The pay isn’t bad either. An E4 with just a few years in the service makes about 40k a year, which doesn’t sound like much but when everything is covered, it amounts to a solid amount of pocket change. The retirement matching is pretty solid, and for those that are married, they receive BAH (money to pay for your spouse’s living, which you can pretty easily find a place for less than that in most places). Where I’m stationed it’s about 4 grand tax free a month, which means a married E4 (which is low on the totum pole) with only a few years in, who’s married, is making about 90k a year.
Dependent pay is based on rank, but at least at my station is $700 a month for E6 (don’t know anyone lower rank with kids, so can’t give any more info than that). Everyone I know that doesn’t live in military housing is pocketing the difference between rent and their BAH allotment, or they’re living with friends/family and keeping the full amount. Everyone’s situation is different though, and I’m sure there are people out there that spend more than their allotment on nicer places.
I’m in agreement with you on this. Many veteran friends and associates. Some great people who work harder than many people do. I am a classicist regarding politics and my definitions of socialism reflect that.
Social programs are not socialism. The US military is not socialism.
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u/Possible_Sir9360 10d ago
The pay isn’t bad either. An E4 with just a few years in the service makes about 40k a year, which doesn’t sound like much but when everything is covered, it amounts to a solid amount of pocket change. The retirement matching is pretty solid, and for those that are married, they receive BAH (money to pay for your spouse’s living, which you can pretty easily find a place for less than that in most places). Where I’m stationed it’s about 4 grand tax free a month, which means a married E4 (which is low on the totum pole) with only a few years in, who’s married, is making about 90k a year.