Why is it that military personell get paid so little?
363132
Because they offer so little!
711909
The strange thing is that the Army Active Duty Monthly Basic Pay chart lists wages for 0-5's (LTC's) starting at 2 years or less.  Now, I don't think they'd list it if it wasn't a very remote possibility... so I'd say yes... somehow it's possible that 12 years will get it.  (Possibly through a combination of prior service or other merits.)  \n\nI mean, there's probably a way that's not normally exercised.  Like for instance, any soldier who was awarded a Medal of Honor is to be saluted even if he's a PFC enlisted ranks soldier because once he gets the Medal of Honor, he receives also the honorary rank of 0-1 or 2LT, 2nd Lieutenant.\n\nI vote yes.  But I also add to that - no matter what - It CAN'T be easy.
1016047
Your assessment is well reasoned, but I don't agree with your assumption that most people join the military because they have no other choice.\n\nMany people join for the experience, because it's a good first job, and to pay for college.  These are not necessarily the same people who would otherwise be on welfare.\n\nA lot of welfare recipients would not qualify to be in the military.  The military has physical and educational standards.\n\nAlso, a lot of welfare recipients are content to just "get by", while a young man or woman who joins the military has aspirations to improve themselves through education and experience.\n\nRegarding welfare reform, back in the late 1990s, the Newt Gingrich led Congress pressured Bill Clinton into signing a huge welfare reform bill which has transformed the situation for the better.  Millions have been forced to seek employment rather than collect welfare.
41661
Serving your country should never be about the financial gain. I'm personally considering enlisting in the Reserves because I can not afford the pay cut of full time enlistment. By can't afford I mean I would not be able to make my mortage and care for my family. Additionally $20,000 is not very much money. In terms of motivating me personally with a large sum of money to do something  I don't want to do, you would need to give me enough to buy a nice piece of property. 20g hardly buys a nice truck!
754996
I read an article last week that made me mad. They currently have a paid voluntary army. It's reported that at any given time like even now during this war time that 25% are ALWAYS on vacation! They usually show up on pay day and during important excerizes only 2/3 of them show up.
175615
They get paid almost nothing.
1143105
starting pay for full-time members of the Massachusetts National Guard is only $16,052 a year? \n\nhttp://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/who_makes_what_1\n\nThis is all I could find.   I don't live in Massachusetts.   In Missouri, it might be lower than 16,000 for starting pay because Missouri is a pretty poor state.\n\nLike the other people here says, it depends on your experience and rank.   So the pay would go up the more experience that you acquired, because you be handling more and more responsibility.
1126993
Actualyy i don't think they get paid THAT much, if at all... especially in comparison to their pro contracts.  They consider it an honor to represent their countries, kind of like the Olympics, I think.
878638
Some jobs continue to pay their deployed reservists and some do not.  All they are obligated to do is to hold your position, the pay is completely up to them.  If you do deploy there are several ways to seek relief.  First, the Soldiers and Sailors relief act may be able to help you avoid losing your posessions.  In the Air Force we have an agency called Airmen and Family Readiness Center (formerly Family Support Center).  Your branch of service has a similar agency to help military members and their families in times of need...seek them out.  There are laws in place to help protect our defenders of freedom from this type of action.  My suggestion would be to contact your First Sergeant and give him/her the chance to work this for you.  I am a First Sergeant myself and I can tell you we have resources to help.  I don't want to promise things won't work out for you, but I would be confident that I could help if one of my members brought this forward, even if the answer is that you do not deply (which may be the case).
31480
well it doesnt affect them directly but when money is being used for the army, not much is left for public services
1114629
Not much.  For example, if they were airline pilots in the Civillian world, they would make at least double what they make as a military pilot.  Military pay is based on your rank, not your job, tho some positions, like Pilots, make dangerous duty pay.
912777
THEY DON'T PAY THEM AS MUCH. AND THEY WORK HARD FOR THE LITTLE THAT THEY DO GET.
1012485
jack430 gave you a great link to the pay chart.  And you get paid twice a month.  Half on the first, half on the fifteenth.  Plus, remember that is just the basic pay.  If you have dependants, are in a combat zone, etc.  you rate extra pay.
165551
i totally agree with you,i think teachers and the military dont get the pay they deserve, theres a reason those athletes can play their sports for a living in our free country and im pretty sure that goes back to thanking the military for risking their lives, and the teachers who taught that athlete how to write their signature.
898171
Who said the military paid well?  It's not a matter of pay, but personal resposibility.  For example, I am currently stationed in Japan, and you see all these young troops with these souped up cars.  The NCOs and officers, on the other hand, tend to drive crappy cars.  Also, for the most part, the young ones go out every weekend, while the older guys stay home.\n\nSo basically, you've got these kids that, for the most part, are experiencing living alone for the first time.  They're given free room and board, and a paycheck on top of that.  They end up living paycheck to paycheck, and wind up in debt because they bought an expensive car, TV, etc. right off the bat.\n\nI'm not saying there are senior NCOs and officers that aren't doing the same thing, but it IS the younger ones for the most part.\n\nTrue, we get paid less initially, but if you add up room and board, it equals to about the same.\n.
1158358
Remember that members of the military get paid not only by rank/pay grade but also by number of years in.  This is as of Jan 1 2006\n\nPay is as follows (without benefits)\nO-10 13365-14196 (20years-26 years)\nO-9   11689-12525 "                            "\nO-8   8271-11348 (<2-26)   11075 (at 20 years)\nO-7   6872-10066 (<2-26)   10015 "                  "\n\nI've never met an O-7 or above with less than 20years but the site had the numbers, so they're shown.\n\nWhen you get up there you start raking in the money, especially as a nuke...benefits add a few thousand dollars on all of these figures.
588117
Both answers are correct.  There is no "average" pay.  Since the pay is based on rank, time in service, time in grade, with/without family, location, etc.  The pay also increases annually.\n\nIf you want to know what the pay is, go here:\n\nhttp://www.dod.mil/dfas/militarypay/newinformation/WebPayTableVersion2006updated.pdf