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As for members of our armed services being paid poorly:
The actual take-home pay may be low, but the benefits (IMHO) more than make up for that, and make the life of an active-duty family financially more comfortable than that of a civilian family with the same salary.
1. Housing allowance if you choose to live off-base. There is on-base housing for singles and families. In the event that you want to buy a home, the VA offers low-interest loans without a down payment.
2. Subsidized healthcare during active duty and retirement. Even if one did not make a career out of the Armed Forces, he or she still has the benefits of the Veterans Administration hospitals (which, granted, vary in quality).
3. Access to the Base Exchanges and Commissaries, which offer goods for a lower price than off-base.
4. Job security.
NCOs may make less than officers, but most don't have a college education. If you consider the benefits offered by the Armed Forces, despite the seemingly low salary, it's probably more than most 18 year olds with just a high school education could make.
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