Comments on: Paying More, Buying Less http://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/ Online Defense and Acquisition Journal Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:06:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: BOOMERhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19656 BOOMER Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:50:04 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19656 I dont see any bad call's on 7.62 in any theater, I have carried either an M60, M14, FNLAR, H&KG3, Galiali or Ak47 inalmost every theater on this planet and the results were always the same (dead bad guy with fewer shots). I cant say the same about 5.56mm when used (the bad guy died but took more rounds - and I was using 77gr projectiles). 6.5 and 6.8 flat is out of the question due to cost period, already agreed by all who have a say - 1,000's of new 7.62mm are being purchased monthly, and more are requested, More M240's are being purchased as well, and every M14 has been put back into service along with numerous 12ga shotguns. We are already on the way to bringing 7.62mm back, 1 in 10 twist barrels with 180gr projectiles is the new favorite for putting down bad guys, and the M118 long range round is used a lot as well in these weapons with far better succes than a 5.56mm. I cannot think of any purpose other than plinking or rodent hunting that I would rather carry a 5.56mm. But then I never switched to a 9mm either for the same reason. I even carried a 44 mag a number of times, really made the bad guys take cover when it went off, hence where I got the nick name BOOMER from my guys. I dont see any bad call’s on 7.62 in any theater, I have carried either an M60, M14, FNLAR, H&KG3, Galiali or Ak47 inalmost every theater on this planet and the results were always the same (dead bad guy with fewer shots). I cant say the same about 5.56mm when used (the bad guy died but took more rounds — and I was using 77gr projectiles). 6.5 and 6.8 flat is out of the question due to cost period, already agreed by all who have a say — 1,000’s of new 7.62mm are being purchased monthly, and more are requested, More M240’s are being purchased as well, and every M14 has been put back into service along with numerous 12ga shotguns. We are already on the way to bringing 7.62mm back, 1 in 10 twist barrels with 180gr projectiles is the new favorite for putting down bad guys, and the M118 long range round is used a lot as well in these weapons with far better succes than a 5.56mm. I cannot think of any purpose other than plinking or rodent hunting that I would rather carry a 5.56mm. But then I never switched to a 9mm either for the same reason. I even carried a 44 mag a number of times, really made the bad guys take cover when it went off, hence where I got the nick name BOOMER from my guys.

]]> By: William C.http://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19604 William C. Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:26:19 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19604 Going back to 7.62x51mm is a bad call for various reasons in theaters other than Afghanistan. It is either a new cartridge like these 6.5mm or 6.8mm calibers, or sticking with 5.56mm but issuing more designated marksmen rifles to the squad. Going back to 7.62x51mm is a bad call for various reasons in theaters other than Afghanistan. It is either a new cartridge like these 6.5mm or 6.8mm calibers, or sticking with 5.56mm but issuing more designated marksmen rifles to the squad.

