Airman's Response To Washington Times

[shopgirl]

Hello my fellow GCer's!

I received another email regarding the military and their pay.
For those of you who are not aware, I am the daugher of a career Marine. Therefore, such emails, articles, etc. are of great interest to me. I post them here to share and to get your thoughts and opinions.

I'm not passionate about politics. However, I do get irritated by these Hollywood types who think that b/c they are wealthy and famous they some how know what is best for our country and the men and women who serve. Do any of you feel the same way?

**************************************************


This Airman's response to the Washington Times should be
printed in all newspapers across America. Especially now when the President is calling up more Reserves and National Guardsmen. Get this response out to everyone you know. It's time the Jane Fonda's & Sean Penn's of this country wise up and support the troops who defend them.


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 to service members'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 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 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 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"

[Kevin]

There seem to be a LOT of these 'new left' types that are trying to revive the "good 'ol days" of the Vietnam era protests. I guess that was fun for them. I think they may have missed the point.

[blueGBI]

I couldn't help but reply to this post. I'm against the war, but to deny the service that our soldiers, sailers, airmen, marines give to our country is ludicrous. They deserve all that they can get and since we're going to be forced into this war that we shouldn't be in, we have to support our soldiers more than ever. I'll march in the marches for peace, but if a soldier needs anything, I'll do my best to help them out. People like Ms Cindy Williams dont understand that. Denouce Bush and crew for what they are doing, dont take it out on our armed forces.

[moe.ron]

Although I don't agree with the war, until there is a new resolution by the security countil, I'm also sick of people being called new lefties and other. Many people who are against the war are not lefties (I'm a icentrist-lefty), case point CATO. I doubt CATO is a leftist organizations. Saying that, I agree that we should support the troops by giving praying for their well being, and u still can go against the war by lambasting the White House.

[Optimist Prime]

I agree that service personel, along with public school teachers, should be paid a lot more than they do. I think we need to get rid of outdated programs like NASA and use that money for something worthwhile.

[James]

Your argument may be a little too sophisticated generally for this audience lol.

Originally posted by Arya
Although I don't agree with the war, until there is a new resolution by the security countil, I'm also sick of people being called new lefties and other. Many people who are against the war are not lefties (I'm a icentrist-lefty), case point CATO. I doubt CATO is a leftist organizations. Saying that, I agree that we should support the troops by giving praying for their well being, and u still can go against the war by lambasting the White House.

[James]

As a general observation:

The email above is written extremely well for someone that we assume lacks a college background and didn't score well enough on the various arm forces aptitude tests for a higher position or rank.

Also. It reads very well for someone who opted to pursue a career in an extremely low paying job.

I take my hat off to someone that so believes in serving his country, and serving his country at a very low pay grade, that he sacrificed both opportunities for higher salaries and higher rank.

[James]

It turns out this is an urban legend . ..

http://www.snopes.com/military/gipay.htm

[shopgirl]

Thanks for the update, James.