volunteering, I'm adequately compensated.

Enough of my rambling. I just don't appreciate it when military members today say that they are financially suffering. I just don't see how.

[IfHilaryWinsImMovingToCan]

Also, military pay and benefits are the same across the board, Army, Navy, Marines or Air Force.

[LSU]

Also, military pay and benefits are the same across the board, Army, Navy, Marines or Air Force.



Admit it...you just want that universal Canadian healthcare.

[Cat in the Hat]

Admit it...you just want that universal Canadian healthcare.

I guy I used to work with said the same damn thing that is unless she would utter the words ... FLAT TAX!

I don't think I'd do the same, but I will tell everyone here, I will not vote for her in the least. There's something about her, I don't like. She seems very dangerous to me. Something about her doesn't sit right with me. It's something I can't quite put my finger on. I just hope she doesn't get voted in next year.

[Jiddy78]

Some comments on this topic from a guy who is active duty:

I am an E-6 with 8 years experience. I am going to say something that I wouldn't tell too many people in my circles: I am paid very adequately. I own a house, I own 3 cars, I have almost zero credit card debt, I have a family that I never have trouble feeding or sheltering, and in most cases if I want something, I can buy it. I have full medical and dental care...hell, I don't even pay for prescriptions. I get to travel, and when I do, I get paid pretty damn good per diem rates. When I'm called to deploy, I get paid extra for being in harm's way, last time it was to the tune of around $700 monthly extra with all entitlements (family separation, hazardous duty pay, imminent danger pay). Oh, and that's not taxed because I'm deployed.

Every promotion comes with a decent pay raise. Every two years that I'm in, I get an additional pay raise. Every year I get a clothing allowance, this year it'll be around $350. I assure you, I don't have $350 worth of uniform items to purchase/upgrade, so that's mostly going into my pocket. I re-enlisted this year and received a hefty bonus, most of which I was able to invest. So now I've got a great investment fund going in addition to what my pension will be when I am eligible to retire. Groceries are much cheaper at the commisary than they are at the Food Lion or other such grocery stores. I don't pay sales tax on anything I buy on base, which may not amount to much for some items, but for a 61" big screen tv, that saved me a nice chunk of change.

When I first joined in the 90's, however, I wasn't making jack. In the 8 years that I have been in, Congress and the Bush admin have made great strides in bettering my compensation. My wife doesn't work, she can stay at home and raise our child and future children. I can't tell you how much that means to me and my family that we are in a position to do that.

Oh, and I forgot, if I want to travel on leave, almost region I would want to travel there are military lodging facilities (beach hotels, beach cottages, etc) that I can stay at for pretty cheap. I can take "space available flights" and fly for almost free. For instance, my wife and I want to go to New Zealand. A "space-a" flight from Hawaii to New Zealand will run me about ---- $20.

But it wasn't always like this. There was a time, not long ago, when military members WERE on food stamps and welfare, and to be an E-5 or below with a family pretty much meant you were living in poverty. That simply isn't the case today, thanks to Congress and the Bush admin.

If someone you know is currently in the military and they say they aren't given fair compensation, well all I can say is that they might want to reconsider how they handle their finances. I am not an officer, I'm a mere E-6, and I am doing quite well for myself.

I say absolutely none of this to brag about ANYTHING, only to state that the military has come a long way in compensating its members. Sure, there were times in Iraq when I said to myself "they don't pay me nearly enough for this shit", but to be paid "enough" for putting my life on the line, well, its unquantifyable anyway. They can't pay me enough for that, and they (you, really) shouldn't have to. I volunteered to do this for a living...I knew what the pay and benefits were like when I joined. I joined out of a sense of duty to the country that has given me so much. I didn't join to make a lot of oney. Hell, I didn't even join for the college money, because frankly, I don't give a rats ass about college. I joined to give back, and to attempt to do what those long before me did, which is to do my part to fight for our freedoms that which are so easily taken for granted. And for my volunteering, I'm adequately compensated.

Enough of my rambling. I just don't appreciate it when military members today say that they are financially suffering. I just don't see how.