]]> By: BOOMERhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19244 BOOMER Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:20:38 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19244 We need to spend our money more wisely in many ways and improve the bang for the buck. Why spend 2 grand (man hours - transportation- and parts) to rebuild an M4/M16 coming back from in country which we know is insuficient in pure knock down during combat when we can buy a brand new 7.62mm for the same price ( I know, I know, a lot of you want 6.8 or 6.5 but it iwll never happen due to retooling cost of Lake City Army ammunition plant, 7.62mm is the easiest and cheapest route). How come the brass wont let us add muzzle breaks to our 50cals to reduce recoil thus parts wear and breakage (a $300.00 fix for a $6,000.00 weapon). Why do we keep spending so much to maintain Hummers when we could replace them with better vehicles (look up the MARINES IFAV "Interim fast assault vehicle" they and SOCOM are buying). How come it is we keep talking about Littoral combat but are not doing anything for it other than talking. Littoral combat requires involvement from all forces, but no one is doing it. This hurt us in NAM and other skirmishes - The ARMY expects the NAVY to handle water ops, but constantly pulls NAVY assets to them when they realize they need them. So how come we dont open up SWCC to all branches so the ARMY and MARINES have thier own Littoral/COIN maritime units and cross train to work together just as all the SPECOPS need to work and cross train more closely together, as do the regular forces. How come the MARINES are the only ones still researching COIN aircraft. SIMPLE english is we could greatly improve our military with the alloted funds by putting our heads together rathjer than fighting for a bigger piece of the pie. We need to spend our money more wisely in many ways and improve the bang for the buck. Why spend 2 grand (man hours — transportation– and parts) to rebuild an M4/M16 coming back from in country which we know is insuficient in pure knock down during combat when we can buy a brand new 7.62mm for the same price ( I know, I know, a lot of you want 6.8 or 6.5 but it iwll never happen due to retooling cost of Lake City Army ammunition plant, 7.62mm is the easiest and cheapest route). How come the brass wont let us add muzzle breaks to our 50cals to reduce recoil thus parts wear and breakage (a $300.00 fix for a $6,000.00 weapon). Why do we keep spending so much to maintain Hummers when we could replace them with better vehicles (look up the MARINES IFAV “Interim fast assault vehicle” they and SOCOM are buying). How come it is we keep talking about Littoral combat but are not doing anything for it other than talking. Littoral combat requires involvement from all forces, but no one is doing it. This hurt us in NAM and other skirmishes — The ARMY expects the NAVY to handle water ops, but constantly pulls NAVY assets to them when they realize they need them. So how come we dont open up SWCC to all branches so the ARMY and MARINES have thier own Littoral/COIN maritime units and cross train to work together just as all the SPECOPS need to work and cross train more closely together, as do the regular forces. How come the MARINES are the only ones still researching COIN aircraft. SIMPLE english is we could greatly improve our military with the alloted funds by putting our heads together rathjer than fighting for a bigger piece of the pie.

]]> By: BOOMERhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19225 BOOMER Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:28:52 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19225 The need to maintain an amphibiuos assualt capability is very important despite what many have posted. Despite what they believe the majority of equipment and supplies is transported by sea. We may not always be lucky enough to have a port to pull into to offload our ships or nearby countries that allow us to land our planes to unload equipment. The reason our amphibious forces have not come under direct fire since Korea is because everyone knows the ability of the Navy to be able to lay waste to a coastline if challenged and why they enemy avoids this type of engagement. In order to take the battle to a major military such as China - Korea - or even Cuba or Venesuela an amphibious assault will be neccesary to gain a foothold and set up airfields for the rest of the military toher than airborne to come in or helos which would be deployed from ships, but no heavy gear will get ashore till we take the ground for it to land on. (there is no way they can drive there from Thailand international airport folks. The need to maintain an amphibiuos assualt capability is very important despite what many have posted. Despite what they believe the majority of equipment and supplies is transported by sea. We may not always be lucky enough to have a port to pull into to offload our ships or nearby countries that allow us to land our planes to unload equipment. The reason our amphibious forces have not come under direct fire since Korea is because everyone knows the ability of the Navy to be able to lay waste to a coastline if challenged and why they enemy avoids this type of engagement. In order to take the battle to a major military such as China — Korea — or even Cuba or Venesuela an amphibious assault will be neccesary to gain a foothold and set up airfields for the rest of the military toher than airborne to come in or helos which would be deployed from ships, but no heavy gear will get ashore till we take the ground for it to land on. (there is no way they can drive there from Thailand international airport folks.

]]> By: BOOMERhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19220 BOOMER Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:16:37 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19220 The budget year almost always starts out this way and changes within months. Nothing new to additional funds being approved for the budget so there is nothing to get worked up about yet. There are many in the govt that feel the military is over paid, by thier math the average GI makes $50.00 an hour including benefits - food - housing. We all know this is BS, these are the same politicians who believe the majority of America (mid income) earn just at $250,000.00 a year then there is lower income @ $35,000.00 a year. So if I dont make enough to be middle class and too much to be lower class then where do the rest of us fall in (PURGATORY). To tell you the truth I/m fed up with IVY leaugers classifying us period and placeing themselves at the top of the heap when its well known they have the same issues as the rest of us, they can just aford to do it more often and hire attorneys when they get caught. The system is broken. The military does need to slow down and take a look at what is already available and not look to replace systems that are time tested and proven. They need to go old school by putting out what they want and let the contractors approach them with thier items after they have built and tested them out of thier own pockets and not ours. The budget year almost always starts out this way and changes within months. Nothing new to additional funds being approved for the budget so there is nothing to get worked up about yet.
There are many in the govt that feel the military is over paid, by thier math the average GI makes $50.00 an hour including benefits — food — housing. We all know this is BS, these are the same politicians who believe the majority of America (mid income) earn just at $250,000.00 a year then there is lower income @ $35,000.00 a year. So if I dont make enough to be middle class and too much to be lower class then where do the rest of us fall in (PURGATORY). To tell you the truth I/m fed up with IVY leaugers classifying us period and placeing themselves at the top of the heap when its well known they have the same issues as the rest of us, they can just aford to do it more often and hire attorneys when they get caught. The system is broken. The military does need to slow down and take a look at what is already available and not look to replace systems that are time tested and proven. They need to go old school by putting out what they want and let the contractors approach them with thier items after they have built and tested them out of thier own pockets and not ours.

