- Joined
- Nov 2, 2000
- Messages
- 413
No, this doesn't have any Emerson content, but with so many Suspects having military ties, I thought you might like to see this.
"Army of One" AIRBORNE
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
"Army of One" AIRBORNE
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
