SgtMXDBerry
01-16-03, 02:49 PM
Subject: Response to a Washington Times article on Military Pay
In a message dated 1/3/03 4:45:49 PM Eastern Standard Time, Caslenga writes:
State Directors &Officers,
I find this Airman's response to the Washington Times it should be
printed in all newspapers across America. Especially now when the
President is calling up more Reserves and National Guardsman. Get
this response out to everyone you know. It's time the Jane Fonda's &
Shaun Penn's of this country wise up and support the troops that
defend them.
Noel Pritzl
1st Vice President
USDR
Military pay article
On 12 Nov, Ms Cindy Williams (from Laverne and Shirley TV show) wrote
a piece for the Washington Times, denouncing the pay raise(s) coming
servicemembers' 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 leave and earnings statement
(LES), I see that I make $1,117.80 before taxes. After taxes, I take
home $874.20. When I run that through Windows' 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 (AFNCC), where I am
part of the team responsible for the administration of 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, nor does it
pay less than this. No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to
$80,000 per annum. I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions.
Also, you tout increases to Basic Allowance for Housing and Basic
Allowance for Subsistence (housing and food allowances, respectively)
as being a further boon to an already overcompensated force. Again,
I'm curious as to where this money has gone, as BAH and BAS were both
slashed 15% in the Hill AFB area effective in January 00.
Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you have NEVER
had the pleasure of serving your country in her 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 AFDC, 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
DOD 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 DFP (Defensive Fire
Position, the modern-day 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 op-ed 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"
In a message dated 1/3/03 4:45:49 PM Eastern Standard Time, Caslenga writes:
State Directors &Officers,
I find this Airman's response to the Washington Times it should be
printed in all newspapers across America. Especially now when the
President is calling up more Reserves and National Guardsman. Get
this response out to everyone you know. It's time the Jane Fonda's &
Shaun Penn's of this country wise up and support the troops that
defend them.
Noel Pritzl
1st Vice President
USDR
Military pay article
On 12 Nov, Ms Cindy Williams (from Laverne and Shirley TV show) wrote
a piece for the Washington Times, denouncing the pay raise(s) coming
servicemembers' 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 leave and earnings statement
(LES), I see that I make $1,117.80 before taxes. After taxes, I take
home $874.20. When I run that through Windows' 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 (AFNCC), where I am
part of the team responsible for the administration of 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, nor does it
pay less than this. No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to
$80,000 per annum. I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions.
Also, you tout increases to Basic Allowance for Housing and Basic
Allowance for Subsistence (housing and food allowances, respectively)
as being a further boon to an already overcompensated force. Again,
I'm curious as to where this money has gone, as BAH and BAS were both
slashed 15% in the Hill AFB area effective in January 00.
Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you have NEVER
had the pleasure of serving your country in her 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 AFDC, 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
DOD 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 DFP (Defensive Fire
Position, the modern-day 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 op-ed 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"