]]> By: DensityDuckhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19207 DensityDuck Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:40:55 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19207 Dude. You need to be LESS FREAKING OBVIOUS about your trolling. You were doing better in the F-35 threads, why not go back there? Dude. You need to be LESS FREAKING OBVIOUS about your trolling. You were doing better in the F-35 threads, why not go back there?

]]> By: TMBhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19202 TMB Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:43:39 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19202 Since you've only been in the army for about 10 seconds maybe you should ask your team leader to teach you about the military pay system. You went to that calculator apparently without actually reading each line. That calculator makes it look like EVERYONE draws BAH. A soldier living in the barracks makes a hell of a lot less than a soldier living off post. Have you bothered to read your own LES lately? Since you’ve only been in the army for about 10 seconds maybe you should ask your team leader to teach you about the military pay system. You went to that calculator apparently without actually reading each line. That calculator makes it look like EVERYONE draws BAH. A soldier living in the barracks makes a hell of a lot less than a soldier living off post. Have you bothered to read your own LES lately?

]]> By: soonergrunthttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19201 soonergrunt Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:54:01 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19201 An E-3--wow. Do tell all of us career types all about all the years we qualified for welfare payments if we lived off post with our families or we lived in government housing that was barely liveable. Tell us all about the guys who held down part time jobs to make ends meet. An E1 with less than four months makes $16,068/year. An E1 over 4 months makes $17,364/year (2010 pay chart) so an E1 will make $16,932 in his first year. Since poverty rates in the US are only calculated using the cost of food, and ignores the cost of transportation, clothing, utilities, and medical care, that leaves a huge number of EMs below the poverty level, which is artificially low to begin with. BAH rarely makes up the difference, and I've only met one E-4 who was married to someone with a college degree and they were up to their eyes in loan debt. If everybody wants to stay in, your command can pick and chose who to keep. If you're honestly worried about being accepted to re-up, then maybe you should be doing whatever it is that needs doing to be one of those chosen, instead of posting incoherent, easily refuted crap on the internet. An E-3–wow. Do tell all of us career types all about all the years we qualified for welfare payments if we lived off post with our families or we lived in government housing that was barely liveable. Tell us all about the guys who held down part time jobs to make ends meet.
An E1 with less than four months makes $16,068/year. An E1 over 4 months makes $17,364/year (2010 pay chart) so an E1 will make $16,932 in his first year. Since poverty rates in the US are only calculated using the cost of food, and ignores the cost of transportation, clothing, utilities, and medical care, that leaves a huge number of EMs below the poverty level, which is artificially low to begin with. BAH rarely makes up the difference, and I’ve only met one E-4 who was married to someone with a college degree and they were up to their eyes in loan debt.
If everybody wants to stay in, your command can pick and chose who to keep. If you’re honestly worried about being accepted to re-up, then maybe you should be doing whatever it is that needs doing to be one of those chosen, instead of posting incoherent, easily refuted crap on the internet.

