25-01-2003 00:20									#31
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They don't get paid enough.

But you can get more, like jump pay, hazard pay, ect.

	25-01-2003 00:35									#32
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Yes, they certainly ought to be paid more.

	25-01-2003 06:31									#33
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US soldiers are getting paid better than their counterparts in most other countries.

$200,000 for a Congressman is nothing compared to millions paid to slimy corporate executives, crazy celebrities, and whiny athletes.

	25-01-2003 06:41									#34
	Re: Are US soldiers paid too little? Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by OneFootInTheGrave 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 .

1,300USD a month isn't 26,000USD/year, It's more like 15,600/year.

ACK!

	25-01-2003 06:43									#35
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It's brought up in the media all the time. Something like 20% of the soldiers E-3 and below are on food stamps or other type of welfare. The one on welfare are normally the ones who got married and have kids so I guess we could say it is there fault for having a family they couldn't afford. Still they get payed to little even after you've included the housing allowance and per dium.

Once your an NCO your making good money so if the soldier is smart, does a good job, and lives with in his means, then a brighter future is with in sight.

As a side note I'd also like to protest the fact that U.S. soldiers don't get paid at the U.N. rate while taking part in U.N. activities. When I was in Kosovo a NCO from any other country would get paid around U.S. $65k per year (the U.N. mandated rate) while the U.S. just keeps on paying their regular wage (around $32k-$40k depending on the years of service).

	26-01-2003 04:27									#36
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quote: Originally posted by Tuberski 1,300USD a month isn't 26,000USD/year, It's more like 15,600/year. ACK!

OMG


perhaps there is 20 months a year in the US

Nevermind that mistake, it is appaling that they get so little, and I am kind of suprised that some of you don't seem to be too bothered for they low pay, even though so much money is spent on the military???

	26-01-2003 04:53									#37
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keep in mind though the US military does pay a lot for people's college tuition if they want go to college after they get out of military.

	26-01-2003 08:16									#38
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$1100 per month + food + room + post service benefits

not for me, but certainly not poverty

	26-01-2003 08:17									#39
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quote: $200,000 for a Congressman is nothing compared to millions paid to slimy corporate executives, crazy celebrities, and whiny athletes.

Actually it is less than that. Around $133k.

	26-01-2003 09:11									#40
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Oh and:

"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. "

It helps to pay politicians well to decrease the incentive for bribery.

	26-01-2003 21:00									#41
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It all depends on how you live.

Me, I have saved 5,000 dollars since October 4. I have been deployed, and this is still with paying for all the necessities of life.

Lots of it is watching money, and postal isn't free. It cost me over 80 dollars to send home Christmas gifts.

We do get free board, however, we have to eat when the Navy says. Me, because of my flight schedule, I get to eat at the galley once a day, meaning I am spending out of pocket..

I think, that compared to what we have to put up with, we are underpaid, but to me it doesn't matter. I like my job, and I am happy to do it. It takes a certain kind of person to due it.

	26-01-2003 21:13									#42
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Screw the army, pay your doctors, nurses and teachers more.

	26-01-2003 21:16									#43
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Doctors already make good money, CS. The other two occupations you listed aren't within the review of the federal government anyway.

	26-01-2003 21:44									#44
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quote: Originally posted by DinoDoc Doctors already make good money, CS. The other two occupations you listed aren't within the review of the federal government anyway.

doctors make crap nowadays, its all about the lawyers

malpractice insurance is so damn expensive, not to mention most HMO's pay doctors next to nothing for their services. it just makes many doctors want to see as many patients as possible with little regard for their well-being (just enough to not get sued). if you want the best care, pay your doctor cash, they will love you.

why do you think there was that strike in west virginia? i heard new jersey doctors are heading down the same route.

thanks mrs clinton for fixing our health care system!

	26-01-2003 21:47									#45
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quote: Originally posted by Caesar the Great doctors make crap nowadays, its all about the lawyers

Still not a federal issue.

	26-01-2003 22:02									#46
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quote: Screw the army, pay your doctors, nurses and teachers more.

IIRC nurses' salaries are going up since there's a shortage of them, the main problem with teacher salaries is the IMMENSE regional variation, for example my mom's pretty much at the top of the pay scale (would be on the absolute top if she had a master's degree) and makes in the low-30s a year which is pathetic, especially with the insane housing prices in the area.

	26-01-2003 23:05									#47
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The one thing that only Shi has brought up is the college tuition. There's a reason why the armed forces use ads that feature people learning while they are serving. They hope to attract people that either can't afford a college education (and may want one) or people that aren't sure what they want to do. So, you join the military, make a little money, and either have a start-up to get a job, etc. or go to college on the military's dollar.

On a sidenote - do your respective country's military call and send letters while you are a senior in high-school encouraging you to join?
I got about 5 calls and several letters and I know other people that had similar stories.

	26-01-2003 23:21									#48
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Part of the issue is E-3's with families and such. The USMC Commandant got in trouble for saying that the Corps preferred single (he-man babykillers with high and tight haircuts) soldiers.*

I think Pat Shroeder was most upset. She made a career of military legislation in mandating daycare and crap like that instead of cooler guns and stuff.

*The part in parentheses was whispered under his breath. Ooh-rah.

	27-01-2003 16:49									#49
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Yeah, but the college brings up a whole new issue.

