U.S. Military Compensation Discussion

[Smoke681]

As per the discussion in the other thread, we'll talk about military compensation as it stands right now in this thread.

First, the best link to the most current military pay scales is this:

http://dfas.dtic.mil/militarypay/militarypaytables/2009MilitaryPayTables.doc

I actually saw some others claiming to be "2009 military pay scales" but they were inaccurate, strangely. The above is accurate. Those pay scales are the same across the board, for the Army, Air Force, Marines, and Navy. Coast Guard, I think, is different as they now fall under the Dept of Homeland Security.

The housing allowances run the same, in that they are the same across the board for all services. The BAH (housing allowance) is determined based on pay grade and location (zip code). The best place to view these is:

http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/bah.html

As for BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistance) is our "food pay", if you will. Pretty much standard across the board. For current government meal rates, go here:

http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/faqgovmeals.html

My monthly BAS is $323. That may vary slightly from rank to rank and such, but I believe it's pretty standard.

Because you are all taxpayers, and you pay my salary, I have no problem with full open disclosure as to what you are paying me, so I'll break it down for ya:

I am an E-6 with >10 years of service. That makes my monthly base pay $3,044.70.

Due to my rank and geographic location, my BAH (Housing) *with dependants* is $2,042.

So if you add my BAH, Base Pay, and BAS, I pull in $5409 monthly BEFORE taxes. All three of these components are fully taxable when I am not serving in a combat zone. When deployed, my pay is not taxable.

Currently, AFTER taxes, I'm bringing in about $4500 per month, from the above mentioned 3 components.

I say all of the above to help you understand what a military member of my pay grade and location makes per month. I also say the above to say this:

I firmly believe we in the military are very fairly compensated. I unleash a fury of ass-chewing on my Marines when I hear them gripe about their pay. This is 1999 anymore. Back then, we had a legitimate compensation gripe. I vividly remember the days when I was making not much more than $300 every other week. I could barely afford to live back then. But, thanks to the Bush administration and the Republican Congress of the early 2000's, tremendous progress has been made in our compensation, and it is currently at a very fair, acceptable level. Has the gap been bridged between military and our civilian counterparts? I believe it's close, but maybe not quite there. But we must remember, this is a volunteer military. Those who join have all of this knowledge available to them prior to joining. We know before we join what our compensation will be for what we do. If one believes it to be unfair, that one can choose a different career/life path.

I have a family, and I and very pleased/proud that I can more than adequately provide for them. My wife does not work anymore, she stays home with the kid (soon to be kids). We live fully on my salary. We currently rent a beautiful home in a great neighborhood. 2000+ sqft, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. We have everything we need and then some inside that home. Satellite cable, high speed internet on TWO computers, nice furniture, etc. We have two late-model vehicles which are both almost completely paid off. We have low credit card debt. Food is always in the pantry and on the table. We go out and do things as a family and rarely worry about money.

And don't even get me going about medical/dental, 30 days paid leave per year, and retirement.

We are fairly compensated, and to say otherwise is to flat out lie.

[becherr]

As per the discussion in the other thread, we'll talk about military compensation as it stands right now in this thread.

First, the best link to the most current military pay scales is this:

http://dfas.dtic.mil/militarypay/militarypaytables/2009MilitaryPayTables.doc

I actually saw some others claiming to be "2009 military pay scales" but they were inaccurate, strangely. The above is accurate. Those pay scales are the same across the board, for the Army, Air Force, Marines, and Navy. Coast Guard, I think, is different as they now fall under the Dept of Homeland Security.

The housing allowances run the same, in that they are the same across the board for all services. The BAH (housing allowance) is determined based on pay grade and location (zip code). The best place to view these is:

http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/bah.html

As for BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistance) is our "food pay", if you will. Pretty much standard across the board. For current government meal rates, go here:

http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/faqgovmeals.html

My monthly BAS is $323. That may vary slightly from rank to rank and such, but I believe it's pretty standard.

Because you are all taxpayers, and you pay my salary, I have no problem with full open disclosure as to what you are paying me, so I'll break it down for ya:

I am an E-6 with >10 years of service. That makes my monthly base pay $3,044.70.

Due to my rank and geographic location, my BAH (Housing) *with dependants* is $2,042.

So if you add my BAH, Base Pay, and BAS, I pull in $5409 monthly BEFORE taxes. All three of these components are fully taxable when I am not serving in a combat zone. When deployed, my pay is not taxable.

Currently, AFTER taxes, I'm bringing in about $4500 per month, from the above mentioned 3 components.

