5 ms·

If you want more recruits, you simply need to pay more.

thret 3y ago
US military are notoriously underpaid. Increase the base pay, increase the long-term incentives. They're not working for tips.
- johnnyanmac 3y ago
  The idea of military was that you have below average pay but insane benefits (and depending on the time, cultural respect), both directly and indirectly (There are/were so many places that give a military discount). The latter is falling off as of late (both directly and indirectly, again), so what's the point if you're not conscripted?
- refurb 3y ago
  They aren’t underpaid, at least not on the low end. A raw recruit (E1) gets $23,000 per year. Housing, food, work clothing and healthcare is paid for. After tax, it’s like ~$1,500 in completely discretionary income. This is why you get 19 year old new recruits buying new sports cars. They can afford it. The smart ones start socking away money while they are young. A new officer (O1) gets $43,000 per year. If they are married they can live off base and get a housing allowance. If lucky enough to get stationed in SF, that’s another $4,017 per month. So just base pay and allowance is $91,000. And the housing allowance is tax free, so it’s equivalent to making more than $100,000 per year. Then add on top sign on or enlistment bonuses especially for in demand MOSs, relocation allowances, etc. Then you put in 20 years and you get a pension you can live on and healthcare for the rest of your life. They aren’t making Silicon Valley money but it puts most members in firmly middle class territory.
  - thret 3y ago
    It's very difficult comparing salaries in different nations, because expenses vary so much. However, your comment confirms my opinion. I would like to see a 50% increase in that E1/E2/E3 base pay. I've worked with them - they earn it.
  - nunez 3y ago
    I've worked with many that have retired and entered the private sector. My understanding is that they continue to make their tax-free enlisted salary (via their pension) after retirement on top of whatever they're making in their private sector job. For high-ranking officers, this can be >$100k! Many of these folks have second homes, a small RE portfolio, and more!
    - tyingq 3y ago
      It's some percentage of their pay, depending on how long they were in. There's a few different plans, but roughly...50% if you're in 20 years, 75% at 30 years, etc. Also, only a percentage of the base pay. Not of the housing allowances and other pay they receive while active. https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Retirement/ https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Retirement/
langsoul-com 3y ago
Not really that simple for something as complex as the military. Look at mercenaries, get paid shit tons, still always need more.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- freefrog334433 3y ago
  Could they learn from the mining industry? Terrible job, long hours in the middle of no-where (in Australia) and poor family life, but the salaries and benefits are huge. There is no shortage of people wanting to work in the mining industry.
  - langsoul-com 3y ago
    The difference is people don't die off or develop life crippling ailments (physical or mental) on the same numbers.
  - popcalc 3y ago
    Commercial maritime is the equivalent of this for young south-east Asians.
freefrog334433 3y ago
It surprises me that this obvious solution is the one the government avoids the most. I would expect salaries to keep pace with the private sector. Especially when the cost of mistakes by a CEO (company goes bankrupt) is much less than the cost of a mistake by an officer (many people die). Might also stop the systemic corruption in the military AKA the revolving door between the military and private contractors.
- ClumsyPilot 3y ago
  2008 and Boeing CEOs killed plenty of people
solatic 3y ago
As an ex-soldier, I'm sympathetic, but it's hard to do that when the military's budget is already so high. Fixing military budgets internally is a multi-pronged problem, with any such proposal taking multiple years to execute, none of which are low-risk / high-chance of success.

US military are notoriously underpaid. Increase the base pay, increase the long-term incentives. They're not working for tips.

johnnyanmac 3y ago
The idea of military was that you have below average pay but insane benefits (and depending on the time, cultural respect), both directly and indirectly (There are/were so many places that give a military discount). The latter is falling off as of late (both directly and indirectly, again), so what's the point if you're not conscripted?
refurb 3y ago
They aren’t underpaid, at least not on the low end. A raw recruit (E1) gets $23,000 per year. Housing, food, work clothing and healthcare is paid for. After tax, it’s like ~$1,500 in completely discretionary income. This is why you get 19 year old new recruits buying new sports cars. They can afford it. The smart ones start socking away money while they are young. A new officer (O1) gets $43,000 per year. If they are married they can live off base and get a housing allowance. If lucky enough to get stationed in SF, that’s another $4,017 per month. So just base pay and allowance is $91,000. And the housing allowance is tax free, so it’s equivalent to making more than $100,000 per year. Then add on top sign on or enlistment bonuses especially for in demand MOSs, relocation allowances, etc. Then you put in 20 years and you get a pension you can live on and healthcare for the rest of your life. They aren’t making Silicon Valley money but it puts most members in firmly middle class territory.
- thret 3y ago
  It's very difficult comparing salaries in different nations, because expenses vary so much. However, your comment confirms my opinion. I would like to see a 50% increase in that E1/E2/E3 base pay. I've worked with them - they earn it.
- nunez 3y ago
  I've worked with many that have retired and entered the private sector. My understanding is that they continue to make their tax-free enlisted salary (via their pension) after retirement on top of whatever they're making in their private sector job. For high-ranking officers, this can be >$100k! Many of these folks have second homes, a small RE portfolio, and more!
  - tyingq 3y ago
    It's some percentage of their pay, depending on how long they were in. There's a few different plans, but roughly...50% if you're in 20 years, 75% at 30 years, etc. Also, only a percentage of the base pay. Not of the housing allowances and other pay they receive while active. https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Retirement/ https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Retirement/

langsoul-com 3y ago

Not really that simple for something as complex as the military. Look at mercenaries, get paid shit tons, still always need more.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
freefrog334433 3y ago
Could they learn from the mining industry? Terrible job, long hours in the middle of no-where (in Australia) and poor family life, but the salaries and benefits are huge. There is no shortage of people wanting to work in the mining industry.
- langsoul-com 3y ago
  The difference is people don't die off or develop life crippling ailments (physical or mental) on the same numbers.
- popcalc 3y ago
  Commercial maritime is the equivalent of this for young south-east Asians.

freefrog334433 3y ago

It surprises me that this obvious solution is the one the government avoids the most. I would expect salaries to keep pace with the private sector. Especially when the cost of mistakes by a CEO (company goes bankrupt) is much less than the cost of a mistake by an officer (many people die). Might also stop the systemic corruption in the military AKA the revolving door between the military and private contractors.

ClumsyPilot 3y ago
2008 and Boeing CEOs killed plenty of people

solatic 3y ago

As an ex-soldier, I'm sympathetic, but it's hard to do that when the military's budget is already so high. Fixing military budgets internally is a multi-pronged problem, with any such proposal taking multiple years to execute, none of which are low-risk / high-chance of success.