The Bottom Line…

Posted on by June 13, 2014

We’ve been down this road before… Under Carter, under Clinton and under the dem controlled congress…

By Col. Mike Hayden USAF (Ret)

In this year’s defense budget, administration and Pentagon leaders requested a military pay raise of 1 percent. That’s 0.8 percent below private-sector pay growth, the second-lowest pay raise in 50 years, and a second consecutive year of pay caps.

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Uniformed leaders point out this is not a “pay cut,” as no servicemembers will see their pay decrease, essentially saying, “Hey, you’re still getting a pay raise, so what are you complaining about?”

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Throughout the late 1980s and ’90s, Congress repeatedly capped military pay below private-sector wage growth. These caps resulted in a 13.5-percent gap between military and civilian pay and a serious retention and recruiting crisis by the early 2000s.

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The grand total loss equals nearly $150,000 over the servicemember’s lifetime.

The bottom line: Pay caps add up. Sustaining pay is critical to maintaining a high-quality all-volunteer force.

Full article HERE at the MOAA site.

It DOES matter… NOW and in the future.  One sure way to kill the military is to make it less attractive, e.g lower pay… I don’t hear any congresscritter wanting to make $15/hr the minimum for the military.

Do you???

Comments

The Bottom Line… — 11 Comments

  1. I haven’t had a pay raise in eight years. In fact, I’m making less now than I did in 2007. The economy still sucks and frankly, I’m just happy to have a job that covers the bills these days. Oh yeah, and my taxes are higher too.

    In my opinion, no one who is paid by Uncle Sam should be getting a raise.

  2. A common piece of advice given to consumers and businesspeople is “You get what you pay for.”

    That’s true in hiring and retaining people as well.

  4. Alan- Understood, lots feel that way which is why .mil is getting hit with the ‘penalty’ again…

    Tim- And lots are voting with their feet now that Stop Loss is off…

    Jenn- Yep, even in this bad economy…

  5. Forgive me if I don’t shed a tear for those currently on active duty. I’d have gladly traded checks with any current SSgt through MSgt (when I held those ranks), considering the pittance I was paid back in the day. Then again, we’ve seen this movie before. My Ol’ Man, who retired as a Lt Col in 1960, received less in retired pay than I did as a MSgt when I first retired. And he NEVER let me forget that.

  7. A lot of people stay in because their prospects are bleak outside the military. That is what has kept the military manned since forever. Of course, as Tim points out, you get what you pay for.

  8. WSF- True, but like I said, I don’t hear ANY congresscritters calling for $15/hr for the military… Where’s the love???