One longstanding tradition in the military is the benefits Congress has enacted on the behalf of military members and veterans. As any military member can attest, military base pay is nothing to write home about (check out the military pay charts). Without the benefits included in the compensation package, most military members would not be able to survive, especially if they have a family.
Congress has passed many benefits packages to help military members live a better life. One such example is the proposed extension of the $8,000 First-Time Homebuyer Credit for military members. The proposal was made to offer military members who spent more than 90 days overseas this year the opportunity to take advantage of the $8,000 First-Time Homebuyer Credit, which they wouldn’t have been able to take advantage of since they were overseas. Sounds fair. But some people disagree.
Disagreeing with special military provisions and benefits
The First-time Home Buyer Credit Extension article for military members was posted on the personal finance blog, Bargaineering.com. It elicited multiple comments, including this reader comment by daemondust, that disagreed with the provision.
Yes, actually, I do have a problem with a lot of those programs. What makes military personnel special? They chose the job, they weren’t forced into it. Yes, it’s dangerous, and yes, they have to be away from home for long periods of time, but a lot of other jobs have exactly the same problems but don’t get those benefits.
Don’t misunderstand me, they are doing a service to the country, but I don’t see anything that makes their sacrifice so much more than anyone else’s.
If things were different and they were forced into it, i.e. drafted, then I would be all for compensating them in ways like this. But they weren’t. They chose the job.
Why not extend this benefit to everyone? Even just everyone in the original class? I wasn’t looking for a house when it was first introduced, but financially I’m in a place where I will be soon. Why does it expire for me Nov 30, and these special people have another year? It was their choice to enter a job where they would likely be away for extended periods of time.
Freedom of speech. I love it. As a military veteran, I fully support an individual’s right to speak his voice disagree with public policy. And I exercise my right to respond. You see, I believe this is an instance of someone not truly understanding how military benefits work, and why the system is set up the way it is.
In response to the comment
Many military personnel volunteer for military service *because* of those benefits you disagree with. These benefits are considered part of the total compensation package. Again, I will point out the basic military pay chart. The lowest pay grade earns less than $17,000 per year. After 5 years and an average promotion rate, a reasonable salary expectation would be roughly $28,000 per year (E-5 at 5 years). Officers earn more, and require a college degree – the lowest rate is just under $32,000 per year and after 5 years it should be around $56,700 (O-3 at 5 years). These numbers represent base pay only. Congress has enacted several different benefits provisions to make life easier on military members, however, these are not included in base pay.
The benefits are kept separate from basic pay for several reasons, but the main reason is that military retirement pay is based on the member’s base pay. The lower the government can keep base pay, the lower the retirement pay.
Many military members also receive other pay and allowances, such as Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), which is a fixed rate based on whether the servicemember is an officer or enlisted. Other benefits may change by locale, such as Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), or Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). COLA is a location pay, which is often found in the civilian world as well. You wouldn’t expect to earn the same amount of money for the same job in Wichita, Kansas as in LA or New York City. Benefits such as BAH, COLA, and other benefits are not included in retirement calculations and are subject to change.
Additional Military & Veterans Benefits
There are dozens of different military benefits, however, not all of them are available to all military members or veterans. These are two of the most popular benefits.
GI BIll. The GI Bill actually costs service members $1,200 to join. That money is not refundable if the benefits are not used, including if a military member dies in combat. The majority of eligible participants never use their full GI Bill benefits, even though they paid into them.
VA Loans. VA Loans offer military members a way to buy a home without a down payment and avoid paying PMI. It is also easier for veterans with poor credit to qualify for a VA loan than a conventional loan. However, it is still possible to default or foreclose on a VA Loan. In addition, interest rates for VA loans are often slightly higher than comparable conventional loans because of administration fees that go toward paying for the program.
Is Military Compensation Enough?
Congress has enacted special pay and benefits to entice military personnel to continue serving in jobs that are often more dangerous and often pay substantially less in salary than they could earn in the civilian world (even in government civil service). The benefits that are available make life a little easier for some of the people who put their lives on the line every day.
Military compensation is a complicated topic, and one that requires study to truly understand how much, and in some cases, how little, some military members earn. And even with study, you can still ask the question, “Do Military Members Get Paid Enough?” The answer is not an easy one to answer, as it is easy to create a scenario to make it appear as though someone is vastly under or overpaid. On the whole, I think the program does a good job of giving military members the opportunity to live a comfortable, but not extravagant life. And I don’t think that is too much to ask.
