Army pay

[milkman]

I was looking at the "Aircraft carrier" thread in the Photo section, some neat pics there. I got to remembering and my dad was in the army in '42 and '43 and as a kid, I remember finding some of his Army stuff in a closet under the stairs. His army boots had two buckle on the side and there was a pair of canvas lace up leggins that he used sometime in the snow and he used his Gilette razor that you had to take apart to put in a new blade. I also remember his dress hat and the regular cover, whatever you call it. Wish I'd kept all that stuff now. I seem to remember that he said his pay was $26.00 a month. Was wondering what the pay was from some of the older Vets, I think it's half way decent now, though not nearly enough.

 

[herd]

I was looking at the "Aircraft carrier" thread in the Photo section, some neat pics there. I got to remembering and my dad was in the army in '42 and '43 and as a kid, I remember finding some of his Army stuff in a closet under the stairs. His army boots had two buckle on the side and there was a pair of canvas lace up leggins that he used sometime in the snow and he used his Gilette razor that you had to take apart to put in a new blade. I also remember his dress hat and the regular cover, whatever you call it. Wish I'd kept all that stuff now. I seem to remember that he said his pay was $26.00 a month. Was wondering what the pay was from some of the older Vets, I think it's half way decent now, though not nearly enough.

I was inducted under the ''delayed enllisted program'' on 1 June 1969, at $97.00/month, got promoted to Pvt E-2 to $110/month. Graduated AIT at Pfc E-3, then to Jump School and arrived in Nam in Dec '69 at $140/mo, as best I recall. That plus $55/mo jump pay and $110/mo combat pay put me at a whopping tax free of $300/mo, of which, I only kept $40 for spending money.

Yes, today they make much much more and in many cases, equal to or more than comparable civilian occupations. We've come a long ways with our Military.

I salute all Vets and all that served: some gave all, all gave some. Merry Christmas!

 

[brin]

I was inducted under the ''delayed enllisted program'' on 1 June 1969, at $97.00/month, got promoted to Pvt E-2 to $110/month. Graduated AIT at Pfc E-3, then to Jump School and arrived in Nam in Dec '69 at $140/mo, as best I recall. That plus $55/mo jump pay and $110/mo combat pay put me at a whopping tax free of $300/mo, of which, I only kept $40 for spending money.

Yes, today they make much much more and in many cases, equal to or more than comparable civilian occupations. We've come a long ways with our Military.

I salute all Vets and all that served: some gave all, all gave some. Merry Christmas!

I served at about the same time you did and I remember that pay scale well..it was tough to make it for a month on that and send money home but we did.

Now I think we should absolutely bring back the draft with each draftee serving a mandatory 2 yrs and cut the pay way back and stop being the worlds police force and involving ourselves in micromanaging other countries and trying to impose our form of government on every other country. For sure we should stop Nation building. I just don't see us being able to afford the salaries and benefits at the current level and I think it would do our young people good to serve and learn some discipline.

 

[scoutcub]

Now I think we should absolutely bring back the draft with each draftee serving a mandatory 2 yrs and I think it would do our young people good to serve and learn some discipline.

Absolutely agree.

I went in in 1979, the basic pay was $450/mo. In 2011, the basic pay (both for E-1) is 1400/mo.

 

[AKwelder]

I served my country for 8 years in the US Air Force. Of those i spent 6 years in ground combat units. Sounds crazy but in the 90's i was in the USAF and was stationed on US Army bases, and had to do ruck marches.

I believe that you should be required to serve in order to be a citizen.

 

[milkman]

Now I think we should absolutely bring back the draft with each draftee serving a mandatory 2 yrs and cut the pay way back and stop being the worlds police force and involving ourselves in micromanaging other countries and trying to impose our form of government on every other country. For sure we should stop Nation building. I just don't see us being able to afford the salaries and benefits at the current level and I think it would do our young people good to serve and learn some discipline.

I completely agree with you, and fire all the mercenaries that make way more than our troops.

 

[EddieWalker]

I was curious so I looked it up and found this chart. http://www.military-money-matters.com/support-files/2010-basic-pay.pdf

Eddie

 

[jinman]

Eddie, I took it one more step and looked up a link to historical pay rates. Here's a list with links going back to Oct. 1, 1949. I joined in early 1968 while the 1967 pay rates were still in force. In boot camp my base pay was less than $100 per month, but since I was married, I also got Basic Allotment for Quarters (BAQ), so my actual pay was never under $100 per month.

 

[mjarrels]

Sad part, the fort hood shooter is still earning about $6000.00 a month. Should be a E-1 on death row.

mark

 

[RTII]

Now I think we should absolutely bring back the draft with each draftee serving a mandatory 2 yrs and cut the pay way back and stop being the worlds police force and involving ourselves in micromanaging other countries and trying to impose our form of government on every other country. For sure we should stop Nation building. I just don't see us being able to afford the salaries and benefits at the current level and I think it would do our young people good to serve and learn some discipline.

I agree with most of what you said except the bring back the draft part and I don't think the pay should be cut back. Just the opposite in fact. The men and women in our forces are underpaid in many instances for the responsibilities they have and risks that they take for our nation. I'm not trying to say that all draftees were incompetent but I do believe our forces are better served with those who want to be there. It's easier to be good at your job if it's one you chose to do rather than one that was forced on you. Always makes for a better team. Just my humble opinion..........

