[Rhodes22-list] Political:Off to Iraq- NO Bonus

[Joseph Hadzima]

I think the argument about troops getting a bunch of money
and are then happy to leave their spouse and kids for
another year; for an extra 150.00/month or even
1000.00/month is alittle weak.  

When I was in the Army during peace time, an Officer got
$110/month if willing to jump out of a perfectly good
airplane at least once evey 90 days.  I knew many that
didn't think it was enough, and others that would have paid
the Army 110/month to do it!

Yes there are private truck drivers and other contractors
working for US companies for some pay MUCH better than what
they can get here.  Also there are others (a co-worker who
is an engieer at Grumman) that were sent by their company
to "fix or support" troops.  Izzy got an all expense paid
trip to Iraq for 3 months - I don't believe he volunteered
to go, and since he's a civilian he could have quit, and
gone to work someplace else (he's a good engineer working
in an in demand field).

My coz reinlested while in Iraq, and go no bonus.  He would
have reinlisted if he was state side, but since he was
there when his time was up he dit it then.

The combat pay is more to off-set the additional cost of
seperation from loved ones.  At homoe extra expenses
include things like additional child care (since it's now a
single parent household), maybe pay a kid to mow the lawn,
additional phone calls home, and a 1000 other little
expenses that occur during seperation.  

Does anyone on this list do a lot of travel for work? I bet
they get a little better pay than the people doing the same
job, and get to saty home.  I did once, and there were
always thngs not covered by the expense account, so the
extra pay wasn't all that extra.  I believe our troops are
smart enough to figgure this out about their extra pay too.

As for the re-up bonus plans.  In many fields civilains
make more $$$ each paycheck, it's just a way to help even
things out. you get a lump sum, up front (relative to what
it cost the Military to train a replacement if you left),
and use that to keep get some of the things the civilians
have (nice new car, saving for next time, ...).


--- DCLewis1 at aol.com wrote:

> 
> Philip,
>  
>  
> My point was that bonuses were not endemic - as you
> stated, you were not  
> entitled to a bonus nor did you receive on - but there
> are bonuses and the bonus  
> system goes far beyond doctors and lawyers.
> 
>  
> As to your statement: "Your bonus examples are fine but
> they are not  
> representative of the people fighting".  The Navy Spec
> Opns community will  be 
> interested in that observation.  Many of them think they
> have been  fighting, 
> perhaps they are wrong.  The link cited shows Spec Opns
> officers  are authorized 
> bonuses.  
>  
> I do not know of bonuses for infantry, armor, or
> artillery officers.
>  
> Dave
> __________________________________________________
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> 


HADZ.

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; 
the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt 
the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends 
on the unreasonable man. 
    --George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman (1903) 
"Maxims for Revolutionists" Irish dramatist & socialist (1856 - 1950)


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