Related information about military benefits:
- More information about the GI Bill and additional college funding for veterans).
- Military Discounts.
- GI Bill Schools.
- VA loan information.
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Richard says
As a vet myself, I have found that the most vocal of the military members defending their their benefits are those who have not served in combat zones. Please explain to me why some fatbody E-7, who spends most of his day pounding beers at the NCO club, when he’s not at his desk job talking crap, should have any special consideration from any civilian? I’ve seen it first hand myself. Fact is, and I live in an extremely heavy retired vet area, most of these people expect to be treated better than the civilians who pay them to sit on their butts, and, frankly, as a vet myself, I find it upsetting. Plenty of vets around here are tapping VA benefits they have no business getting. How does a vet end up with PTSD working the avionics bench of an aircraft carrier? By lying, and being dishonorable, that’s how. I’ve been told multiple times I should “tap those bennies” by obese Harley Davidson riders down at the AmVets…I could get 10%….for life! What a deal. Reality is, these guys are socialist whiners, who expect people to kiss their ***** for their “service,” especially those who’ve never heard a gunshot in their entire service “career.” I respect those who have been in combat. They do deserve their benefits. The others? Not so much. There’s plenty of dirtbags in the military. I been exposed to a lot of them.
Marge says
Hahaha, military benefits too good? Make me laugh. Active is not great. A General doesn’t get the benefits or the paycheck my lawyer friend will get his FIRST year after law school. Subpar benefits and pay. Not complaining, but no one should be jealous – ha!
Bob says
One more comment…to those telling people to sign up if they are jealous, please keep in mind that many have health conditions that keep them from signing up.
Bob says
I totally agree that we have to provide incentive for military and reward them for risk. On the other hand, many are paid way above market for the risk and hours they put in. This leads them to think they are “too good” for the jobs offered them when they get out. This leads to high vet unemployment. They think that because they were compensated well while in the military, they deserve for this to continue in the private sector even though many are uneducated and lack marketable skills.
Also would like to point out that most military families that qualify for food stamps and welfare qualify bc they are not required to report housing and cola allowance. When you see military using food stamps, it is not sad but another benefit.
Mike says
If u served because u were defending our great nation i commend u and agree u should get all the benefits and more….however i bet 8 or 9 out of 10 guys who enlist do it for selfish reasons..1. Free college education 2. Big ego and want to be known as a hero to family and friends 3. Play call of duty too much and is infatuated with killing/guns 4. Want all/some/most of all the following :
1. GI bill $37,000 (avg. debt of college grad civilians is $20,000!)
2. Basic housing allowance (in San Diego, military personnel with depenants get $1893-$2847/month!!)
3. Basic allowance for subsistence (food allowance)$223-$323/month
4. Homeowner benefits
5. Dislocation allowance if relocating
6. Cost of living allowance $100-hundreds/mo. (dep.on locat.)
7. Combat compensation (if in active combat)
8. Hazardous duty pay ($150/mo) for hazardous duties ofc.
9. Per diem & Travel pay
10. Clothing allowance ($1,400 initial allowance f/ enlisted, and $350/yr. average thereafter)…I wish I got paid for buying my expensive work clothes and items!
11. Extremely generous retirement benefits! There is NO “vesting” percentages like civilians are required to follow. -Lucky military personnel! It is complicated how retirement is calculated, but a general estimation is appx. 55% of basepay after 20-30 years. (some military retire at 37!)…must be nice! A lot better than waiting till 65 and getting social security’s whopping $700/mo. I am projected to make at 67! (If I even live that long!)
12. Death Gratuity = $100,000 paid to the military’s survivors (spouse, etc.)
13. Dependency compensation (payable to survivors of deceased veterans) $1,154/mo -add $286/mo for EACH child under 18 years…pretty darn good death benefits!
14. Combat special compensation (for those who qualify)
15. Special pay (sea pay, flight pay, aviation career incentive pay, enlisted flyer incentive pay, submarine pay, wounded warrior pay, diving duty pay, ETC.) for those who perform certain jobs.
16. concurrent retirement & Disability pay (f/ those discharged with disabilities related to military work)
* FREE or Govmt. Subsidized Medical and Dental f/ active duty, retired, and dependents. Free Eyecare coverage for active duty, subsidized for dependents.