Another great read. Thanks for the input...and a witty avatar to boot...;)

[LSU]

Another great read. Thanks for the input...and a witty avatar to boot...;)


I can say there is one more thing I can add to the things Bush has done right...


I think it's up to 2 now.

[IfHilaryWinsImMovingToCan]

I forgot to mention job security. So long as I don't do drugs, I'm pretty much unfireable. Even if I break criminal law, depending on the nature of my offense, I'm likely to just be busted down in rank and lose some pay. But I'd still be employed.

No layoffs, no firings. If I keep my nose clean, there's really nothing anyone can do to prevent me from staying in to my 20 years and retiring with full bennies.

There's something to be said these days for that kind of job security, and I don't believe any corporation beats it.

[LSU]

I forgot to mention job security. So long as I don't do drugs, I'm pretty much unfireable. Even if I break criminal law, depending on the nature of my offense, I'm likely to just be busted down in rank and lose some pay. But I'd still be employed.

No layoffs, no firings. If I keep my nose clean, there's really nothing anyone can do to prevent me from staying in to my 20 years and retiring with full bennies.

There's something to be said these days for that kind of job security, and I don't believe any corporation beats it.


Kind of sounds like tenure.

[Cat in the Hat]

First things first to Iron Jaw...Thank you for your service.

IfHillaryWins also thank you for your service.

Ok... I have a question. Being an Eagle Scout and having a bachelors degree, if I decided to join one of the armed forces how would I start out? I'm pretty certain I'd have to go through some sort of basic, but I've been told I'd be started out as a low officer. Is that true?

[Hotpapa666]

I forgot to mention job security. So long as I don't do drugs, I'm pretty much unfireable. Even if I break criminal law, depending on the nature of my offense, I'm likely to just be busted down in rank and lose some pay. But I'd still be employed.

No layoffs, no firings. If I keep my nose clean, there's really nothing anyone can do to prevent me from staying in to my 20 years and retiring with full bennies.

There's something to be said these days for that kind of job security, and I don't believe any corporation beats it.

Which explains why such a large percentage of people can't do their fucking jobs. Going to the Finance office, for example, is like watching the Key Stone Cops...

[Emmanuel]

First things first to Iron Jaw...Thank you for your service.

IfHillaryWins also thank you for your service.

Ok... I have a question. Being an Eagle Scout and having a bachelors degree, if I decided to join one of the armed forces how would I start out? I'm pretty certain I'd have to go through some sort of basic, but I've been told I'd be started out as a low officer. Is that true?
With a 4 year degree you would start out as an officer.

[Emmanuel]

Also, military pay and benefits are the same across the board, Army, Navy, Marines or Air Force.
Some intial sign on bonuses will vary.

The Guards looks pretty nice at this point in time.

[Hotpapa666]

With a 4 year degree you would start out as an officer.


He would have to be accepted first. It's not like enlisting where, provided you meet some minimum requirements you can enlist. The guy who passively tried to recruit me said "if you have a 3.0, we'll find a place for you".

There are lots and lots of enlisted folks with 4 year degrees (earned at various times in their enlistment or before that). There are also lots and lots of folks who are ready and willing to join up as an officer who are turned away; it happened to someone I know very well. There are also lots and lots and lots of folks who try to transition from the Enlisted Ranks to the Officer ranks who are denied.

[Emmanuel]

He would have to be accepted first. It's not like enlisting where, provided you meet some minimum requirements you can enlist. The guy who passively tried to recruit me said "if you have a 3.0, we'll find a place for you".

There are lots and lots of enlisted folks with 4 year degrees (earned at various times in their enlistment or before that). There are also lots and lots of folks who are ready and willing to join up as an officer who are turned away; it happened to someone I know very well. There are also lots and lots and lots of folks who try to transition from the Enlisted Ranks to the Officer ranks who are denied.
Come on, the guys an Eagle Scout. Sounds like a good ol boy to me.

[Cat in the Hat]

Come on, the guys an Eagle Scout. Sounds like a good ol boy to me.

See that's the thing. I was told by someone, the Boy Scouts have an affiliation with the US Armed Services.

A guy I was in Boy Scouts with who is also an Eagle Scout joined the Marines before he got his degree and he started out as either an E2 or an E3 right off the bat just for having earned the rank of Eagle.

