Military Pay

[Mickael81]

Military pay is good once you reach E-5 and get BAH. Everybody complains about how low their base pay is but conveniently forgets to mention that they make almost as much on BAH and it does not get taxed. Like i said, the pay is great if you are E-5 and above with BAH. Take a look around the parking lots outside any barraks, from Lance cully and above drive nice cars and ride new motorcycles.

After i got out in 05' it took me 3 years to catch up to what i used to bet paid as a E-5 w/BAH. About $1450 a check after taxes. I had to make $28 an hour to bring home the same kind of check.

People dont realize that civilians get raped on taxes for being on a higher bracket, not to mention medical benefits are being taken out of your check. Not getting taxed on the BAH that could be as much as your salary brings down the tax rate of what you do pay.

Im not saying we dont deserve it. Ofcourse we do, but to say that military personell dont get paid well is ridiculous. The only people that can complain are the boots E-1 ~ E-3.. All i can say to them is : Do your time and pay your dues and get out of the barraks once you pick up SGT.

[Gerle]

Families get tons of money extra

Are you referring to the Earned Income Credit?

[themailman]

As an unmarried Pvt I made about 1100 a month after taxes, but my room, board, food, medical, and school were paid for. The only reason that it seemed like I didnt make alot of money was because:

A) I didnt take into account how much was actually being given to me.
B) I spent my money on booze and hotels

Im now a married E4 nearing the end of my 4 years. I make nearly 5 grand a month, but the only thing that is still paid for is my families health care and my school. That is alot of money for a 22 year old with no degree and his wife. Im paid equal or more to the amount of work I do on a daily basis. Now, there are those times when I pull a 24+hr day, go on a 7 months deployment, etc, but that was all part of the deal when I signed the contract. If you went into the military expecting high pay and to be payed overtime for all the 10+hr days that you work, you are a retard.

[steelrain82]

yeah but look you had to get married and have kids to get that extra cash plus bah to live out in town. your average marine is single and lcpl or below. most have a car and cell phone to pay for. so that cuts into pay. when i graduated bootcamp 11 years ago i graduated as a pvt with a 1000 bucks some had a little more little less, and that was for three months. i know times and pay have change, but even at the rate you mad as a private after taxes is what most people that age make as minimum wage for 20 hours a week. how do i know because as a Marine vet and 28 i make 9 bucks an hour working retail and if i was lucky enough to pull in 80 hours a month that is what i would make. actually i wouldnt i would only make 720 before taxes so for the hours we pull in the military our pay is insignificant, peasant wages. and you cant say living three to a room with field days, j.o.b's and other inspections the conditions arent that great and the room is normally what 10x12 maybe a little bigger. medical unless you get shot is subpar. chow i cant complain though. and sure all expenses are basically your own fault. only business owners and rich people work the hours military (grunts, cant speak for others) usually pull. did i join for the pay, no i didnt, but it is nice to have a respectable income. you could say the police are volunteers but in my city they were hiring awhile back and starting pay was 60k. LA was at 50k. thats just to start. they dont worry about deployment or being away from family. similar beuracracy i expect but they run the show in the civillian world.

ETA: and the taxes that come out of your check go towards your chow and living in the barracks. so its not really for free.