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>Subject: Letter from a rich GI
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>Subject: Military pay article
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>On 12 Nov, Ms Cindy Williams (from Laverne and Shirley TV show) wrote a
>piece for the Washington Times, denouncing the pay raise(s) coming service
>members' way this year -- citing that the stated 13% wage was more than
>they deserve. A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her article below.
>He ought to get a bonus for this!
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>"Ms Williams:
>
>I just had the pleasure of reading your column, "Our GIs earn enough" and I
>am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where this vaunted overpayment is
>going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between DFAS
>(The Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and my bank account. Checking
>my latest leave and earnings statement (LES), I see that I make $1,117.80
>before taxes. After taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through
>Windows' Calculator, I come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before
>taxes, and $10,490.40 after.
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>I work in the Air Force Network Control Center (AFNCC), where I am part of
>the team responsible for the administration of a 5,000-host computer
>network. I am involved with infrastructure segments, specifically with
>Cisco Systems equipment. A quick check under jobs for Network Technicians
>in the Washington, D.C. area reveals a position in my career field,
>requiring three years experience with my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT
>pay $13,413.60 a year, nor does it pay less than this. No, this job is
>being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum. I'm sure you can draw the
>obvious conclusions.
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>Also, you tout increases to Basic Allowance for Housing and Basic Allowance
>for Subsistence (housing and food allowances, respectively) as being a
>further boon to an already overcompensated force. Again, I'm curious as to
>where this money has gone, as BAH and BAS were both slashed 15% in the Hill
>AFB area effective in January 00.
>
>Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you have NEVER had the
>pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces. Before you take it
>upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership for
>attempting to get the families in the military's lowest pay brackets off
>AFDC, WIC, and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying
>soldiers headed for AFGHANISTAN, I leave the choice of service branch up to
>you. Whatever choice you make, though, opt for the SIX month rotation: it
>will guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and
>friends, thus giving you full "deployment experience."
>
>As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure to note the spouses
>and children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also take care to
>note that several families are still unsure of how they'll be able to make
>ends meet while the primary breadwinner is gone -- obviously they've been
>squandering the vast piles of cash the DOD has been giving them.
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>Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are
>perennial favorites.
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>And when you're actually over there, sitting in a DFP (Defensive Fire
>Position, the modern-day foxhole), shivering against the cold desert night;
>and the flight sergeant tells you that there aren't enough people on shift
>to relieve you for chow, remember this: trade whatever MRE
>(meal-ready-to-eat) you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or
>cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to everything. This gives some flavor.
>
>Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it won't nearly be
>long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be thankful for
>it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with most of the
>points you present in your op-ed piece.
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>But, tomorrow from KABUL, I will defend to the death your right to say it.
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>You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First Amendment
>rights and every other right you cherish. On a daily basis, my brother and
>sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like you can thumb
>your collective nose at us, all on a salary that is nothing short of
>pitiful and under conditions that would make most people cringe.
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>We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private sector because we
>can't offer the stability and pay of civilian companies. And you, Ms
>Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we deserve? Rubbish!
>
>A1C Michael Bragg, Hill AFB AFNCC"
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>IF YOU AGREE, PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND SHOW
>OUR SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN. THANK YOU.
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>THIS LETTER SHOULD BE APPLAUDED BY ANYONE WHO'S EVER SERVED OR HAD A FAMILY
>MEMBER SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES! THIS YOUNG MAN DESERVES A MEDAL!
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