The new standard is that the DoD will pay full tuition, up to 4,500 per year. However, the Navy's standard is a maximum of 3,000 per year, or up to 12 credits, whichever comes first.

This is in direct viol;ation of the DoD policy, and is pissing a lot of sailors off, because it is worse than the 75% payment of before, with no credit limit.

What do you guys think about that?

	27-01-2003 17:19									#50
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I am kind of suprised that Americans don't seem to care much about soldiers being paid minimum wage, or if they have a family to be on welfare . I mean if you were a third world country, but with 400 BN going into the budget and only ~13 bn barely 3% paying 1/2 of the force. If the budget went up another 3% to 412 BN you could be paying them all double and have soldiers with some financial security in the ranks, not guys on welfare.

I am actually suprised that you get so many people joining the ranks. Does the tuition later work out. Well by the time you get that tution you could have finished your college and be on the way to return the debts and get work experience... so at least.

	27-01-2003 17:32									#51
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hi ,

get an overseas posting , for most e1 to e5 it double s the pay , or get a special course (!)

have a nice day

	27-01-2003 21:10									#52
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Heh... 1000 dollars + other benefits it is not good????

Polish profesional officer(sic!) in NATO army (leutnant) has over 400 dollars per month, without rooms etc...

It is not good!!!!

And I will not mention about Russia, or Ukraine

	27-01-2003 21:20									#53
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quote: Originally posted by Caesar the Great thanks mrs clinton for fixing our health care system!

Ceaser: He tried but the Republicans, who were payed by those HMOs and Lawyers, obstructed everything. Health care never got fixed nor will it ever get fixed as long as the Republicans can stop it.

That is just a fact of life my friend.

	27-01-2003 21:34									#54
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Panag:You do get an over seas duty pay increase but it doesn't amount to a heck of a lot. Perhaphes $200 per month or so (I'm not sure about the amount maybe one of the active duty guys hanging around 'poly will know). The best over seas pay raise you can get is being in a declared hostile fire zone because then you don't have to pay most federal taxes. When I was in Kosovo I only had to pay social security and state taxes so I ended up getting a 25%-30% increase in my net pay. That meant that with per deim and 6 years time in serves I was taking home something like 40k a year. Not a huge amount but more then reasonable for a soldier.

	27-01-2003 22:44									#55
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quote: Originally posted by Oerdin Panag:You do get an over seas duty pay increase but it doesn't amount to a heck of a lot. Perhaphes $200 per month or so (I'm not sure about the amount maybe one of the active duty guys hanging around 'poly will know). The best over seas pay raise you can get is being in a declared hostile fire zone because then you don't have to pay most federal taxes. When I was in Kosovo I only had to pay social security and state taxes so I ended up getting a 25%-30% increase in my net pay. That meant that with per deim and 6 years time in serves I was taking home something like 40k a year. Not a huge amount but more then reasonable for a soldier.

Oerdin how long were you in Kosovo, and where?

Anyway, so for a 6yr experienced soldier on a peace duty where he could potentialy be killed you get 40k a year (and that is with the tax benefit for working abroad). Doesn't sound much to me. 65k that UN gives that is more reasonable for sure.

I mean how much of a dent in the military budget would increased soldier pay make?

	28-01-2003 02:12									#56
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quote: Originally posted by Oerdin Panag:You do get an over seas duty pay increase but it doesn't amount to a heck of a lot. Perhaphes $200 per month or so (I'm not sure about the amount maybe one of the active duty guys hanging around 'poly will know). The best over seas pay raise you can get is being in a declared hostile fire zone because then you don't have to pay most federal taxes. When I was in Kosovo I only had to pay social security and state taxes so I ended up getting a 25%-30% increase in my net pay. That meant that with per deim and 6 years time in serves I was taking home something like 40k a year. Not a huge amount but more then reasonable for a soldier.

hi ,

most e1 > e5 get a big fat COL when in europe , so go there , together with some nato duty , .......

or be an MP at a european base

anyway , if someone wants to know about good bases , just ask , but not in public

have a nice day

	28-01-2003 04:41									#57
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quote: Originally posted by OneFootInTheGrave Oerdin how long were you in Kosovo, and where?

Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo (in the American sector) for eight months between Feb0Oct, 2001.

I agree the soldiers should be paid more or at least as much as their civilian counter parts. That's one of the reasons I left the service; that and a desire to go where I want, when I want.

	28-01-2003 04:45									#58
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Maybe it is a threadjacking my own thread but how was it? Tense or boring? Any contact with the locals or none at all, like going out or was it not recommended?

	28-01-2003 05:07									#59
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I was in Psyop so my job was to interact with the local population plus we got considerable latitude to go where we pleased with who we pleased, when we pleased. The poor guys in the infantry though were under a lot of "force protection" rules which meant for their entire tour of duty they didn't get to leave post unless they were on patrol. The only exception for them was a three day R&R trip to Macedonia.

There were also a number of stupid rules like no alchole at any time, always having to wear 40 pounds of armor, and a number of unnecisary rules. The other countries didn't even bother with the extra rules and *gasp* treated the soldiers like adults.

I was lucky and got out of following most of the stupid rules though and I had a good time while I was there. It was fun meeting and working with so many people from so many different countries. I could fill an entire thread with funny stories and things that I saw but I won't bore you guys.

	28-01-2003 05:12									#60
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ah - a stop here before I log off... well make a thread I am interested I am sure others would be too.