Are our Troops overpaid? Apparently the Pentagon thinks so.

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IggyPride00's avatar

IggyPride00

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6,482 posts
May 8, 2010 1:47 AM
I just saw this article about the Pentagon wanting Congress to cut pay to our military men and women because apparently "Defense officials fear money will go to people at the expense of weapons."

This is maybe the most heinous thing I have ever read, as you can't pay those poor people enough to leave their families for years on end to go stand in front of bullets and bombs for the good of our country.

I can understand the idea that it has budgetary effects, and that you can't just perpetually increase the defense budget forever to add in the increasing cost of soldiers, but find the money for more weapons elsewhere by cutting some other kind of pork.

It makes me sick that anyone at defense would have the gall to say such a thing out loud.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37028501/ns/politics-washington_post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/07/AR2010050703054.html?wpisrc=nl_headline
May 8, 2010 1:47am
F

Footwedge

Senior Member

9,265 posts
May 8, 2010 11:29 AM
^^^ The defense establishment simply reminding us that making money is still the bottom line. Maybe the half million or so grunts should unionize.
May 8, 2010 11:29am
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
May 8, 2010 12:53 PM
I don't see a problem with it, they are getting above fair market value for a job that requires no college degree. If anyone can do it, then it likely lowers their value, just like the fast food industry only typically pays minimum wage because they can replace those workers quite easily.
May 8, 2010 12:53pm
A

Al Bundy

Senior Member

4,180 posts
May 8, 2010 2:36 PM
sleeper wrote: I don't see a problem with it, they are getting above fair market value for a job that requires no college degree. If anyone can do it, then it likely lowers their value, just like the fast food industry only typically pays minimum wage because they can replace those workers quite easily.
The miliary is not a job anyone can do.
May 8, 2010 2:36pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
May 8, 2010 2:45 PM
^^^

Almost anyone can do it. I go sign up right now and I have a job. Don't know of any other profession or business that works like that.
May 8, 2010 2:45pm
Glory Days's avatar

Glory Days

Senior Member

7,809 posts
May 8, 2010 3:29 PM
75 percent of 17 to 24 year-olds are ineligible for service in the Armed Forces.
In terms of rejection rates, lack of education or basic academic skills is a major factor. As I said, approximately one out of four young Americans can’t join because he or she lacks a high school diploma. Even among those who have graduated or received their GED, 30 percent are disqualified because they fail the military entrance exam on math and reading skills.
http://preschoolmatters.org/2010/04/09/retired-air-force-general-norman-r-seip-expanding-high-quality-pre-k-is-a-matter-of-national-security/

I Wear Pants wrote: ^^^

Almost anyone can do it. I go sign up right now and I have a job. Don't know of any other profession or business that works like that.
and you would also be making 17k per yer starting out. find any business or profession that pays that low.
May 8, 2010 3:29pm
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
May 8, 2010 3:42 PM
The number of people able to perform a task doesn't in and of itself influence the market value of the task. The number of people who are able and willing are a better representation of the labor supply needs to be considered.

Although there may be many able to perform certain tasks in the military it's the willing part that I think drives the market value.

I do not think our troops are currently overpaid.
May 8, 2010 3:42pm
Strapping Young Lad's avatar

Strapping Young Lad

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2,453 posts
May 8, 2010 3:56 PM
Glory Days wrote:

and you would also be making 17k per yer starting out. find any business or profession that pays that low.

HUH???? I know people w/ college degrees who start out making less (not for just a few years either) that in their field. It's called any social science. Not to mention plenty of other non-union labor jobs.......
May 8, 2010 3:56pm
Glory Days's avatar

Glory Days

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7,809 posts
May 8, 2010 4:19 PM
Strapping Young Lad wrote:
Glory Days wrote:

and you would also be making 17k per yer starting out. find any business or profession that pays that low.

HUH???? I know people w/ college degrees who start out making less (not for just a few years either) that in their field. It's called any social science. Not to mention plenty of other non-union labor jobs.......
i know gas stations that pay better than 17k per year. its only about a dollar away from minimum wage. haha and its not any social science. and it probably means they didnt need that degree to work in their field.
May 8, 2010 4:19pm
B

BoatShoes

Senior Member

5,703 posts
May 8, 2010 4:31 PM
Well, I can only speak for the Navy as that's the branch I was affiliated with. I personally was quite impressed with the amount of skill most sailors with only high school educations could employ to make an aircraft carrier go....
May 8, 2010 4:31pm
2quik4u's avatar

2quik4u

Senior Member

4,388 posts
May 8, 2010 4:31 PM
sleeper wrote: I don't see a problem with it, they are getting above fair market value for a job that requires no college degree. If anyone can do it, then it likely lowers their value, just like the fast food industry only typically pays minimum wage because they can replace those workers quite easily.
dumbest post of the year?
May 8, 2010 4:31pm
Mr. 300's avatar

Mr. 300

Senior Member

3,090 posts
May 8, 2010 5:58 PM
No way this can happen. The senate, congress, and all cabinet appointees need to have their wages cut by 25-50% first before something like this should ever happen.
May 8, 2010 5:58pm
CenterBHSFan's avatar

CenterBHSFan

333 - I'm only half evil

6,115 posts
May 8, 2010 6:45 PM
IggyPride00 wrote: This is maybe the most heinous thing I have ever read, as you can't pay those poor people enough to leave their families for years on end to go stand in front of bullets and bombs for the good of our country.

I can understand the idea that it has budgetary effects, and that you can't just perpetually increase the defense budget forever to add in the increasing cost of soldiers, but find the money for more weapons elsewhere by cutting some other kind of pork.