 

[Arkie Jim]

I was looking at the "Aircraft carrier" thread in the Photo section, some neat pics there. I got to remembering and my dad was in the army in '42 and '43 and as a kid, I remember finding some of his Army stuff in a closet under the stairs. His army boots had two buckle on the side and there was a pair of canvas lace up leggins that he used sometime in the snow and he used his Gilette razor that you had to take apart to put in a new blade. I also remember his dress hat and the regular cover, whatever you call it. Wish I'd kept all that stuff now. I seem to remember that he said his pay was $26.00 a month. Was wondering what the pay was from some of the older Vets, I think it's half way decent now, though not nearly enough.

I retired in 1985 as a Master Sgt.--Salary was around $1800.00 after 22.5 yrs. Right now if I was in the service my pay would probably be 3-4 times that amount or more. A private makes as much as I did when I retired.
My pay was never $26 dollars but it was $68 dollars when I joined in 1963.
The salary in the military never rose to any meanful level until Nixon got in office. Military pay charts are available on line---you can not log on to military data bases unless you have an account and password. These sites are monitored so be very careful about messing around with them.

 

[jinjimbob]

Right if I was in the service my pay would probably be 3-4 times that amount or more. A private makes as much as I did when I retired.

Don't forget to include your retiree health insurance and VA benefits that most people in the private industry do not get.

I spoke with someone once about what he pays for air force retiree medical for him, his wife and a son, around $400. He thought it was crazy expensive.

I had to explain to him that $400 PER YEAR is very cheap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Leejohn]

I was making around $50.00 aweek as E5 when I got out. I only had to buy soap and toothpaste. Now they gave them more money, but you have to pay for everything. So the way I look at it, there still at 1st base.

 

[irvingj]

herd, those numbers sure sound familiar! I went in on 1 May, 1969. Ft Dix for Basic, then DLIWC in Monterey, radio school at Goodbuddy Airplane Patch, then on to Japan.

I was luckier than most, getting to E-5 after 1-1/2 years TIS. Right place at the right time for sure, but I did try for every early promo I could, and got 'em all. Pay wasn't great, but enough.

I was surprised when my Swedish girfriend at the time told me all Swedish citizens have a mandatory minimum 6 months' military service (at least back then; don't know what their policy is now). The more I thought about it, the more it sounded --and still does-- like a good idea. Probably opening myself up to some criticism here, but that's the way I feel....

 

[check 6]

Don't forget to include your retiree health insurance and VA benefits that most people in the private industry do not get.

I spoke with someone once about what he pays for air force retiree medical for him, his wife and a son, around $400. He thought it was crazy expensive.

I had to explain to him that $400 PER YEAR is very cheap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In 1966 as a Lt. on flying status $221.95 Retired in 1987 pay was still nothing like it is today.

As for medical. When I came in we were told that if you served a career you would get medical for life.... Well Clinton took that away and it is getting worse as there is even talk about taking away retirement. By the way the way not only did social Security not get a cost of living increase last year or this but neither did military retirees Sorry for the rant.

 

[Arkie Jim]

In 1966 as a Lt. on flying status $221.95 Retired in 1987 pay was still nothing like it is today.

As for medical. When I came in we were told that if you served a career you would get medical for life.... Well Clinton took that away and it is getting worse as there is even talk about taking away retirement. By the way the way not only did social Security not get a cost of living increase last year or this but neither did military retirees Sorry for the rant.

The thing that hurt military guys was when they stopped the dental for dependents--that is a budget buster by itself.

 

[Arkie Jim]

Don't forget to include your retiree health insurance and VA benefits that most people in the private industry do not get.

I spoke with someone once about what he pays for air force retiree medical for him, his wife and a son, around $400. He thought it was crazy expensive.

I had to explain to him that $400 PER YEAR is very cheap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tricare is the old Champus that has been uprated for military retirees. My cost was about $480.00 a yr. after 65 it is free--called Tricare for Life if you have been enrolled in it for 4 yrs. prior to retirement.
VA benefits is not for all military people--just those hurt or disabled during military service or combat. VA hospitals can be visited by veterans. Those that are not entitled to free medical, must provide insurance.
Tricare for life is not for my children, just my wife and that remains as long as she does not remarry. After my demise she keeps her medical insurance but gets no portion of my military retirement--that stops--unless you have SBP and that is not any good--most drop out after a while--Too expensive.
My life insurance goes down until it gets to about $2000 bucks--I am under the older system--not sure how it works right now.
Military retirement for me is not enough to live on--$21000 is not much money in todays world. Of course I did manage to invest and save. I am comfortable but in no way rich or never will be.

 

[EddieWalker]

One of the things that I've been thinking is that we should change the pay scale and benifits for member of congress to that of the military. Give a senator the rank of a general and a member of the house a rank of a colonel and pay them accordingly. They would also get the same amount of staff as those ranks receive, and the same benifits and perks. Best of all, put them on the military medical plan. After 20 years, they get half their pay in retirment and if they serve 30 years, give them 75% of their pay just like the military does it.

That alone would save the country a bunch of money, and make the govenrment more likely to take care of the military becasue it would be helping them out too.

Eddie