]]> By: Greghttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19200 Greg Sun, 31 Jan 2010 07:53:06 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19200 Can't you read. The G2mil post is linked to a DOD calculator for pay. That is the Pentagon's figures. Why do you gin up this 17K BS. Are you trying to kill recruiting and reenlistments. Are you trying to fatten your wallet with lies? I am happy with my E-3 pay. The only problem is that everyone wants to stay in the Navy, so I worry I will not be accepted for reenlistment. Can’t you read. The G2mil post is linked to a DOD calculator for pay. That is the Pentagon’s figures. Why do you gin up this 17K BS. Are you trying to kill recruiting and reenlistments. Are you trying to fatten your wallet with lies? I am happy with my E-3 pay. The only problem is that everyone wants to stay in the Navy, so I worry I will not be accepted for reenlistment.

]]> By: William C.http://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19197 William C. Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:02:09 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19197 Oh please Byron? The right wing conservative Americans? It is the left wing liberals who are constantly accusing our solders of murdering "innocent" Iraqis. It is the left wing liberals who insult our soldier's intelligence and compare them to Nazis. It is the left wing liberals who don't want to fund anything. If they had their way the USAF would consist of old biplanes and we would have no tanks. Conservatives of the particular institution? Are you incapable of writing a sentence that makes sense? What is this mysterious "particular institution" you are always referencing? Oh please Byron? The right wing conservative Americans? It is the left wing liberals who are constantly accusing our solders of murdering “innocent” Iraqis. It is the left wing liberals who insult our soldier’s intelligence and compare them to Nazis. It is the left wing liberals who don’t want to fund anything. If they had their way the USAF would consist of old biplanes and we would have no tanks.

Conservatives of the particular institution? Are you incapable of writing a sentence that makes sense? What is this mysterious “particular institution” you are always referencing?

]]> By: William C.http://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19196 William C. Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:22:10 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19196 Conservatard? What an unoriginal response to libtard. As typical you liberals gladly try and make every attempt to strip the military budget down for nothing for the sake of sponsoring hundreds of wasteful social programs designed to buy votes. Leave your "progressive" politically correct nonsense back in the 1960s where it belongs. You leftists whine and moan every single time an article from the Heritage Foundation is shown on DoDBuzz despite the fact that it is a useful source unlike the Huffington Post. Conservatard? What an unoriginal response to libtard. As typical you liberals gladly try and make every attempt to strip the military budget down for nothing for the sake of sponsoring hundreds of wasteful social programs designed to buy votes. Leave your “progressive” politically correct nonsense back in the 1960s where it belongs.

You leftists whine and moan every single time an article from the Heritage Foundation is shown on DoDBuzz despite the fact that it is a useful source unlike the Huffington Post.

]]> By: Byron Skinnerhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19195 Byron Skinner Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:32:42 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19195 Good Afternoon Folks,To all of you who are, or have served in the military Greg's opinion is pretty much what right wing conservative American thinks of you and your service. Just wait till the wars are over and then read what they think of Veterans.Oh TMB, I was one of Greg's 4%. I have a total of nine qualifying Purple Heart wounds.ALLONS, Byron SkinnerPS Sorry TMB for switching the letters in your handle. Good Afternoon Folks,

To all of you who are, or have served in the military Greg’s opinion is pretty much what right wing conservative American thinks of you and your service. Just wait till the wars are over and then read what they think of Veterans.

Oh TMB, I was one of Greg’s 4%. I have a total of nine qualifying Purple Heart wounds.

ALLONS,
Byron Skinner

PS Sorry TMB for switching the letters in your handle.

]]> By: Greghttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19194 Greg Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:55:31 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19194 Admiral Mullen doesn't control anything. He is just an adviser. Perhaps 4% of the force are trigger pullers, so increase combat pay if that's your point. Why pay more to airmen, missile defensemen, desk jocks, and coast guarders? I am always amazed at the greed by government types, even those in the military. The nation is going bankrupt and they want more and more and more. Then get out and get a job! Quit whining. Most never do because they much much more in uniform. The USAF just increased high-end tenure to force people out early. Admiral Mullen doesn’t control anything. He is just an adviser. Perhaps 4% of the force are trigger pullers, so increase combat pay if that’s your point. Why pay more to airmen, missile defensemen, desk jocks, and coast guarders? I am always amazed at the greed by government types, even those in the military. The nation is going bankrupt and they want more and more and more. Then get out and get a job! Quit whining. Most never do because they much much more in uniform. The USAF just increased high-end tenure to force people out early.