*Airline Tickets FREE for wounded/sick Military personnel (travel entitlement for military and their dependents)
* Beneficial treatment by federal employers, which entitle veterans to get preferential treatment (xtra points) if they are vets. (easier to get government jobs, harder to get fired, and first to be rehired, last to be laid off).
So to summarise if u joined for the right reason high five soldier thank you to the others, eh u joined knowing risk of death is very slim and because u take the risk u get whatever it is u want for urself.
Andrew says
You also do not get free food you get BAS pay for food if you don’t live in the barracks and don’t eat at the DFAC or chow hall. Soldiers who live in the barracks get a card allowing them to get free meals in the DFAC but you lose your food pay which is only a little over 200. In training or while deployed everyone gets free food but you really expect the military not to provide meals in a place you cant buy groceries or cook? The GI Bill is a very helpful and well deserved benefit. You pay $100 per month for the first year totaling $1200 to get the GI Bill. If you chose not to when you join will never get the benefit. No **** we have no degree and little experience. There is no need for a degree to enlist and most who do don’t have the money to go to college till they can use their GI Bill. Many veterans have a very hard time finding work after getting out because they don’t have a degree training or experience that is relevant to a civilian job especially combat arms soldiers. They need new skills and education to work in the civilian world. VA compensation known as disability is just that compensation for the physical and mental injuries that are determined to be service connected disabilities. It does not work like social security or any other type of disability payments which are for people unable to work due to their disability. VA compensation is to compensate for the scarifies, and damage caused by serving our country and defending all Americans freedom even your ungrateful right to free speech. I’m 40% service connected and only get $540 plus $127 for having 2 dependents total of $670. I earned that by totally screwing my back and shoulder up, and PTSD which is a lot more than you could ever imagine. Try living in my shoes with extremely bad anxiety anger being constantly on guard seeing everyone as a threat always looking over your shoulder having an extremely hard time in crowded places going to the mall grocery store riding the t “subway” having anxiety attacks in those situations and having no control over it. When you drive a truck on convoys nearly everyday all over Iraq constantly on guard watching every person, pothole, garbage on the road, vehicle, literally everything around you that could possibly be an IED and kill you it sticks with you and still happens back at home. Then when you actually see IEDs blow up and people die it gets even worse. You have no idea the hell veterans live through so hell yea soldiers who see combat deserve some compensation, especially the ones who get wounded. It is not easy to get VA compensation and very hard for people to fake PTSD opposed to what some people think. Not all military and veterans are republicans, I just voted for Obama today. Romney and most republicans want to raise the defense budget but most people don’t realize they also want to cut VA funding. They are for spending on defense that also don’t mean they will give a decent raise each year. If you think we get it so good find out for yourself why don’t you enlist and get all the great benefits, and such high paychecks, you might even get an all inclusive all expenses payed trip to Afghanistan with tax free pay checks and extra combat pay and free food a free tent and cot even a free flight! Bet you couldn’t even make it through basic training you coward. Next time you wanna talk **** and bash the military and veterans how about you get your facts straight.
Andrew says
Are you kidding me? Tim tom you and all these other low lives criticizing us, and saying we get payed too much, too many benefits
you make me sick. I sure as hell didn’t put my life on the line in Iraq or watch 2 friends die serving this great country to defend an ungrateful disrespectful person like you. We don’t make very much at all and work a hell of a lot more hours than people do in civilian jobs even when in the states I started at 615 till at least 5 usually longer and often till 7 8 9. In Iraq very often work 7 days a week. On top of putting our lives on the line the physical and mental damage we endure take into account how much work we put in. By the way we do pay taxes I payed federal and state taxes to Massachusetts since I never changed my residence some states don’t take income taxes but mine did. The only time your paycheck is tax free is while deployed in a combat zone.
RT says
According to President Obama looking at Ohio voting rights which he suied and won says military personnel are not allowed preferencial treatment above ordinary citizens when it comes to one of the most important right of Americans, the right to have their vote counted, military personenel cannot have the extra three days to vote that regular citizens can’t. If the supreme court ruled that military personnel are not allowed special treatment when it comes time to vote then there should be no special treatment when it comes to all other things.
