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Are our Troops overpaid? Apparently the Pentagon thinks so.

  • ptown_trojans_1
    I Wear Pants wrote:
    2quik4u wrote:
    I Wear Pants wrote: No, not everyone is cut out for it. But I still think that most people's views on what a soldier is like (big, fast, strong) and the type of physical training they get in basic (people overestimate it's difficulty a lot).

    Most people can be a soldier. That's all I'm trying to say. It's not very selective because it can't be.

    Doesn't make being a soldier mean anything less or make me have less respect for our troops. I just have no delusions of grandeur by believing that we have some super athletic/strong fighting force.
    The problem is you are only thinking about the physical aspect and not the mental aspect.
    It doesn't take a brilliant person to be a grunt.
    In the world of executing Counterinsurgency Strategy it does. COIN is the thinking man's war, and executing takes far more thought than just shooting a gun.
  • sleeper
    Glory Days wrote:
    sleeper wrote: I know some dumb shits in the military, and I know some dumb shits that work for McDonalds.

    Coincidence? I think not.
    i know some dumb shit CEOs. i know some dumb shit doctors. i know some dumb shit chatters.

    Coincidence? I think not.
    Well then you don't know JACK!
  • I Wear Pants
    Al Bundy wrote:
    I Wear Pants wrote:
    2quik4u wrote:
    I Wear Pants wrote: No, not everyone is cut out for it. But I still think that most people's views on what a soldier is like (big, fast, strong) and the type of physical training they get in basic (people overestimate it's difficulty a lot).

    Most people can be a soldier. That's all I'm trying to say. It's not very selective because it can't be.

    Doesn't make being a soldier mean anything less or make me have less respect for our troops. I just have no delusions of grandeur by believing that we have some super athletic/strong fighting force.
    The problem is you are only thinking about the physical aspect and not the mental aspect.
    It doesn't take a brilliant person to be a grunt.
    It takes a mentally tough person to deal with many of things that people in our military deal with on a daily basis.
    Yes. I was talking merely being a soldier. As in, passing all the training without breaking mentally or physically. That isn't as hard as people think.

    I can only imagine what they have to deal with in real combat situations though and that definitely takes mental toughness and strength.
  • sjmvsfscs08
    I'm not convinced they're overpaid, but I would agree it doesn't take much to be a soldier. The thing with the military is with most of the operations they teach you how to do it, so there's quality control with a soldier; 90% of the daily operations are so simple a caveman can do it. The genius is in the system in my opinion.

    Now, that said. I love an all-volunteer military, and I love the idea of a person from poverty achieving the "American Dream" via an education and work ethic instilled by the army. So I consider the wage an investment in America's social future as much as defense. Plus, my grandfather was a 1940 graduate of the Naval Academy, and my father was an Army FO during Vietnam and Engineer afterward so I'm biased toward military appreciation.
  • Devils Advocate
    Lets see..... 40,000 signing bonus, 17m salary .... room and board with med care. Not bad for an entry level position with training provided.
  • martyirish
    http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/pentagon-military-pay-obama/2010/05/09/id/358485?s=al&promo_code=9DD1-1

    This to me just proves he hates this country
  • Belly35
    personal attack removed. First this is a perfect example of a government and political elite that is out of touch with the America values and morals of this country. They have little respect for the individual American citizen “We the People” and have forgotten who they are …. Fucking Public Servants and nothing more. Our Soldiers are the icon of America strength, prosperity, creativity and freedom, we as Americans and our Country emphasis in the world. To diminish the American Soldier with less pay is a disgrace to all American and places less value on the lives of each of us. Again the perfect example that to the elite out of touch politicians view of “We the People” as less important that the standard of what American population view themselves. Those of you that buying into the government mentality that they know what best for you are screwing yourself …when will you take pride in America and set standards to reach for and maintain rather than to lower those standard to lessen the value of America.

    Comparing an American Soldier skill level to that of a McD employee or uneducated labor is stupid. Sure the training prepares the American Soldier but not all can achieve the proficiency to be a soldier. Uneducated I think not …you think that just a dumb FM can pull a trigger …it more than that. American Grunt Soldier put his life on the line 24/7, can go home after lunch or quit, dedicated to himself and the squad, master of his skills because others lives depend on doing the task correctly the first time and every the time. There is no room for error or people die your sons, daughter, wives and husbands go home in a bag. Grunts have to react in extra condition within split seconds the though process is not learned but a react of dedication, commitment, to save, protect and unselfish bravery. You can have your educated asshole and your college degree and your attitude that this men and women are less than a common labor …. Give me a grunt any day …….attacks removed.
    Want to know what level of education and skills the American Soldier has … the level that can save lives.….

    Soldiers don’t just kill if that what many of you think ....soldiers save more lives that we take. But that does have value because the elite political does not see people as having value and we are all less so the standard must be lowed.
  • CenterBHSFan
    per article:
    But congressional supporters of the men and women in the Armed Services are questioning why they are being singled out for future pay cutbacks when other government agencies and unions are not.
    Yeah, I wonder when Gibbs will be clarifying this for us?
  • CenterBHSFan
    Thinking I agree with Belly on this one. (or he agreed with me)
  • Belly35
    CenterBHSFan wrote: Thinking I agree with Belly on this one. (or he agreed with me)

    Agree with Belly is like a gift card from Giant Eagle you get extra perks and value. ;)
  • I Wear Pants
    I think Belly just hit on you.
  • CenterBHSFan
    I Wear Pants wrote: I think Belly just hit on you.
    Nahhh, he's just havin fun.
    Belly's cool in my book!