After 10 years in Iraq and Afghanistan, our troops are coming home from war to a difficult economy, staggering foreclosure rates and high unemployment. Now, if Washington gets its way, they’ll also face their lowest pay raise in decades. Nice. So as investment bankers get hefty bonuses on Wall Street, a Marine Corps Sergeant in Fallujah would get a minimal pay increase, or in the worst circumstances, a pay freeze.
According to new reports, the President is expected to propose a 1.4% raise for the military in 2011 - the lowest pay raise for service members since 1962, when no raise was given. His proposal comes as the White House is seeking ways to reduce the growing U.S. deficit and pull the economy out of the worst recession we’ve seen in decades.
In the last three years, active duty pay has increased between 3.4 percent and 3.9 percent. As the largest new veterans organization and as a member of The Military Coalition (TMC), we at IAVA know that in the midst of two wars, military pay is not a place to start freezing or cutting to pull us out of the recession.
Every single servicemember deserves a pay increase. That's why IAVA and TMC advocate for across-the-board increases and support the Houses's 1.9 percent pay raise. The objective of Congress should be to close the private sector-military pay gap, not make it larger. For comparison, the average pay of a Private is just over $19,000 a year, as opposed to $29,000 for workers in the fast food industry.
The debt commission must abandon recommending freezing military pay increases altogether. If it doesn't, it will set an unacceptable precedent for our troops and their families - who have already given so much. If anyone understands the need for shared sacrifice during tough times, it's the military. And they've been sacrificing for 10 years now. Washington, don't make us sacrifice our already paltry pay too.
Crossposted at IAVA.org.
Follow Paul Rieckhoff on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PaulRieckhoff
When my turn came for Vietnam in '68, I was Naval Flight Instructor in Pensacola area. My good government was looking to send me away from wife and family on a Carrier for a year. Assuming I survived, I was at the time making $15,000/yr as a Lcdr, USN with flight pay.
I looked around and saw airline pilots making double that in retirement. Now I might be dumb, but not stupid. And don't bring up that malarkey about God and country, flag-waving, et al. I resigned and got out after putting in 12 years, flew for an airline for 22 years. Life has been good.
It appears that wars have become more profitable for all involved - what, with a Sgt now making three times more than I was...
I'm a Veteran, and believe that National Defense is one of the few indispensable roles of the U.S. Government; however, the country is out of money, and the Federal Deficit is now becoming as dangerous to the U.S. as any potential foreign adversary.
Why is it the military should take a hit they absolutely do not need when first it's the private contractors where fraud, waste and abuse is out of control that should. For doing basically the same things that our active duty military are doing, but being paid far and away thousands more along with bonuses....why the disparity between civilian and military personnel?
Haven't heard about that vote yet....
That said, and war views aside, I have to say that Paul, IAVA, and The Military Coalition is right on by opposing any pay raise scam for our troops. I'm also glad that Paul has posted a link to TMC which IAVA is a member of. Readers need to take note and pay very close attention to which organizations are members to see that most support a strong defense budget and support the war(s). However, WE cannot have the wars if we piss off the troops fighting in them on endless deployments.
In strong support of Paul's position on this, he fails to mention one notable fact that reinforces what he means by someone flipping burgers making $29,000 a year compared to a Private making over $19,000. Even throwing in the hidden benefits of serving in the Armed Forces that military recruiters pitch, and the combat pay, a warrior still makes much less than their civilian counterpart. Lastly, about 1% of the U.S. citizenry carry the burden of the other 99% even the Obama administration knows this. Cut or screw with pay, and THE DRAFT could be based on necessity not desire.
While a 1.9% increase doesn't seem like much, it is in the wake of unemployment benefits not being extended to those who have lost their jobs due to economic policy that doesn't work and excessive military spending.
Federal Income Tax exclusion: variable
Family Separation: $250
BAH: variable--depends on having a lease or mortgage and/or family dependents as well as the zip code of the dwelling.
Hazardous Duty Pay: $150
Imminent Dander/Hostile Fire Pay: $225
BAS: Officers--$223.04, Enlisted--$323.87
Based on total household size and income Soldiers may qualify for Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance: not to exceed $1100
There are other pays depending on job: sea pay, medical specialy pays, submarine pay, aircraft crew (non-AWACs) pay, dive pay, Parachute, Flight Deck, Demolition and others.
It sucked then, and it sucks now. In *my* book, people who risk their lives on the job, should be the very *last* not to get a raise.