A serious proposal to cut defense spending

[The Dharma Bum]

21K

http://www.goarmy.com/benefits/money/ba ... diers.html

[Dylan]

That's not total compensation.

[The Dharma Bum]

Yeah, you can live on base or get a housing allowance or what ever.

But that's fast food money.

[exploited]

[Dylan]

The allowances and other benefits are pretty substantial. Which is why total compensation is the relevant metric, not base pay.

Hard to say whether they are being overcompensated without an idea of what compensation is. I would have to compare the average salary to a civilian young person with minimal education and work experience. My guess is you make more if you enlist.

[The Dharma Bum]

I don't how much experience you have with recruitment but if the other compensation were substantial they damn sure would want to tell you about it.

[Dylan]

Found one. For E-1 one year of service (prolly a 19 year old) it's 35K BAS
BAH and base. Doesn't include fringe benefits.

More than the average high school grad. Stick around a few years and don't screw up and you're at e-3 making 40K. Not bad but not amazing. Probably not a lot of savings to be had by cutting these amounts, IMO.

Officers do well. O-4 with 13 years makes 115K. But we need to retain such people.

[eynon81]

[eynon81]

[exploited]

Well in addition to mediocre wages, you also learn a skill and have access to post-secondary education, right? That's a big perk.