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Washington Times, Denouncing The Pay Raise(S) Coming

I think this Airman's response to the Washington Times should be printed in all newspapers across America. Especially now when the President is calling up more Reserves and National Guardsman. Get this response out to everyone you know. It's time the Jane Fonda's & Shaun Penn's, and Cindy Williams' of this country wise up and support the troops that defend them.

Noel Pritzl
1st Vice President USDR
Military pay article

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!

"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.
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.
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. Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are perennial favorites.
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. But, tomorrow from KABUL, I will defend to the death your right to say it. 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. 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"


Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I NEVER REMEMBERED A POINT IN TIME WHERE "GI'S" WERE OVER PAID!!!!

AS FAR AS THE PAY SCALE NOW,IT COULD BE DOUBLED AND STILL BE HALF OF THEIR CIVILIAN COUNTER PARTS.

YOU KNOW THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS COUNTRY IS,REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT,THAT BOTH PARTIES SCREW UP ALL THE TIME!!!!!!!

WE NEED ANOTHER MAJOR PARTY LIKE THE INDEPENT PART,I HATE WHEN YOU GO TO VOTE AND THE ASK "DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN"? I ANSWER "AMERICAN!"
GOOD ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISLE,THEN THEIRS THE "ONES WHO ARE OUT FOR THEIRSLEF AND FRIENDS"


PRESS TO TEST

_________________
\"Live Free Or Die\"

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>You know, I don't even know this guy, can you believe that? We just met a few hours ago when we came into Dick's. Oh, I've seen him on the base, but I've never met him before tonight. But here's what's so special about that man, and why I love that man. He's my brother. Semper Fi. I know a guy back home, and he is my best friend. I'm 28 years old and we've known each other all our lives. But today, that friend is more of a stranger to me than that Marine sitting over there, who I've never met before tonight. That's why they call it a Band of Brothers."

"That's right," he said. "That's my brother over there, and I'm gonna take a bullet for him if I have to." <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

I'm proud to say that in just over a year, I am going to join that Band of Brothers. It won't be in the USMC, though. It will be in the Middle East, in the Israeli Army, known is the IDF. The Israeli Defence Forces. I do not know what position I will get, what my job will be, where I will be stationed, who my comrades-in-arms will be, or who I might have to shoot. But this I do know: Unlike many of the cowards who refuse to serve, or those who hide behind a religous facade, I will go willingly. I am not afraid. When they call me, I will go. I will strive to be the best. I will train. I will obey. I will fight. If my brother is in danger, I will defend him, the same way I know that if I am in trouble, he will defend me. I will go into battle with my brother by my side. And we will emerge victorious.

"Retreat, hell! We just got here!"-Captain Lloyd Williams, 2nd Marine Division, Belleau Wood, France, WWI

To me, anyone who had the courage to sign on the dotted line is a hero(except me of course, i am but a miscreant . I don't care if they were in supply, they were a JAG, a typist, whatever.

It takes a certain kind of person to put their life aside and spend 2,3,4,10 years in service of their nation. Not everyone is cut out for it. Some would like to go, but have families or whatever holding them here, and i understand that too. But when you sign, you do so with the knowledge that the piece of paper in front of you is potentially your own death warrant, and yet so many of us sign anyway.

Why? Because it's the right thing to do to repay those who have sacrificed so much for us when they were in their youth.

"Trample the wounded...hurdle the dead"

Edited by - m21 sniper on Jun 29 2003 08:43 AM

<img src=icon_smile_angry.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle> "Hope I find a good one, cuase your not getting into this Military". Now that was crushing, more so than the some severe head trauma that's the biggest reason I'm sitting out.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>I'm proud to say that in just over a year, I am going to join that Band of Brothers. It won't be in the USMC, though. It will be in the Middle East, in the Israeli Army, known is the IDF. The Israeli Defence Forces. I do not know what position I will get, what my job will be, where I will be stationed, who my comrades-in-arms will be, or who I might have to shoot. But this I do know: Unlike many of the cowards who refuse to serve, or those who hide behind a religous facade, I will go willingly. I am not afraid. When they call me, I will go. I will strive to be the best. I will train. I will obey. I will fight. If my brother is in danger, I will defend him, the same way I know that if I am in trouble, he will defend me. I will go into battle with my brother by my side. And we will emerge victorious.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

IMing Ev last night, mentioned something like that. Enlisting in the IDF, as a Merc. U.S. law forbids taking an oath to serve in any foriegn Military. It'd have to be a benefit of the doubt-don't forget my arse belongs to the red white & blue kinda thing.

The obligatory wisecrack, picking on any IDF "brothers" being targetted becuase of thier Israeli flag patches, while wearing an American flag patch.

Being serious again, have read something on the IDF site about SAREL'S. It'd be military service, and makes me think back to working at OfficeMax. Stacking 160lb printer paper boxes from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. But maybe with ammo crates or something, loved that job!..and the excuse it gave me to sleep all day.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with most of the points you present in your op-ed piece. But, tomorrow from KABUL, I will defend to the death your right to say it. You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First Amendment rights and every other right you cherish.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Can't say I've <i>always</i> been on good terms with everyone, I am only human after all. But if a past problem with some not-so-nice people does start getting out of hand again. Hate to think that popular saying isn't just a saying.

Not trying to sound bolstered, but also just as well some wouldn't want us locals to handle it, and think they abandoned us or chickened out.


"I <b>don't</b> dial 911. I <b>do</b> aim M-16"

"But Sgt.Goose was the bomb in that Devil Dance video."

_________________

I'm not quite sure how one would go about doing this, being that I'm an American citizen, but a couple of friends of mine who live in the states, are pulling 3 or 9 month stints in the IDF as full-fledged soldiers. I'm sure if you searched on the web you could find out how to do this, but once again, I don't know...

"Retreat, hell! We just got here!"-Captain Lloyd Williams, 2nd Marine Division, Belleau Wood, France, WWI

Dunno. Guess it wouldn't be a big deal unless Israel & America went to war, then thered be a bunch of "American IDF's". Kinda like John Walker Lindh.

"I <b>don't</b> dial 911. I <b>do</b> aim M-16"

"But Sgt.Goose was the bomb in that Devil Dance video."

_________________

hey BR, I thought you were Israeli? Do you have duel citizenship?

"the closer we are to danger the father away we are from harm."

I've got dual. I was born in NY, and my dad's American. I made Aliyah and became an Israeli citizen, and my mom's Israeli. I had dual citizenship from the second I was born. It really cuts down on lines in Immigration on both ends, here and in the US.

"Retreat, hell! We just got here!"-Captain Lloyd Williams, 2nd Marine Division, Belleau Wood, France, WWI