]]> By: Byron Skinnerhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19193 Byron Skinner Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:42:33 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19193 Good Morning TBM,I do not agree with the contention being made by the winger that the military is over paid. I will argue the exact opposite.How much is an Infantryman worth? Well a rough comparison would be law enforcement officers. With OT and generous base pay many if not most Federal and large uniformed city law enforcement can a do take home more then a $100 grand a year. Their pension and health benefits far exceed the measly ones of the military.If injured in the line of duty or getting a life changing disability the insurance pay outs are in the $ millions. If you are lucy enough to get hired as a California prison guard, well, well just read the papers.Just as an example. The Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Admiral Mullen make somewhere north of $200 K a year. He controls the lives of 2.5 million people and over a half trillion dollar budget. Earlier this month we were told that traders from AIG, a company that took over a $ trillion of tax payer bail out money ,who's value to society borders on criminal behavior were getting bonuses averaging $8 million dollars.On conservatives, those in peculiar institutions and wingers can see the justification of the inequality.I did not say, nor even hinted that TBI and PTSD claims are not real. While some are clearly fraudulent ( Ex, a bomb loader on a carrier who claims that loading ordinance onto F-18's that was killing civilians was causing Her/Him to suffer from PTSD, or Air Force UAV operators at March AFB who claimed PTSD because they were firing Hellfire Missiles and on their monitors were seeing people blown apart, these are questionable claims) and the filings and appealing these types of claims are a big reason that the VA system is backlogged. The majority of PTSD/TBI claims are very real.With the tempo of deployment that many of you who are deployed are now doing, a recent DoD/VA study confirms that a 1942/1945 study that says after 200 days of combat, close contact with the enemy on a daily basis, physical changes will take place in a Soldiers/Marines brain that seem to be irreversible. The cost in health and disability benefits over then next 70 years for the current generation of combat veterans will be in the $trillions for TBI and PTSD.To finish the argument TBM: The Defense contractors and the sword makers are getting their money up front, the Veterans who left blood on the land, are going to have major health and economic problems the rest of you lives and you will have a continuous fight to get the meager benefits being offered.ALLONS, Byron Skinner Good Morning TBM,

I do not agree with the contention being made by the winger that the military is over paid. I will argue the exact opposite.

How much is an Infantryman worth? Well a rough comparison would be law enforcement officers. With OT and generous base pay many if not most Federal and large uniformed city law enforcement can a do take home more then a $100 grand a year. Their pension and health benefits far exceed the measly ones of the military.If injured in the line of duty or getting a life changing disability the insurance pay outs are in the $ millions. If you are lucy enough to get hired as a California prison guard, well, well just read the papers.

Just as an example. The Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Admiral Mullen make somewhere north of $200 K a year. He controls the lives of 2.5 million people and over a half trillion dollar budget. Earlier this month we were told that traders from AIG, a company that took over a $ trillion of tax payer bail out money ‚who’s value to society borders on criminal behavior were getting bonuses averaging $8 million dollars.

On conservatives, those in peculiar institutions and wingers can see the justification of the inequality.

I did not say, nor even hinted that TBI and PTSD claims are not real. While some are clearly fraudulent ( Ex, a bomb loader on a carrier who claims that loading ordinance onto F-18’s that was killing civilians was causing Her/Him to suffer from PTSD, or Air Force UAV operators at March AFB who claimed PTSD because they were firing Hellfire Missiles and on their monitors were seeing people blown apart, these are questionable claims) and the filings and appealing these types of claims are a big reason that the VA system is backlogged. The majority of PTSD/TBI claims are very real.

With the tempo of deployment that many of you who are deployed are now doing, a recent DoD/VA study confirms that a 1942/1945 study that says after 200 days of combat, close contact with the enemy on a daily basis, physical changes will take place in a Soldiers/Marines brain that seem to be irreversible.

The cost in health and disability benefits over then next 70 years for the current generation of combat veterans will be in the $trillions for TBI and PTSD.

To finish the argument TBM: The Defense contractors and the sword makers are getting their money up front, the Veterans who left blood on the land, are going to have major health and economic problems the rest of you lives and you will have a continuous fight to get the meager benefits being offered.