Matt says
Ok here’s my problem I believe military personnel are actually rich when you consider the following factors. You say that with a promotion in 5 years the average pay is around 28,000 dollars. Now at first glance, that seems like not very much at all right? That’s lower class. Except that: their housing is free, the food is free, their healthcare is free, and sometimes even their car is free. ALSO THE 28000 DOLLARS IS UNTAXED. So basically it’s their own personal PLAY MONEY. Now let’s take an officer for example. You said in 5 years it’s about 56,000 dollars. Ok, their housing is free, their healthcare is free, and their food is free and the stores on base offer discounted products of all kinds free of taxes. PLUS THEIR MONEY IS UNTAXED. WHY IS IT UNTAXED??????? When if I were to work for the Federal, State, or Local government I wouldn’t get my paycheck untaxed. Even police officers have to pay taxes.
I honestly would feel a lot more sorry for them if they were paying the ridiculous taxes everyone else has to pay. Bottom line is what would you do if your house was free, food was free, and your healthcare was free? I mean I would be saving that money to get a ferrari or something it’s ridiculous.
Ryan Guina says
Hi Matt, I respect your opinion, but many of the items listed in your comment are only partial truths. I addressed these issues in the following article: Are Military Members Rich? A Look at Pay and Benefits. I hope this gives you a better understanding of some of the benefits our military members receive.
Mary says
$28000 net is like $42000 gross! No wonder all the military folks in my family live better than me and my husband.
issac olvera says
I’m an infantry Captain in the Marines and the argument can be made that “some” members of the military have it better than any option they would have in the civilian world. So in some specific cases the military does offer too much but my real contention is the comment used in the article:
“The benefits … make life a little easier for some of the people who put their lives on the line everyday”
We should not misrepresent the reality of military life. Most people in the military will go an entire 20-year career in the military without putting their life on the line even once. So let’s not create an image that Servicemembers stare death in the face every day. The truth is this: SOME people in the military put their lives on the line SOME of the time. The comment in the article, while flattering and well-intentioned, is dishonest to the public and to ourselves (the Servicemembers).
Ryan Guina says
Cpt. Olvera, while it’s true that many service members don’t put themselves into life threatening positions every day, the fact remains that servicemembers train for and are on alert to be called into that type action at any moment. This includes things such as deployments to combat zones and hazardous duty assignments, but it can also refer to working in dangerous positions in non-combat environments.
Some individuals go an entire career without incident, while others go to the front line every day. The willingness to train for these assignments, and more importantly, the willingness to go when called upon, is indeed a noteworthy sacrifice, even if a truly life threatening event only happens “some” of the time.
Mary says
Thank you for an educated and objective response. I value the role of the military but taxpayers should know the truth. Criticizing the military is off limits…a sacred cow! We should be able to discuss this topic without anger. I was glad to find this website. I wanted to learn.
CN says
this is for all the people who said military families shouldn’t receive benefits…i come from a military family..and actually my uncle is in the marines and my cousin is in the Army in Afghanistan as we speak. he doesn’t make a lot of money to support his family either and he has to rely on the benefits. And why are you guys bashing on the military when they are serving and protecting YOU! Without those brave men and women who knows where we will be. And until you put yourself in their shoes you have no right to bash them because you have no idea what its like. and next time think about what its like to be away from your loved ones.
To those who served for this country…i would like to THANK you for your service and heroism. I’m so moved by this topic that I’m writing my speech for one of my classes on this topic.
Tyler (0331 USMC) says
Tim Tom you are a joke, I am active duty in the Marine Corps, and you’re right, I don’t have any college under my belt, but what I do have is a combat deployment to Afghanistan and I’m leaving for my second today. I have better friends that I have served with than anyone could ask for. I have a wife and a son and yes we pinch pennies even with all of our “benefits”. I don’t know what you do for work, what I do know is I, at 21 years old have done things in my short life that you will never be able to say you have done. My son and someday my grandkids will be reading about things I personally participated in, in history books. And for the record, I’m an Infantryman not just some dude in a combat zone never seeing any combat. If you want to bash the military so much, please by all means go down, enlist, and spend a little 4 years of your life doing what we do, then you can talk smack. But I can’t be mad about you bashing the military, because last I check, It’s the ones you think so little of that give you the right to say and do what you want. So I hope you have a good day with everything you take for granted, I am going to spend the next 2 hours with my family saying good-bye before I have to go catch a plane.
Mary says
I believe those who are deployed should get great benefits. Thank you for keeping me and my family safe. I just do not understand the long outrageous list of benefits that are paid for by taxpayers, that these benefits are kept secret, and that stateside officers who are never in harms way get more than the enlisted person going to war. Should taxpayers really pay $1500 to 2000 per month for each officer to pay a mortgage in addition to a tax free paycheck, tuition, etc.? I honestly want to understand.
