Bill Vincent
02-22-2005, 08:36 PM
This is an Airman's response to Cindy Williams' editorial piece in the
>
>Washington Times about MILITARY PAY, it should be printed in all newspapers
>
>across America.
>
>
>
>On Nov. 12, Ms Cindy Williams (from Laverne and Shirley TV show) wrote a
>
>piece for the Washington Times, denouncing the pay raise(s) coming service
>
>members' way this year -- citing that the stated 13% wage was more than
>they deserve.
>
>
>
>
>
>A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her article below. He ought to get
>
>a bonus for this.
>
>
>
>"Ms Williams:
>
>I just had the pleasure of reading your column, "Our GIs earn enough" and I
>
>am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where this vaunted overpayment is
>
>going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between DFAS
>
>(The Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and my bank account.
>
>
>
>Checking my latest earnings statement I see that I make $1,117.80 before
>
>tax
>
>es. After taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through the
>calculator, I come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes, and
>$10,490.40, after.
>
>
>
>I work in the Air Force Network Control Center where I am part of the team
>
>responsible for a 5,000 host computer network. I am involved with
>
>infrastructure segments, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment. A quick
>check under jobs for Network Technicians in the Washington, D.C. area
>reveals a position in my career field, requiring three years experience
>with my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year. No, this
>job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum...I'm sure you can
>draw the obvious conclusions.
>
>
>
>Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you NEVER had the
>
>pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces. Before you take it
>upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership for
>attempting to get the families in the military's lowest pay brackets off of
>WIC and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying soldiers
>headed for
>
>AFGHANISTAN; I leave the choice of service branch up to you.
>
>
>
>Whatever choice you make, though, opt for the SIX month rotation: it will
>
>guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and friends,
>
>thus giving you full "deployment experience." As your group prepares to
>board
>
>the plane, make sure to note the spouses and children who are saying
>good-bye
>
>to their loved ones. Also take care to note that several families are still
>
>unsure of how they'll be able to make ends meet while the primary
>breadwinner is gone -- obviously they've bee n squandering the "vast" piles
>of cash the government has been giving them.
>
>
>
>Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are
>perennial
>
>favorites. And when you're actually over there, sitting in a foxhole,
>
>shivering against the cold desert night; and the flight sergeant tells you
>that there aren't enough people on shift to relieve you for chow, remember
>this:
>
>trade whatever MRE (meal-ready-to-eat) you manage to get for the tuna
>noodle
>
>casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to everything. This gives
>some flavor. Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it
>won't nearly be long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and
>be thankful for it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with
>most of the points you present in your opened piece.
>
>
>
>But, tomorrow from KABUL, I will defend to the death your right to say it.
>
>
>
>You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First Amendment
>
>rights and every other right you cherish. On a daily basis, my brother and
>sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like you can thumb
>your
>
>collective nose at us, all on a salary that is nothing short of pitiful and
>
>under conditions that would make most people cringe. We hemorrhage our best
>
>and brightest into the private sector because we can't offer the stability
>and pay of civilian companies.
>
>
>
>And you, Ms. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we
>deserve? Rubbish!
>
>
>
>A1C Michael Bragg Hill AFB AFNCC
>
>
>
>IF YOU AGREE, PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND SHOW
>
>OUR SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN. THANK YOU.
>
>Washington Times about MILITARY PAY, it should be printed in all newspapers
>
>across America.
>
>
>
>On Nov. 12, Ms Cindy Williams (from Laverne and Shirley TV show) wrote a
>
>piece for the Washington Times, denouncing the pay raise(s) coming service
>
>members' way this year -- citing that the stated 13% wage was more than
>they deserve.
>
>
>
>
>
>A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her article below. He ought to get
>
>a bonus for this.
>
>
>
>"Ms Williams:
>
>I just had the pleasure of reading your column, "Our GIs earn enough" and I
>
>am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where this vaunted overpayment is
>
>going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between DFAS
>
>(The Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and my bank account.
>
>
>
>Checking my latest earnings statement I see that I make $1,117.80 before
>
>tax
>
>es. After taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through the
>calculator, I come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes, and
>$10,490.40, after.
>
>
>
>I work in the Air Force Network Control Center where I am part of the team
>
>responsible for a 5,000 host computer network. I am involved with
>
>infrastructure segments, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment. A quick
>check under jobs for Network Technicians in the Washington, D.C. area
>reveals a position in my career field, requiring three years experience
>with my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year. No, this
>job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum...I'm sure you can
>draw the obvious conclusions.
>
>
>
>Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you NEVER had the
>
>pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces. Before you take it
>upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership for
>attempting to get the families in the military's lowest pay brackets off of
>WIC and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying soldiers
>headed for
>
>AFGHANISTAN; I leave the choice of service branch up to you.
>
>
>
>Whatever choice you make, though, opt for the SIX month rotation: it will
>
>guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and friends,
>
>thus giving you full "deployment experience." As your group prepares to
>board
>
>the plane, make sure to note the spouses and children who are saying
>good-bye
>
>to their loved ones. Also take care to note that several families are still
>
>unsure of how they'll be able to make ends meet while the primary
>breadwinner is gone -- obviously they've bee n squandering the "vast" piles
>of cash the government has been giving them.
>
>
>
>Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are
>perennial
>
>favorites. And when you're actually over there, sitting in a foxhole,
>
>shivering against the cold desert night; and the flight sergeant tells you
>that there aren't enough people on shift to relieve you for chow, remember
>this:
>
>trade whatever MRE (meal-ready-to-eat) you manage to get for the tuna
>noodle
>
>casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to everything. This gives
>some flavor. Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it
>won't nearly be long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and
>be thankful for it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with
>most of the points you present in your opened piece.
>
>
>
>But, tomorrow from KABUL, I will defend to the death your right to say it.
>
>
>
>You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First Amendment
>
>rights and every other right you cherish. On a daily basis, my brother and
>sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like you can thumb
>your
>
>collective nose at us, all on a salary that is nothing short of pitiful and
>
>under conditions that would make most people cringe. We hemorrhage our best
>
>and brightest into the private sector because we can't offer the stability
>and pay of civilian companies.
>
>
>
>And you, Ms. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we
>deserve? Rubbish!
>
>
>
>A1C Michael Bragg Hill AFB AFNCC
>
>
>
>IF YOU AGREE, PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND SHOW
>
>OUR SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN. THANK YOU.