RE: Do you think American soldiers are put on too high of a pedestal
January 17, 2017 at 1:32 pm
(This post was last modified: January 17, 2017 at 1:36 pm by Jesster.)
(January 17, 2017 at 1:26 pm)pocaracas Wrote: What?! the US military pays poorly??
How?!
Don't they get like half the federal budget?
Where is the money going?!
Do the people who join know upfront what they're getting themselves into?
Yes, very poorly. Often below minimum wage, depending on rank. Even officers who make a lot more than enlisted soldiers are still earning less than they should.
The money from the defense budget mostly goes to equipment that the average soldier never touches. Also keep in mind that the defense budget is entirely separate from the budget for veteran aid, which is insultingly minuscule.
Yes, soldiers know (to an extent at least) what they are getting themselves into when they sign up. There's obviously more than pay behind it. I enlisted because there were no job opportunities where I was and I couldn't get away without money from those non-existent jobs. It was so much simpler to get into the military. It's sometimes a way to open doors when you have none.