Mrs.V says
tim tom, MPH, DrPH, I am military spouse, my husband is an E6 in the United States Army, he has been deployed to Iraq three times, which one of the those deployments he was injured really bad, to the point where he had second and third degree burns on his body, so in the defense of all active duty and spouses, HOW DARE YOU TRY TO PUT A PRICE ON THE LIVES OF THE OTHERS SERVING OUR COUNTRY!!!, you can not out a price on it!! how many times did you have to kiss your wife and kids goodbye while you were getting ready to fight for freedom of others, I was 8 months pregnant with our last child not to mention I was high risk OB when my husband went to Iraq, not knowing if he is going to come back alive is hard, and very frustrating especially when you are miles away from family and friends and you have no support, so SHAME ON YOU!!! for saying that the military does not deserve the extra benefits, you can’t out a price on putting your life on the line.
US Army of 13 years says
HERE IT IS PEOPLE, WE ALL KNOW THAT LESS THAN 1% ARE IN THE MILITARY BECAUSE THE OTHER 99+% CANT GET IN ANYWAY, THEY CAN SAY WHAT THEY WANT IT DOESN’T BOTHER ME. I WILL PROUDLY SERVE FOR ANOTHER 7 YEARS AND RETIRE AT 38 YEARS OLD AND THEN LAUGH AT THE SAME PEOPLE WHO CRY ABOUT WHAT WE GET PAID. ITS SO FUNNY WHEN YOU GET A COUNTRY FULL OF CRAPHOUSE LAWYERS THAT DONT HAVE TO BALLS TO FIGHT FOR ANYTHING EXCEPT THEIR SPOT IN THE STARBUCKS LINE AND YET THEY CAN TYPE COMMENTS AND COMPLAIN BECAUSE THEY WERE TO LAZY TO PUT FORTH THE EFFORT TO JOIN OUR ELITE GROUP OF US SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN. AND TO ALL THE FAMILIES THAT THEIR SPOUSE/DAD/MOM IS OVERSEAS FIGHTING FOR THE A-HOLES (tim tom, MPH, DrPH) THAT B*TCH ABOUT THE CRAPPY 33,000 BUCKS I MADE LAST YEAR, I SALUTE YOU AND I HAVE YOUR BACK. I WILL ALWAYS HAVE YOUR 6.
SSG V
US ARMY
COMBAT ARMS
4TH DEPLOYMENT
US Army of 13 years says
OH YEAH THIS IS FOR YOU tim tom, MPH, DrPH THAT 33K WAS BEFORE ALL MY BENEFITS 🙂
Aj2010 says
I never respond to articles but this is for you MPH. I am in the military and I am gearing up to use this extension to my benefit. Even with that said, I will take this conversation from a different perspective. I served overseas for 10 years and am at my first duty station in the states (finishing up) and cant afford a house here, DC. I’m moving to my home town and using the house credit. ok you know about me… questions for you to think about:
1) why didn’t you use your tax credit – you had two years to do so? What circumstances prevented you from using it?
2) Many jobs pay many amounts. My particular training can net me over 100k a year in the civilian sector, (three friends of mine got out and earned that much within 24 months) I stay because I can see my 20 years and want my benefits. I don’t think I’m special, I’m the same as you. Who works at a job for 15 years and doesn’t expect their pay to go up? I know its not you with how you commented on the tax credit. Who works in a job that has no benefits if they have the ability to get a better job with more benefits? Not you!
3) if your so jealous, JOIN THE MILITARY. you can come work for me! put in your time and you can have all those benefits too. People like you just complain that things don’t come for free. I’m sure your job has benefits that you see as your right after how long you’ve had them. The difference between your job and mine, you can join mine tomorrow. I cant join yours. so stop complaining and come on over.
and real quick about the pay. Ive been deployed and everything. Ive seen all the pays and the special pays etc. I make about 65-67k a year total. I do well but that’s over 12 years invested (many people don’t have it in them to stick to something for that long) that’s after 12 years of dedication and always doing the right thing. never having sick days unless I’m half dead and i still need a doctor to sign me off so i don’t have to go run 5 miles. You go work 12-20 years somewhere and honestly tell me you don’t deserve to make 60-70k a year. that’s entry level pay for my skill set on the outside so how about you pay attention to your own grass. if mine is so green come mow it recruit!
