On 12 November, Ms Cindy Williams (from the 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 gap
was bogus. 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 of 12 Nov, "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
I received this as e mail , thought I would pass it along on the thread. |