I'm just wondering what I'd start with. The officer's gig is what I've heard mentioned before, however I don't know how low or high an officer a person with my characteristics would start as.

I do know the US Armed forces highly regard the Boy Scouts and the values taught to the boys who join. I was just curious as to how it might work.

I have a feeling to find out exactly what I'd be wanting to know, I'd have to talk to a recruiter and I don't want to waste their time considering I really have no intentions of joining (at least under this Presidents' administration).

[Emmanuel]

See that's the thing. I was told by someone, the Boy Scouts have an affiliation with the US Armed Services.

A guy I was in Boy Scouts with who is also an Eagle Scout joined the Marines before he got his degree and he started out as either an E2 or an E3 right off the bat just for having earned the rank of Eagle.

I'm just wondering what I'd start with. The officer's gig is what I've heard mentioned before, however I don't know how low or high an officer a person with my characteristics would start as.

I do know the US Armed forces highly regard the Boy Scouts and the values taught to the boys who join. I was just curious as to how it might work.

I have a feeling to find out exactly what I'd be wanting to know, I'd have to talk to a recruiter and I don't want to waste their time considering I really have no intentions of joining (at least under this Presidents' administration).
Don't mention the affiliation.

The one organization they do something for and it causes such a shit storm.

[Cat in the Hat]

Don't mention the affiliation.

The one organization they do something for and it causes such a shit storm.

What do you mean?

[Emmanuel]

What do you mean?
The ACLU was bitching about their hosting the Jamboree among other things.

I'd post a link, but I don't think you'd be able to access it. Should be something on it elsewhere.

[hannitykillspuppies]

When I'm called to deploy, I get paid extra for being in harm's way, last time it was to the tune of around $700 monthly extra with all entitlements (family separation, hazardous duty pay, imminent danger pay). Oh, and that's not taxed because I'm deployed.


this is more than likely a dumb question, is that because you are out of the country or because of your status of being deployed?

[Cat in the Hat]

The ACLU was bitching about their hosting the Jamboree among other things.

I'd post a link, but I don't think you'd be able to access it. Should be something on it elsewhere.

How would this be a violation or whatever against Civil Liberties or Rights? I don't see segregation in any way, unless they're talking about the Girl Scouts not being affiliated.

Why shouldn't the US Armed forces strike up an affiliation with the Boy Scouts if they feel the association between the two could benefit the two mutually. The culture the Boy Scouts maintains embodies much of what the US Armed Forces already preach.

If they're talking about the LGBT society and the BSA's public shunning of gays being in the BSA I can see some grounds there. But still, that's ultimately up to the organization if they have a certain set of values they wish to instill upon their members.

I'd like to see the ACLU knocking on the doors of the KKK and the Neo-Nazis/Arian Brotherhood for similar reasons of not allowing gays and Jews and blacks into their organization.

[Emmanuel]

Religion actually.

http://www.oag.state.va.us/PRESS_RELEASES/NewsArchive/0406_ACLU_Threatens_to_Shutdown_Boy_Scout_Jamboree .html

[Cat in the Hat]

Religion actually.

http://www.oag.state.va.us/PRESS_RELEASES/NewsArchive/0406_ACLU_Threatens_to_Shutdown_Boy_Scout_Jamboree .html

The biggest flaw I see in their argument is that there is the word, "God" on our money and there is more than one religion who refers to God as God.

Also, Boy Scout Troops and Cub Scout Packs aren't sponsored only by Christian Churches. The troop I earned my rank of Eagle with is sponsored by the paper giant Weyerhauser. Some are sponsored by Bars and VFW clubs and Legion posts and all sorts of organizations as well as other religious affiliated locations and schools.

We must also remember, Boy Scouting is a global organization. Many countries around the world have their own variations of Scouting and what it takes to reach the highest rank in their country. In the United States, the Boy Scouts was an organization migrated over from Great Britain in a time when Judeo/Christian beliefs represented the overwhelming majority when it came to spirituality in the United States and Great Britain.

From what I understand is, the Boy Scouts want you as a member to remember your spiritual side as well, whether that means remembering to pray five times a day to Allah or attending regular church services at your local parish.