[Rhodes22-list] Political:Off to Iraq re: Dave

[3drecon at comcast.net]

Dave,
    Look, I've been doing this, active duty, USMC and Army, Army Reserves and CT Army National Guard (I have an anniversary comming up) and I know what is usual and not.  I also know what these guys get paid, generally.  SPEC OPS Navy may have trouble recruiting officers.  They just decided to create a "fighting" land battalion.  The Army may pay bonuses to enlisted folks, but only for hard to recruit positions.  They will pay reenlistment bonuses because a trained experienced Specialist 4 or Corporal is more valuable to them than a raw recruit, though they too are necessary.  
     The soldiers in the combat zone receive a tax break, recently updated to keep up with the increased pay (it used to be full for enlisted and $500 for officers.  It has been increased to $7000 per month or so).  The break seems to deliberately cover lower grades in full; those who would be more likely to be in the "heat of battle" as opposed to the senior guys who direct the battle.
     The extra pay includes combat pay, hazardous duty pay, overseas pay, family separation pay, jump pay (if you are on jump status), flight pay, submarine pay etc.  This is not all inclusive.  Some of these special pays have only been recently increased.  I have known a few soldiers who would go to the AOR just to collect the extra pay, but mostly it is a perk for those in their regular rotation.  Many volunteer to go sooner than later to "get it over with" and collect the extra pay to boot.  I've known a couple of guys who went early so they could get a better assignment earlier and wouldn't have to go again for two years or so.  It depends upon the person.  None of these guys are trying to get rich in the service.  They have so diminished the benefits and retirement that in a discussion with several officers we observed that at one time, you could survey a group of soldiers in a room and 60% to 70% would indicate they are in for a career.  Now (this conversation was two years a
go but holds up to-day) you would be lucky if 30% held the same position.  It has more to do with the economy, the erosion of benefits and health care that they don't see it as worth it.  I think Bill hit it partially right too that sergeants will get out and triple their pay as a contractor doing what they did on active duty.  That is part of the economy element.

Philip

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: DCLewis1 at aol.com 

> 
> Philip, 
> 
> $150/mo doesn't seem like a lot of $ to you or I, but to a young Corporal 
> it's a lot of beer. 
> 
> I personally know an Army wife who is quite happy to have her husband posted 
> to Afghanistan because of the additional $. Seems crazy to me (will this 
> marriage last?), but it's true. 
> 
> Dave 
> __________________________________________________ 
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list