I say all of the above to help you understand what a military member of my pay grade and location makes per month. I also say the above to say this:

I firmly believe we in the military are very fairly compensated. I unleash a fury of ass-chewing on my Marines when I hear them gripe about their pay. This is 1999 anymore. Back then, we had a legitimate compensation gripe. I vividly remember the days when I was making not much more than $300 every other week. I could barely afford to live back then. But, thanks to the Bush administration and the Republican Congress of the early 2000's, tremendous progress has been made in our compensation, and it is currently at a very fair, acceptable level. Has the gap been bridged between military and our civilian counterparts? I believe it's close, but maybe not quite there. But we must remember, this is a volunteer military. Those who join have all of this knowledge available to them prior to joining. We know before we join what our compensation will be for what we do. If one believes it to be unfair, that one can choose a different career/life path.

I have a family, and I and very pleased/proud that I can more than adequately provide for them. My wife does not work anymore, she stays home with the kid (soon to be kids). We live fully on my salary. We currently rent a beautiful home in a great neighborhood. 2000+ sqft, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. We have everything we need and then some inside that home. Satellite cable, high speed internet on TWO computers, nice furniture, etc. We have two late-model vehicles which are both almost completely paid off. We have low credit card debt. Food is always in the pantry and on the table. We go out and do things as a family and rarely worry about money.

And don't even get me going about medical/dental, 30 days paid leave per year, and retirement.

We are fairly compensated, and to say otherwise is to flat out lie.

Yes you are living well. My friend retired as a Marine with less then three years in that rank and makes more in retirement then I do as a missed a few Bush raises.
My retirement is based on a three years as an E8 and his is based on 24 months an E7 and 12 as an E8 yet he makes more then me caused by the pay increase.

Glad to see you are getting yours but expect it to decline.

[domenick2x]

Yes you are living well. My friend retired as a Marine with less then three years in that rank and makes more in retirement then I do as a missed a few Bush raises.
My retirement is based on a three years as an E8 and his is based on 24 months an E7 and 12 as an E8 yet he makes more then me caused by the pay increase.

Glad to see you are getting yours but expect it to decline.
Why would it decline?

Or are you just expecting it to not keep up with inflation?

[becherr]

Why would it decline?

Or are you just expecting it to not keep up with inflation?

It has rarely kept up with inflation but Bush made it equal before his departure.

[domenick2x]

It has rarely kept up with inflation but Bush made it equal before his departure.
So you're saying that the salary will decline vs. buying power (not keeping up with inflation), not that they'll actually cut salaries... which, I may add, is happening in many industries. Cut salaries, or layoffs. I'm not thinking that the military will be laying anyone off anytime soon.

That's one of the big benefits, I think - there's a ton of good job security there. Huge risk, of course, particularly in these trying times.

[becherr]

So you're saying that the salary will decline vs. buying power (not keeping up with inflation), not that they'll actually cut salaries... which, I may add, is happening in many industries. Cut salaries, or layoffs. I'm not thinking that the military will be laying anyone off anytime soon.

That's one of the big benefits, I think - there's a ton of good job security there. Huge risk, of course, particularly in these trying times.

I am saying that the increase in salary will not keep up with the increases in inflation.

Job security looks good now but there will be a draw down eventually.

After the first Gulf War they had a mass exicus. Basically, any soldier with at least three years in that wanted to get out WOULD be RELEASED thirty days after signing the proper paperwork. We had new soldiers that were doing the "Duffle bag Drag" to our front steps and asking for the paperwork to get out.

Bush I started the drawdown as they were moving away from the needs of dealing with the Soviet threat. What really messed things up though was Clinton made increasing the size of the military a congressional mandate from what I remember.

I am sure if I am wrong someone will tell me.

[Jiddy78]

I am saying that the increase in salary will not keep up with the increases in inflation.


And exactly how does inflation increase when the fixed costs of real estate are falling dramatically? Hmmm?

Milk is half the price of what it was 2 years ago. Gas? The same. Your house's value? Depends on area...but very few haven't been hit...

Just give the bustouts some more time to file their bankruptcy claims, the bank a chance to eat a note way overvalued vs. the market, a person with real capital to purchase calculating a solid hurdle rate of return upon the reduced fixed cost...and bam....Your sh*t is cheaper.

So again, where is this "inflation?"

[becherr]

And exactly how does inflation increase when the fixed costs of real estate are falling dramatically? Hmmm?

Milk is half the price of what it was 2 years ago. Gas? The same. Your house's value? Depends on area...but very few haven't been hit...

Just give the bustouts some more time to file their bankruptcy claims, the bank a chance to eat a note way overvalued vs. the market, a person with real capital to purchase calculating a solid hurdle rate of return upon the reduced fixed cost...and bam....Your sh*t is cheaper.

So again, where is this "inflation?"

Based on my experience it was in 1993 when I was trying to get my family through a tour in Germany and perform duties as a Drill Sergeant.

The thing that kept my head above water was that I was collecting extra money for pro-pay while performing said duties. If it wasn't for that extra $185-$360 I would have fallen flat on my face, and I was rather senior ranking then.

I will have to ask my son how he feels about his living expenses in relationship to his pay. However, that isn't a fair comparision as he is single and hasn't the add expenses of a family.