24-01-2003 22:41									#1
	Are US soldiers paid too little? Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

I have read on a Croatian site that privates in US are paid only 1300 USD per month. Now that being a Croatian site obviously makes me think if that is correct as the subsequent 26000 USD/ year seem low to me for a professionals who are expected to risk their life at work .

Is this true? That the pay is so low, and if that is so, what about the benefits, do they make up for the difference or not really?

Anyway if true this is kind of suprising to me that a country with by far highest expenditure on military in the world has its soldiers on a below average pay (at least I do not think that 26000 USD is average), but I might be wrong on that. Anyway seems kind of low for a soldier.

Assuming for a civilian a 37.5 hrs job (162.5 hr/month) that would be 8$/hour is that the price for life?

Do they get paid more if they go to war?

	24-01-2003 22:47									#2
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

GROSSLY underpaid.

	24-01-2003 22:48									#3
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

quote: Originally posted by SlowwHand GROSSLY underpaid.

so is $1300/month true?

	24-01-2003 22:51									#4
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

that's underpaid? you haven't seen the conscript's paycheck: 315 NIS (70 USD), 10 Euros....

	24-01-2003 22:53									#5
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

I'm not familiar with current pay, but you can stand assured that they aren't getting rich digging a ditch.

	24-01-2003 22:55									#6
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by Azazel that's underpaid? you haven't seen the conscript's paycheck: 315 NIS (70 USD), 10 Euros....

SO what is 315NIS for a month? Can he live of that? Still he is a conscript, so I guess when he finishes his duty a job will be waiting for him to continue. (I hope there is some gov, support for a possible family). But in US they are all professionals, that is the only thing they do.

	24-01-2003 22:55									#7
	Get a bigger avatar today!

We wouldn't want to pay them too much, lest middle-class folks find the military an appealing option and go gettin' themselves killed in wars. Only the poor folks are supposed to get themselves killed, after all.

	24-01-2003 22:56									#8
	Tired of ads?

Shut up, Boris.

http://www.dfas.mil/money/milpay/pay/

	24-01-2003 22:57									#9
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: We wouldn't want to pay them too much, lest middle-class folks find the military an appealing option and go gettin' themselves killed in wars. Only the poor folks are supposed to get themselves killed, after all.

Oh god. Rangel's an idiot, Boris, and you're making yourself look like one by reapeating his stupid rhetoric...

	24-01-2003 22:58									#10
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

You shut up, Sloww. Nyah-nyah-nyah-boo-boo.

	24-01-2003 22:59									#11
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

OFITG: they cannot, but they are given food and clothing by the army. there are also some benefits to people that are released from the army. not enough though.

	24-01-2003 22:59									#12
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

quote: Originally posted by Drake Tungsten quote: We wouldn't want to pay them too much, lest middle-class folks find the military an appealing option and go gettin' themselves killed in wars. Only the poor folks are supposed to get themselves killed, after all. Oh god. Rangel's an idiot, Boris, and you're making yourself look like one by reapeating his stupid rhetoric...

What about your lack of recognizing irony? How's that make you look?

	24-01-2003 22:59									#13
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

Those rates are grossly overinflated.

The US soldier is paid under $1100 a month. They work 5:45 am to 6:00 pm in peacetime and are on call 24/7. That's 60 hours a week at best.

They do get hazard pay if they are in a warzone, I think it is $150 a month.

If a US soldier is married and has a kid they are well below poverty level and qualify for virtually EVERY welfare program in existence.

During the holidays the higher ranking soldiers and those with multiple incomes donate money to help the soldiers with families buy presents and food for their families.

Its kinda of sad that the US pays the citizens who are volunteering to give their lives up to defend the country $1064 a month and the self interested congressmen who embezzle it blind get over $200,000 a year to set on their buts.

Last edited by GhengisFarb on 24-01-2003 at 23:05

	24-01-2003 23:01									#14
	Get a bigger avatar today!

quote: What about your lack of recognizing irony? How's that make you look?

How exactly was your statement ironic? I think you've been listening to a little too much Alanis...

	24-01-2003 23:03									#15
	Full PM-box? Change here!

Well can XYZ billion military budget add a few billion on for them. I guess that from 1million US soldiers more than a half fall in that non-officer rank.

