Posted on 10/26/2006 12:14:23 PM PDT by Tulsa Ramjet
The military USED to be a way for commoners to make a lot of money by looting. They took that away and now people will not go into the military for monetary reasons.
My husband was an E-5 when our first son was born (approximately 3 years after he enlisted). We didn't have a lot of money, but with our housing provided for and electicity, etc. we were ok.
We knew A LOT of people with high credit card debt. The problem (as it is with most Americans) wasn't so much low pay, but high amounts of debt needing to be serviced.
My husband more than doubled his income within 16 months of leaving the Navy. I do support higher pay for the military, but it wouldn't do a thing to solve the spending problem.
My husband was an STS2 with 9 years in when he left the Navy. VERY few ST's were being advanced each year, while hunders were passing the tests. Just looking at the numbers showed my husband that it would be at least 2 or 3 more years before he could advance.
Pay and advancement weren't the only reason he left the Navy, but it was a large part. When it doesn't matter how good you are, what is the point?
"but I don't understand the thinking on this one."
You and me both, pal.
"would be really hard for us land lovers to understand the feeling of strapping a jet on and flying around"
How about strapping on a ship two football fields long and zipping through the straits of Messina at 12 knots with ferries crossing the front of your bow every 30 seconds? Now THAT's some action (coming from a SWO. Hey, we have our moments too.)
I've worked with several Iron Majors. Up and out depends on the numbers. It looks like we are entering another up our out period, but that has not been the case in the last 10-12 years since the Clinton slashing.
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