Military Pay?

Well being a military mom I did have to pass this on

---------- Forwarded Message ----------

> Military pay

This is an Airman's response to Cindy Williams'
>editorial piece in the Washington Times about MILITARY PAY, it should be
>printed in all newspapers across America.
>
>On Nov. 12, Ms Cindy Williams (from Laverne and Shirley TV show) wrote a
>piece for the Washington Times, denouncing the pay raise coming service
>members' way this year -- citing that the stated 13% wage was more than
>they deserve.
>
>A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her article below. He ought to
get a bonus for this.
>
>"Ms Williams:
>
>I just had the pleasure of reading your column, "Our GIs earn enough" and
I
>am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where this vaunted overpayment
is
>going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between
DFAS
>(The Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and my bank account.
>
>Checking my latest earnings statement I see that I make $1,117.80 before
>taxes. After taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through the
>calculator, I come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes,
and
>$10,490.40, after.
>
>I work in the Air Force Network Control Center where I am part of the team

>responsible for a 5,000 host computer network. I am involved with
>infrastructure segments, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment. A
quick
>check under jobs for Network Technicians in the Washington, D.C. area
>reveals a position in my career field, requiring three years experience
>with my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year. No, this
>job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum... I'm sure you can
>draw the obvious conclusions.
>
>Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you NEVER had the
>pleasure of serving your country in our armed forces. Before you take it
>upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership for
>attempting to get the families in the military's lowest pay brackets off
of
>WIC and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying soldiers

>headed for AFGHANISTAN; I leave the choice of service branch up to you.
>
>Whatever choice you make, though, opt for the SIX month rotation: it will
>guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and friends,

>thus giving you full "deployment experience." As your group prepares to
>board the plane, make sure to note the spouses and children who are saying

>good-bye to their loved ones. Also take care to note that several families

>are still unsure of how they'll be able to make ends meet while the
primary
>breadwinner is gone -- obviously they've been squandering the "vast" piles

>of cash the government has been giving them.
>
>Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are
>perennial favorites. And when you're actually over there, sitting in a
>foxhole, shivering against the cold desert night; and the flight sergeant
>tells you that there aren't enough people on shift to relieve you for
chow,
>remember this: trade whatever MRE (meal-ready-to-eat) you manage to get
for
>the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to
>everything. This gives some flavor. Talk to your loved ones as often as
you
>are permitted; it won't nearly be long enough or often enough, but take
>what you can get and be thankful for it.
>
>
>You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with most of the points

>you present in your opined piece.
>
>But, tomorrow from KABUL, I will defend to the death your right to say it.
>
>
>You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First
Amendment
>rights and every other right you cherish. On a daily basis, my brother and

>sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like you can thumb
>your collective nose at us, all on a salary that is nothing short of
>pitiful and under conditions that would make most people cringe. We
>hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private sector because we can't

>offer the stability and pay of civilian companies.
>
>And you, Ms. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we
>deserve? Rubbish!
>
>A1C Michael Bragg Hill AFB AFNCC
>
>IF YOU AGREE, PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND
SHOW OUR SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN. THANK YOU.
>