U know says
Of course people hate the benefits we get because they don’t have the balls to sign up themselves. Grow a pair then come back and b**** about who gets what! Suck it!! get a better job with better benefits if you don’t like it!
Marc says
All I see are whinny military sissies wanting more and more… if military pay was based on real world expectations, you’d be working at McDs, and just maybe they’d trust you with the cash register but since you have the tendency to want to milk a bit more for the crappy work you do, maybe not.
James W says
To those of you that didn’t serve, go ahead and sign up if you want the damn benefits and pay so bad. I don’t ask why I don’t get paid for something I didn’t do! Why do you? That’s right, I signed up for it and did my time. I chose this. You are GD right I did. THAT is why I’m entitled to all this. Because I ****ing earned it. Why don’t you pack your **** up, head off to the war, get blown out of your humvee and lose a couple legs then come back and listen to other *******s like yourself complain out the benefits you’ve just earned. **** you.
Navy Vet.
Nick says
Hah! Come try and do PT with my squad and we’ll see who’s a hippie! (I know better than most, you don’t talk about politics or religion at work.)
“maybe we should protect our country before the enemy steps foot on the ground”
?
The enemy is already here. It’s complacency in the form of fat suburbanites like yourself. And when this out of control government finally does come to slaughter my wife and child and burn my home, well they won’t be able to, because every damn last one of us down to junior and little Suzie will be armed to the teeth. Wake the hell up.
Sergeant D
US Army
Jim says
@Nick
You would rather wait until our homeland is invaded to protect your home? Perhaps when your wife and children are slaughtered and your home is burned you would think “maybe we should protect our country before the enemy steps foot on the ground”. Also you should probably think about 9/11 if you think the country wasn’t attacked.
With the name Sergeant D I imagine you’re a hippy who wears military fatigues and prances around with flowers saying that peace and love will solve the world’s problems.
Nick says
Ha. Is the problem that Americans are sh*tbags? Should we have to pay ANYTHING to have able bodied men and women want to DEFEND THEIR HOMES AND FAMILIES? I would sure as hell defend mine (for free) come try me. But wait Americans couldn’t be so sh*tty that we don’t want to defend our homes and families right? Because ANYONE would want to do that. No, the reality is in this day and age being in the military has NOTHING TO DO WITH DEFENDING AMERICA. Its a job, you’re a mercenary. And its a job thats in demand so if you’re a tax payer and you don’t like it, instead of asking how much we’re paying these assassins why not ask why we have them. If you’re in the military and you enjoy it; just stay along for the ride, collect the dough and don’t tell everyone the emperor has no clothes. If you’re in the military and you hate it, well, good luck. I guess you should have thought of that, or your parents should have, maybe you’ll live long enough to warn your friends.
Sergeant D
sam says
to jn you signed up for it so its ur fault u are not with ur family
dual says
And its also his fault that YOU sleep under a blanket of freedom which HE provides.
Nate From the Jarhead Clan says
Sam,
I find it demeaning to stoop down and speak to someone on your level. But I will say this:
I agree, we did sign the line and knew damn well what we were getting into. What we didnt know is that people like you have no idea what it is like to fight for something you love. I have served in cuba, haiti, bosnia, iraq and afghanistan. I did this for the thought that others would appreciate the freedoms we offer. Not for you and your ignorance. I did it for the children that were missing limbs from landmines in the former yugoslavia. The women that suffer from oppression, **** and irrefutable torture. Not you and your rights to be as flamingly homo-sexual or emo or chemically anti-depressed. I have served my country, missed my 2 children being born, my grandson being born, divorced, missed funerals and bent,broke and destroyed my body in the name of the country I so adore. So sir with all due respect you have no right to speak here.
USMC GySgt 18.5 years service
wes says
yea sam its our fault that we joined, everyone of us joined to leave our families and pay the sacrifice that keeps America free. you don’t know why people joined.
Hank says
JN,
He also forgot…
#17 – Family Separation Allowance. That $250 per month (only after you have been gone for 30 days…those 2-3 week field exercises don’t count) makes up for all the missed childhoods, births, school events, sports games, separations, etc. etc. (Can you hear the sarcasm dripping out?)