Lets say there are 500000 of them at that rate - they cost ~ 13BN a year. What was the budget for the year - nearly 400bn with the latest increases proposed for 2003

here http://www.cdi.org/issues/budget/FY03Highlights-pr.cfm

anyway that leaves the pay for the low ranking soldiers to be just 3-4% of the budget.

look at this quote

quote: It is also 15 percent above the Cold War average, to fund a force structure that is one-third smaller than it was a decade ago.

Well they could have found another 15bn to increase the pay for 50% (7 for privates and the rest should surely go to officer pockets) I bet that wouldn't hurt the morale.

	24-01-2003 23:08									#16
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Keep in mind that it's a minority of numbers in actual combat. It takes much more in support.

All said, there are more positives than negatives to military service.
And I used to think almost as poorly as Boris.

	24-01-2003 23:12									#17
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

What they need is funding from non US sources to augment the income as the US military is utilized for global missions and interests.

I for one was very impressed with Japan and Kuwait authorizing money to help pay American forces during the Persian Gulf conflict.

	24-01-2003 23:12									#18
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

quote: Originally posted by GhengisFarb Those rates are grossly overinflated. The US soldier is paid under $1100 a month. They work 5:45 am to 6:00 pm in peacetime and are on call 24/7. That's 60 hours a week at best. They do get hazard pay if they are in a warzone, I think it is $150 a month. If a US soldier is married and has a kid they are well below poverty level and qualify for virtually EVERY welfare program in existence. During the holidays the higher ranking soldiers and those with multiple incomes donate money to help the soldiers with families buy presents and food for their families. Its kinda of sad that the US pays the citizens who are volunteering to give their lives up to defend the country $1064 a month and the self interested congressmen who embezzle it blind get over $200,000 a year to set on their buts.

Overinflated... I thought 1300 was low.

Now put that on the budget proposal.

I have to say this is kind of unbelievable that they are paid so low. Below poverty level (we need a faint smiley to insert here) ?!?

How come???

Can't they make someone pay them a bit more out of 400 bn budget or what. I mean 3% for 1/2 of the employees - risking life - and long hours like you mentioned - must be the most efficient use of workforce in the west.


And noone is concerned about this? Mind you I have read this in Croatian papers, never even noticed someone mentioning this in any western media. Isn't that appaling?

	24-01-2003 23:17									#19
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

No one gets paid enough to do what they do, but what American soldiers do get paid is a travesty.

	24-01-2003 23:22									#20
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

quote: Originally posted by chegitz guevara No one gets paid enough to do what they do, but what American soldiers do get paid is a travesty.

But how come noone is bringing this up in the media - at least I haven't caught it in last 7-8 years that I have been here in UK. What about US media?

	24-01-2003 23:35									#21
	Tired of ads?

well they do get free food and accomodation?

tax benefits?

	24-01-2003 23:38									#22
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Yes. Free room and board.

http://www.airforce.com/index_fr.htm

	24-01-2003 23:40									#23
	Get a bigger avatar today!

That's too little? Come here, fight for 3 euros per day .

	24-01-2003 23:42									#24
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

Finns get paid their worth.

	24-01-2003 23:45									#25
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

If a job doesn't pay well, don't take it. Nobody's forcing them to join the army (yet!).

If the pay is so lousy that the US army can't convince anyone to join, then the pay will be raised to make the job more attractive.

I thought America was the land of free markets? What happened to supply and demand?

	24-01-2003 23:48									#26
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

Six Thousand Year Old Man, Or they could just adopt my model of foreign legion .

	24-01-2003 23:49									#27
	Tired of ads?

I'm telling you guys, that idea is very good! I can't believe it gets looked over and forgotten so fast.

	24-01-2003 23:51									#28
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

Yuu leave out the after service benefits.

	24-01-2003 23:55									#29
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

quote: Yes. Free room and board.

it's not that bad then. certainly not a lot, but it doesn't seem like many are complaining either. and no ones forcing them to join either. hell I got like $14 a day and I didn't even volunteer

	24-01-2003 23:59									#30
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

I said grossly initially, but all the barracks had pool tables. Air Force food is good.
Wait a second. I'm the one that's underpaid.
I'm not getting paid recruiter pay.
You guys have the information, go figure it out yourselves.