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

[Herb Parsons]

Vietnam era - "It's wrong because we're forcing people to fight"
Iraq era - "It's wrong because they're dumb ignorant slobs who only do it because they can't do better"
Never era - "We were wrong"


Herb Parsons

S/V O'Jure
1976 O'Day 25
Lake Grapevine, N TX

S/V Reve de Papa
1971 Coronado 35
Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana Coast 

>>> flybrad at gmail.com 10/26/2006 8:15:41 am >>>
Phillip,

You are missing the point.  Read between the lines. The implication is
that our soldiers only fight for the money or they're too stupid to find
employment in the private sector.  Don't even waste your time defending the
issue.  It's all a hangover from the Vietnam era but they'll never admit it
until their ass is on the line.

Remember, "Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because
rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

Brad

On 10/26/06, 3drecon at comcast.net <3drecon at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> 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 y
> ears 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
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list 
>
__________________________________________________
Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list