Special Forces Soldier Seeks Seat in the US Congress

[ODB]

My only real complaint with pay today is BAH. IMO everyone should be afforded the same basic standard of living. Every soldier at a particular base should receive the same. Doesn't make sense that the higher ranking I get the more I get for housing. I believe we should all be afforded the same standard and as I get promoted if I want to exceed that, it is up to me to use my money to do so.

If I take my BAH and BAS out of my check, I make far less than any civilian counterpart who has been doing the same job for as long as I have. (16 years).

My final say on the matter is, I am at a point where I do not make bad money, but it does not make up for the times I've missed. In 9 years I have been home for 1 of my daughters birthdays. Rarely get to participate in her school activities, parent teacher conferences, etc... I will be the first to say "Yes I chose to do this and continue to choose to do this because it's what I enjoy doing and is the right thing to do." Is there more money in the private sector for me, definately but money isn't everything. You have to find a balance.

To address those on the tooth and those on the tail.....well in a perfect world those on the tooth would be paid accordingly and those on the tail would as well. I and my co-workers ask why we choose this over some in the rear with the gear job. Answer is quite simple, we don't know, somehow we are wired to enjoy our life and job over easier ones, it's in our nature.

[120mm]

My only real complaint with pay today is BAH. IMO everyone should be afforded the same basic standard of living. Every soldier at a particular base should receive the same. Doesn't make sense that the higher ranking I get the more I get for housing. I believe we should all be afforded the same standard and as I get promoted if I want to exceed that, it is up to me to use my money to do so.

I couldn't disagree with this more. Unless you WANT to encourage people to leave as they actually get families, etc..

There are several things they charge more for, just because you have a higher rank, and I don't have a problem with that, as well.

[ODB]

I couldn't disagree with this more. Unless you WANT to encourage people to leave as they actually get families, etc..

There are several things they charge more for, just because you have a higher rank, and I don't have a problem with that, as well.

My basis for this is how BAH is figured. Somewhere along the way the Army decided what ranks deserve what standard of housing. Why are all soldiers not allowed the same standard of living? Quick one over the world on this is: 1. the only enlisted rank authorized the standard of his own house is an E-9, everyone else is authorized the standard of an apartment or townhouse. 2. the only officer not allowed the standard of his own house is a 2LT. Figure that one out.

As far as families go add a per dependent rate as there is a difference between 2 bedroom, 3 bedroom, etc...

My basis for this is the fact an E-4 and below with families are the ones needing more money in BAH not E-7 and above. It's really quite simple pay everyone on the post the same amount. So with post housing now being privatized an E-1 pays all his BAH to housing to cover his cost and an E-5 living in the exact same style house on post pays all his BAH to housing to cover his cost. Why is he paying more for the same exact residence, because he is payed more so he must pay more? How can it cost to house more to house an E-5 than an E-3 in the same exact style house? Many years ago when I first got to Ft. Campbell post house was for E-4 and above only.

I should have interjected my original posting with the additional information that formed the basis of this thought.

[120mm]

Well, I guess I object to paying an E-3 extra just because he was dumb enough to pop out more kids. Back when I started, if you decided to have kids as an E-3 you did it without command sponsorship.

I agree on billing extra just because of your rank. I think BAH should be figured on rank and time-in-grade only, which is exactly how the "rest of the world" operates.

[Ken White]

to stay single...

Paying soldiers of any rank to get married is just dumb. Pay should be totally marriage irrelevant. The current pay system was designed to cope with a large draftee Army in the low cost 1940s. Those days are long gone yet the pay system remains...

We should also be able to reward people for doing a good job with more money as opposed to only be able to reward through promotions. Feeding the Peter Principle is also dumb.

In 1967, there was a move to rectify the problem and one of the things that was included was a contributory -- and portable -- retirement system. The senior folks, officer and enlisted conspired to beat that down on the nominal basis of 'breaking faith' (even though anyone with over 10 years would have been grandfathere) but the actual rationale of not eliminating the capture and hold effect of the 20-30 year retirement system. Stupid and shortsighted.

[120mm]

Ken, your point brings me to a pet project of mine: In my imaginary Army, pay would be incentivized to a point to where a high-quality machinegunner would earn as much, if not more than a low-quality platoon leader. And screw "up or out".

And very, very much agreed on doing away with the current retirement program. A 401(k) - like portable fund with a generous match would be a better deal, especially for those who aren't in it for the 20 or 30 year retirement.

[Tacitus]

Fraud costs military health program $100 million plus
http://wiredispatch.com/news/?id=139968

Crooked Phillipino doctors combined with corrupt U.S. military retirees to file fraudulent claims with Tricare. Here's a pithy quote:

"I know this is illegal and wrong to submit fraudulent claims to get money, but I did it for fun," U.S. Navy retiree Romulo Estoesta told investigators. He died in 2002.

One man's socialism is another man's just desserts. And vice versa.