Interesting side note…do you know that when the 82nd Airborne sent Paratroopers to New Orleans to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, that over 95% of them were away from their families exactly 29 days. Coincidence? No…
JN says
Oh … Mr. MPH .. I forgot… how many times have you packed up your family and moved across the country or to another country.. there are families out there that move once a year… and are proud to wear the uniform…
You have no idea… of what you speak.. and until you have put on a uniform and lived our life… you have no right to complain… It’s a damn shame when you see military soldiers using food stamps.. just to get their kids some milk and cheese… you have no right….
Retired military Officer / military spouse
JN says
Oh and Mr. MPH – when was the last time you strapped on a kevlar jacket and bdus and a weapon, kissed your wife and two kids, one of which you weren’t around for the birth because you were deployed, and went off to your 2nd or 3rd deployment, stood guard or led on-point to protect the rights of others and fought for the right for you to complain about how much we in the military get paid. When was the last time you stood in the doorway and watched your husband or wife or mom or dad go off to war for the 3rd time…. worse yet, when was the last time you saw a military sedan pull up to your house … and watched a Chaplain and a Casualty Notification Officer walked up to the door … and you stood there … not wanting to open the door …. because if you did, your whole world was going to change….
A retired military officer / military spouse
tim tom, MPH, DrPH says
I disagree that military personnel deserves extra benefits. You are completely biased in your explanation of how “low” their pay rate is. After 4 months in the military, an E-1 will be recieving appx. $30,000/yr in annual salary(This figure includes the value of FREE HOUSING, FREE FOOD, & INCOME TAX ADVANTAGES). An E-6 with 4 kids and 10 yrs. experience will make appx. $55,000/yr. This is WITH NO COLLEGE DEGREE! Comparitively, a person in the civilian life earning minimum wage will earn only $1,160 per mo. ($14,000/yr) ONLY!
You also fail to mention nearly all of the types of extra military allowances and pay. (Currently, the military has over 70 separate types of pay and allowances).
MILITARY.COM states “military retirement pay is “arguably the best deal around” for active duty retirees. This amt. increases each year.
Some benefits/xtra pay/bonuses, etc. that many military personnel get that you fail to mention, that must be factored into consideration:
1. GI bill $37,000 (avg. debt of college grad civilians is $20,000!)
2. Basic housing allowance (in San Diego, military personnel with depenants get $1893-$2847/month!!)
3. Basic allowance for subsistence (food allowance)$223-$323/month
4. Homeowner benefits
5. Dislocation allowance if relocating
6. Cost of living allowance $100-hundreds/mo. (dep.on locat.)
7. Combat compensation (if in active combat)
8. Hazardous duty pay ($150/mo) for hazardous duties ofc.
9. Per diem & Travel pay
10. Clothing allowance ($1,400 initial allowance f/ enlisted, and $350/yr. average thereafter)…I wish I got paid for buying my expensive work clothes and items!
11. Extremely generous retirement benefits! There is NO “vesting” percentages like civilians are required to follow. -Lucky military personnel! It is complicated how retirement is calculated, but a general estimation is appx. 55% of basepay after 20-30 years. (some military retire at 37!)…must be nice! A lot better than waiting till 65 and getting social security’s whopping $700/mo. I am projected to make at 67! (If I even live that long!)
12. Death Gratuity = $100,000 paid to the military’s survivors (spouse, etc.)
13. Dependency compensation (payable to survivors of deceased veterans) $1,154/mo -add $286/mo for EACH child under 18 years…pretty darn good death benefits!
14. Combat special compensation (for those who qualify)
15. Special pay (sea pay, flight pay, aviation career incentive pay, enlisted flyer incentive pay, submarine pay, wounded warrior pay, diving duty pay, ETC.) for those who perform certain jobs.
16. concurrent retirement & Disability pay (f/ those discharged with disabilities related to military work)
* FREE or Govmt. Subsidized Medical and Dental f/ active duty, retired, and dependents. Free Eyecare coverage for active duty, subsidized for dependents.
*Airline Tickets FREE for wounded/sick Military personnel (travel entitlement for military and their dependents)
* Beneficial treatment by federal employers, which entitle veterans to get preferential treatment (xtra points) if they are vets. (easier to get government jobs, harder to get fired, and first to be rehired, last to be laid off).
ETC, ETC, ETC.
So don’t try to pull the wool over people’s eyes whining that military personell get horrible pay and benefits, because that just isn’t so! Especially for active duty who have NO COLLLEGE DEGREE, and LITTLE OR NO EXPERIENCE, they get GREAT PAY and BENEFITS! you have to combine pay with benefits, which many Americans say benefits are as important, and often more important than pay levels.
