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I have a younger brother who is interested in joining and from what I saw from the pay scales it looks pretty low...unless you are an officer. Can anyone offer any comments?
I have a younger brother who is interested in joining and from what I saw from the pay scales it looks pretty low...unless you are an officer. Can anyone offer any comments?
For the job people do who join the military, they should be paid a lot more imo. It pisses me off to see the pay scales, but if you don't have much or anything or just want to serve a country or have a better life then you will do it regardless of pay. They also offer housing and other benefits that are not calculated in the pay scale such as paying for college, healthcare, food, etc.
So if you add in all of the benefits the pay isn't bad.
I have a younger brother who is interested in joining and from what I saw from the pay scales it looks pretty low...unless you are an officer. Can anyone offer any comments?
Acme Inc. doesn't offer you a free house (if married) or other place to stay. It doesn't give you free medical and dental treatment. It doesn't pay for your food. It doesn't give you a free gym. It doesn't help and encourage you take classes. It doesn't have a true pension system, one of the last in the US. If it gives you any of these things, they cost you money out of your 'better' pay.
You can't really compare Acme Inc. pay and military pay. A huge chunk of military benefits are non-monetary.
Acme Inc. doesn't offer you a free house (if married) or other place to stay. It doesn't give you free medical and dental treatment. It doesn't pay for your food. It doesn't give you a free gym. It doesn't help and encourage you take classes. It doesn't have a true pension system, one of the last in the US. If it gives you any of these things, they cost you money out of your 'better' pay.
You can't really compare Acme Inc. pay and military pay. A huge chunk of military benefits are non-monetary.
There are a number of states that don't tax military pay. Allowances are not taxed, as well. The follow-on educational benefits are excellent, whether one stays in only one term, or 20 years. Finally, a couple of intangibles: the camraderie or brotherhood or whatever you want to call it, it has few equals outside of the military, and then there's the knowledge that what you're part of is something unique and important.
To pile on with Sluggo and Georgia Transplant said.
With TA, a Service Member can complete school for almost nothing. Then there's the GI Bill or Post 9/11 GI Bill which you can transfer to a dependent.
There are a bunch of things as well: auto center for you to work on your car, tax preparation services, $27/month for $400,000 life insurance policy, various family/children programs, VA loans, eligibility for great financial institutions (USAA, Pen Fed, Navy Fed), it's almost endless.
Illinois doesn't tax military pay and many states will tax but refund it to you at tax time. And only the base pay is taxable. If you qualify for a housing allowance, that is not taxed. BAS (basic allowance subsistence) is not taxed, it's money for food, and currently ~$340/month for Enlisted. Basic Allowance Housing (BAH) is based on dependency status and geographical location. If you're married, your spouse is considered a dependent, doesn't matter how much or little they make. If you have a child, they're a dependent.
Deployment brings additional pay and only deduction is Social Security. No income tax is paid on deployment up to the amount that the top Enlisted man in your branch receives, I believe. I'm not 100% sure on that, though.
While Officers do get paid more than Enlisted, there's a reason for that. E1-E4 are basically responsible for themselves and a small amount of equipment. Show up on time, in the right uniform at the right place and everything will go smooth. E5 and beyond has responsibility for E1-E4, their equipment and personal/professional development.
Remember, you're paid on responsibility and not the physical amount of work you do. Some junior Enlisted guys have the mentality that "I do so much more work than the LT but he gets paid so much more than I do..." Don't fall into that. Remember that the LT has invested years and tens of thousands of dollars into a college education.
Last but certainly not least, when you're in the military, you have the confidence of know that the guy to the left and right of you will lay his life down on the line for you. You best be willing to do the same.
I have a younger brother who is interested in joining and from what I saw from the pay scales it looks pretty low...unless you are an officer. Can anyone offer any comments?
Single or married?
Figure base pay. Housing allowance (Tax free), full medical coverage for him and family. (Our kids cost us $5.25 each to be born). 20 year retirement. Re-enlistment bonus's. You draw your retirement when you retire. I know two people who retired military, and now getting second retirement from being police officer and firefighter...
Yes, officer pay is more.
I served 22 years, after my second career I retired at age 51 and became the house husband... I have no second thoughts, would do it again.
I have a younger brother who is interested in joining and from what I saw from the pay scales it looks pretty low...unless you are an officer. Can anyone offer any comments?
The US military is where your employer houses you, feeds you, provides job training and medical treatment.
You can take college courses while on Active Duty for free, and you can challenge college courses for credit for free.
If you volunteer for any of the more challenging duties, then there are a host of extra pays that kick in. They can often exceed base-pay.
While the pay itself may not be the best, the side benefits can be really great. Education opportunities, health care, housing, etc.
My ex GF has a Son who held lackluster jobs after he got out of high school, and he enlisted in the Air Force. He worked his way up to become a security guard at some missile sites and then he became a recruiter. It was such a good career for him that his wife ended up enlisting and she worked as a computer specialist.
After only being in there for about 5 years they bought a house in Montana and were transferred to Atlanta. They kept the house in Montana and rented it out, then bought a second home in Atlanta. They both drove new cars, and had a really nice life with lots of benefits and a great retirement package. He is going to stay in for the 20 years at least the last I heard. Every time he reupped he was given a big check to do that.
The downside is that with the world in it's current state of unrest you never know where you might be told to go, but that is part of being a soldier. But for someone who wants to make something of themselves it is a great way to do it, especially if you choose one of the armed forces like the Air Force, where your chances of seeing combat are lessened.
Military Pay from Pay Tables Defense Finance and Accounting Service An E-1, the lowest ranking military pay grade starts at $1,402.20 and after four months service $1,516.20 per month. That is only $9.47 per hour... After two years he should be an E-4 with a base pay of $2,081.10. Any real comments for real military people who really know if this is a valid guess in today's military for Enlisted personnel ?
I don't want to get into the pay grade argument. But if you can not make E-6 or above in 20 years in the U.S. Army then there is a problem... So lets assume he makes E-6 and goes past 20 years his base pay will be $3,650.70 (or more) per month.
Lets say he entered 20 years ago. Never put any money into TSP (Thrift Savings Plan [Check it out]) What retirement would he be making if he retired now? As an E-6? $1,454 per month minimum for the rest of his life (There are COLA increases). Not a lot, but he would be 38 years old, have full medical coverage for life (There are some fee), and his family until they reach certain ages for children. I pay about $450 per year. We have some co-pays, I think my wife's recent $15,000 toe surgery had a $25.00 co-pay...
Back to where we were going in. Assume he is married. Assume he is stationed at zip code 87048, where I live, (Albuquerque NM area). E-6 with DEPENDENTS (Just being married is 'with DEPENDENTS': He would get $1353.00 per month BAH. That is tax free. How much taxable income would you have to make to clear $1353.00 per month? I low ball the estimate at $1,500 per month, minimum... Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) - The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a U.S. based allowance prescribed by geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status. It provides uniformed Service members equitable housing compensation based on housing costs in local civilian housing markets within the United States when government quarters are not provided. A uniformed service member stationed outside the U.S., including U.S. territories and possessions, not furnished government housing, is eligible for Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA).
MEDICAL - How much do you pay for medical insurance for your family? For the military, it is free except dental (Many times), for the family...
Rich
Last edited by Poncho_NM; 06-10-2013 at 04:48 PM..
What everyone has stated is correct about military pay and benefits.
Another perspective is that military pay is gross-pay after housing, utilities, food, medical, and dental insurance/bills have been paid for.
So an E-1 at $1,500 per month has approx $1,100 (after taxes) to do whatever he wants with it.
An E-4 at $2,000 per month has approx $1,400.
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