It makes me sick that anyone at defense would have the gall to say such a thing out loud.

QFT!

PLUS

I don't think "just anybody" can even make it through basic training.
And LOL!!111!!!11!!!! at those people who think "just anybody" has what it takes to be a soldier, PERIOD!
(from my experience, those are the people who know they couldn't do it themselves that make those types of comments)
May 8, 2010 6:45pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
May 8, 2010 7:00 PM
If you think they are kicking tons of people out for not passing basic you're insane. Every friend I know in the military has said that basic was a cake walk.

But again, these dudes should not get their pay cut. Not like they make a ton. Maybe if shit's getting too expensive we should, you know, not be in wars that we can't afford.
May 8, 2010 7:00pm
tk421's avatar

tk421

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8,500 posts
May 8, 2010 7:21 PM
I like this. I have an idea. 4 years w/o pay in military for any illegal alien will guarantee citizenship. Kill two birds with one stone.
May 8, 2010 7:21pm
Glory Days's avatar

Glory Days

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7,809 posts
May 8, 2010 8:05 PM
tk421 wrote: I like this. I have an idea. 4 years w/o pay in military for any illegal alien will guarantee citizenship. Kill two birds with one stone.


May 8, 2010 8:05pm
tk421's avatar

tk421

Senior Member

8,500 posts
May 8, 2010 10:11 PM
Glory Days wrote:
tk421 wrote: I like this. I have an idea. 4 years w/o pay in military for any illegal alien will guarantee citizenship. Kill two birds with one stone.


Exactly. If it worked for Van Dien, it must work for us.
May 8, 2010 10:11pm
CenterBHSFan's avatar

CenterBHSFan

333 - I'm only half evil

6,115 posts
May 9, 2010 9:53 AM
I Wear Pants wrote: If you think they are kicking tons of people out for not passing basic you're insane. Every friend I know in the military has said that basic was a cake walk.
If you're referring to me, Pants, I never said or implied any such thing. Most people (those that actually contemplate military service) know before ever talking to a recruiting officer if they have what it takes to serve in the military or not - or even the physical/mental endurance to get through basics.
Not everybody has what it takes to be a soldier, period. I mean, anybody can argue this everyday and twice on Sunday, but it is what it is.
And, there's nothing wrong with that.
May 9, 2010 9:53am
I

I Wear Pants

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16,223 posts
May 9, 2010 1:54 PM
No, not everyone is cut out for it. But I still think that most people's views on what a soldier is like (big, fast, strong) and the type of physical training they get in basic (people overestimate it's difficulty a lot).

Most people can be a soldier. That's all I'm trying to say. It's not very selective because it can't be.

Doesn't make being a soldier mean anything less or make me have less respect for our troops. I just have no delusions of grandeur by believing that we have some super athletic/strong fighting force.
May 9, 2010 1:54pm
2quik4u's avatar

2quik4u

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4,388 posts
May 9, 2010 2:22 PM
I Wear Pants wrote: No, not everyone is cut out for it. But I still think that most people's views on what a soldier is like (big, fast, strong) and the type of physical training they get in basic (people overestimate it's difficulty a lot).

Most people can be a soldier. That's all I'm trying to say. It's not very selective because it can't be.

Doesn't make being a soldier mean anything less or make me have less respect for our troops. I just have no delusions of grandeur by believing that we have some super athletic/strong fighting force.
The problem is you are only thinking about the physical aspect and not the mental aspect.
May 9, 2010 2:22pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

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27,879 posts
May 9, 2010 2:40 PM
I know some dumb shits in the military, and I know some dumb shits that work for McDonalds.

Coincidence? I think not.
May 9, 2010 2:40pm
Glory Days's avatar

Glory Days

Senior Member

7,809 posts
May 9, 2010 3:56 PM
sleeper wrote: I know some dumb shits in the military, and I know some dumb shits that work for McDonalds.

Coincidence? I think not.
i know some dumb shit CEOs. i know some dumb shit doctors. i know some dumb shit chatters.

Coincidence? I think not.
May 9, 2010 3:56pm
I

I Wear Pants

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16,223 posts
May 9, 2010 6:53 PM
2quik4u wrote:
I Wear Pants wrote: No, not everyone is cut out for it. But I still think that most people's views on what a soldier is like (big, fast, strong) and the type of physical training they get in basic (people overestimate it's difficulty a lot).

Most people can be a soldier. That's all I'm trying to say. It's not very selective because it can't be.

Doesn't make being a soldier mean anything less or make me have less respect for our troops. I just have no delusions of grandeur by believing that we have some super athletic/strong fighting force.
The problem is you are only thinking about the physical aspect and not the mental aspect.
It doesn't take a brilliant person to be a grunt.
May 9, 2010 6:53pm
A

Al Bundy

Senior Member

4,180 posts
May 9, 2010 7:05 PM
I Wear Pants wrote:
2quik4u wrote:
I Wear Pants wrote: No, not everyone is cut out for it. But I still think that most people's views on what a soldier is like (big, fast, strong) and the type of physical training they get in basic (people overestimate it's difficulty a lot).

Most people can be a soldier. That's all I'm trying to say. It's not very selective because it can't be.

Doesn't make being a soldier mean anything less or make me have less respect for our troops. I just have no delusions of grandeur by believing that we have some super athletic/strong fighting force.
The problem is you are only thinking about the physical aspect and not the mental aspect.
It doesn't take a brilliant person to be a grunt.
It takes a mentally tough person to deal with many of things that people in our military deal with on a daily basis.
May 9, 2010 7:05pm