Actually, you guys have it TOO GOOD! So quit your whining!
Ryan says
tim tom, MPH, DrPH, I have responded to your comment with a full length article regarding military pay and benefits.
dual says
So let me get this straight, you think we get paid too much, compared to a ciivilain? Did you factor in the 7-18 months deployment away from family that is not an option, or the fact that we are working 24 hours a day 7 days aweek. If you think it is so good, quit bashing us and sign up. You couldn’t hack it if you tried.
Judith Loza says
Very well said….
Or the fact that you might never come home to your family. It’s thanks to you and all these men and women in the service that I can sleep peacefully in my bed at night.
My husband was wounded in Iraq and is 100% disabled.
Oh and Tim you can thank all the men and women that make sure you can sleep tight at night.
Military does not pay our men and women enough. My husband does have coverage because he is 100% disabled but, again but, it’s at a VA hospital. If you know VA hospitals them I don’t need to say anything else……
wes says
i love the fact that there are so many people that can say the military doesn’t deserve what we get. To think that you can sit at a computer and think that all the benefits that a soldier gets is to much is b***s***. let me ask you this tim tom, if you got hurt doing your job wouldn’t you get some kind of compensation?? so if a soldier gets his legs blown off you don’t think that the government should do all it can to help him out. what a lot of you people don’t understand is that as a soldier yea we might have get the benefits we deserve but we loose so much. it must be nice having a 9-5 job knowing that you can sleep with your wife or see your kids everyday but imagine going a year with out them and not knowing if your going to live through the next day. then tell me you don’t think a soldier deserves what he gets.
William Fields says
tim tom, MPH, DrPH,
If you’re so ****** off, why don’t you volunteer. Maybe you can get some of those benefits you could EARN by putting YOUR life on the line everyday. Otherwise, your mistake. Deal with it!!
FC1(SS), USN(Ret)
Mary says
Thank you for exposing the truth. Taxpayers do not know they are paying military officers’ mortgages. And I didn’t know that they do not paying wage taxes. These benefits are excessive. The other awful truth is that enlisted servicemen & women who go to war seem to get less than the officers and there families who stay stateside. I am also glad that you mentioned that they already get socialized medicine too. I know quite a few military people and it strikes me funny that they say they are right wingers who believe in capitalism.
Hank says
I’m biased, but I like to think that members of the military deserve the benefits they earn.
The real problem for the government is that adding new benefits does not translate into an increased retention or increase in new recruits for the most part. Large programs like the new GI Bill will without a doubt keep people in the military longer, but extending the Home Buyers credit won’t. The US Government needs to focus on the big benefits that have a payoff to the government and stop wasting time with the little ones that no one really cares about.
Ryan says
I don’t think this was used as a retention tool as much as it was intended to give military members who were overseas the opportunity to take advantage of the $8,000 First-time Home Buyers credit to purchase a home. This is something deployed military members probably couldn’t take advantage of because they were overseas and couldn’t dedicate the time it takes to buy a house. Many military members deploy for 12 months or more, so many military members still may not be able to take advantage of this extension, even if they wanted to.
Darwin's Finance says
I’m not military, so my judgment is unbiased. Hell yeah they deserve these benefits! Your article only scratched the surface on why military personnel deserve benefits that others aren’t entitled to. Is it fair that many civil servants only work 25 years and retire with a full pension (yes 100% for life). Is it fair that government employees virtually never face the prospect of a layoff, or have to compete to keep their job? Surely, you can list out hundreds of groups of employees throughout the country that enjoy special privileges that haven’t sacrificed nearly to the degree that our armed forces personnel do – both during their service and then for the rest of their life.
Sounds like the commenter’s just ****** because the administration’s giving away the house and anyone that doesn’t feel they “got theirs” is ****** saying, “where’s mine”? Well, too bad. While Obama’s doing his best to “spread that wealth around”, sorry to tell him, but these benefits were around way before Obama’s agenda. And they should stay.
Four Pillars says
I understand the commenter’s basic premise that there shouldn’t be a bunch of new perks for military personel but I really don’t see what the big deal is about extending the housing credit to people who were deployed overseas and couldn’t use it.
They should be allowed to use this credit like every other American – it’s not an “extra benefit”.