ALLONS,
Byron Skinner

]]> By: Byron Skinnerhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19192 Byron Skinner Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:04:11 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19192 Good Morning TBM,I do not agree with the contention being made by the winger that the military is over paid. I will argue the exact opposite.How much is an Infantryman worth? Well a rough compairson would be law enforcement officers. With OT and generous base pay many if not most Federal and large uniformed city law enforcement can a do take home more then a $100 grand a year. Their pension and health benefits far exceed the measley one of the military. Good Morning TBM,

I do not agree with the contention being made by the winger that the military is over paid. I will argue the exact opposite.

How much is an Infantryman worth? Well a rough compairson would be law enforcement officers. With OT and generous base pay many if not most Federal and large uniformed city law enforcement can a do take home more then a $100 grand a year. Their pension and health benefits far exceed the measley one of the military.

]]> By: TMBhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19191 TMB Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:53:50 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19191 Take a look at Wheeler's biography. He spent most of his career on the Hill working in the GAO and for various members of Congress in the budget committees. Debate his conclusions, but at least bear in mind he has some expertise on what he writes. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/winslow-t-wheeler/" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/winslow-t-wheeler/</a> Take a look at Wheeler’s biography. He spent most of his career on the Hill working in the GAO and for various members of Congress in the budget committees. Debate his conclusions, but at least bear in mind he has some expertise on what he writes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/winslow-t-wheeler/

]]> By: TMBhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19190 TMB Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:50:27 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19190 $100K as an E-9. That's after putting in at least 20 years time in service and being promoted to a position that constitutes less than 1% of the military. We don't start at $38K a year. An E-1 starts out making just over $17K a year. He makes a little more if he's married and living off post. The g2mil blogger makes a lot of broad brush assumptions about pay, benefits, and what people actually do in the military. As I stated at the beginning of the comments, pay has gone up considerably because its a case of supply and demand. There is a huge demand for troops these days and the DoD has to put up the money to recruit and retain them in this war. Over the last couple years with the economy tanking reenlistment bonuses have seriously dried up because supply (recruits wanting in) is outpacing the demand (people staying in our getting out). $100K as an E-9. That’s after putting in at least 20 years time in service and being promoted to a position that constitutes less than 1% of the military. We don’t start at $38K a year. An E-1 starts out making just over $17K a year. He makes a little more if he’s married and living off post. The g2mil blogger makes a lot of broad brush assumptions about pay, benefits, and what people actually do in the military. As I stated at the beginning of the comments, pay has gone up considerably because its a case of supply and demand. There is a huge demand for troops these days and the DoD has to put up the money to recruit and retain them in this war. Over the last couple years with the economy tanking reenlistment bonuses have seriously dried up because supply (recruits wanting in) is outpacing the demand (people staying in our getting out).

]]> By: Greghttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19189 Greg Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:16:53 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19189 GIs earn two to three times more than comparable Americans. We start at $38,000 a year and can make $100,000 a year as an E-9. An E-6 can make more than the average American with a Masters degree. Shocked? I was too, but all the data is laid out in the recent blog at g2mil.com . Reenlist! Don't waste your time and money going to college. GIs earn two to three times more than comparable Americans. We start at $38,000 a year and can make $100,000 a year as an E-9. An E-6 can make more than the average American with a Masters degree. Shocked? I was too, but all the data is laid out in the recent blog at g2mil.com . Reenlist! Don’t waste your time and money going to college.

]]> By: DensityDuckhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19188 DensityDuck Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:19:36 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19188 I'm rather surprised that you read my original comment as critical of the column itself, rather than critical of its being published on this website. I think that you need to have a doctor look at your knee, because it's got a serious jerking problem. I’m rather surprised that you read my original comment as critical of the column itself, rather than critical of its being published on this website. I think that you need to have a doctor look at your knee, because it’s got a serious jerking problem.

]]> By: soonergrunthttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/01/29/paying-more-buying-less/#comment-19186 soonergrunt Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:43:50 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=12692#comment-19186 Typical conservatard bullcrap. Instead of addressing the argument, make personal attacks that aren't even remotely factually based, let alone on topic. Somehow, I'm just not surprised. Typical conservatard bullcrap. Instead of addressing the argument, make personal attacks that aren’t even remotely factually based, let alone on topic.
Somehow, I’m just not surprised.

]]>