Among the lies and exaggerations of the Far Right (FR)
circulating these days is the chain e-mail (always a reliable source right?)
that reads in some version of the following:
"*sigh* I don’t like talking about politics, ( which
means they certainly are, and since raising minimum wage is generally a Democrat
initiative, well, you know!) I really don’t, especially not on here. But
earlier my twitter feed showed me an image that stated outright that the
minimum wage paid more than our military. Others stated that while this was not
the case, it would be for a $15 minimum wage. And the idea that either would be
true ticked me off to a fair degree.
So if you’re here to read the fantasy stories, I promise,
this won’t become a habit. After finals this week, I promise to go back to
producing regular content for my followers. You can go ahead and leave now, if
you prefer.
Let’s break it down, shall we? Assuming 2000 hours (40 hours
per week, plus two weeks with no pay or work) a wage of 7.25 an hour adds up to
14,500 gross income. According to goarmy.com, a private (as stated on the page,
a new soldier generally enters as a private) with less than 2 years of
experience earns $18,194 (though the website stipulates that the first few
months of service pay will be lower, so make of that what you will). A minimum
wage of 9.097 would get you that same pay. So while no, the military does not
earn less than the minimum wage right now, they’re less than 2 dollars an hour
from it. "
As a 26 year military veteran, and not a female blogger with
absolutely no grasp of the reality of the whole thing, I once again must set out
armed only with facts and normal intelligence in a quest for truth.
First of all: The initial pay quoted is for an E-1 only. In
the modern military, essentially every soldier, airman or sailor completing Basic Training
successfully is promoted to E-2, so that is the dollar starting point. The
real figure for basic pay alone is $1734/month. This correlates to $10.83
hourly. But wait, there's more. A minimum wage earner in civilian life must then
pay for rent, food, health care (good luck with that) dental and vision care,
and clothing. Possible add ins include heat and other utilities. A single
military E-2 pays none of those things if he lives, as most do, on base.
Contrary to the misguided ramblings of the above blog/e-mail, the average single junior
service member, if he or she chooses to, living on base, has more disposable
income than any two minimum wage civilian household and it ain't really close.
Of course I have an advantage over the ignorant bloggers and
e-mailers, in that I actually served in Navy training commands for 11 of my 26
active duty years, so I actually know whereof I speak. I recall having E-3 students with
less than 2 years of service who drive far nicer vehicles that I could afford!
But Mike, you say, what about the young marrieds who enter
the service? Surely they must suffer financially! As it turns out, further examination of facts
(vice BS) shows the following: Most young married couples don't (in fact, aren't allowed to) live together
during basic training, since Boots aren't even granted off base privileges for
a period of weeks during basic. Let's assume, for the worst case scenario, that
a man (or woman) completes Basic as an E-2 , and sets up housekeeping with a
spouse in the local economy while
attending whatever advanced training they receive prior to deployment. Understand, that this is
a relatively small minority of service members and that they choose this, it isn't thrust upon them.
Again, I say this from the vantage point of having trained, counseled and loved
thousands of such dedicated kids.
Basic pay for this guy is the
aforementioned $1734/month, but, as they
say in those infomercials, "Wait, There's more!" Military
compensation includes base pay and allowances. In addition to basic pay, the new E-2 living
in the local economy, gets $357/month as a food allowance (for not eating in
base messes) this BAS, or basic allowance for subsistence, has been increased annually
for years.
Additionally, the married serviceman (E-2) with a spouse, in
Orlando, Fl., just as an example , receives an additional; $1332/month in
housing allowance! If he or she were assigned to say, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, that figure would be $3360/month!
Because other than these basic allowances, there are other
allowances (Sub pay, War Zone pay, Sea pay) which many never get, let's
reanalyze this E-2's annual compensation using pay and allowances, as the serviceman
really sees them. Of course this doesn't include the one timer initial clothing
allowance of $1567 (men, more for women).
Basic pay: $1734, Housing allowance (Orlando): $1332, BAS (food): $357 - for a total of $3427 monthly. This works out to just about $21 hourly. Remember, this family has no
medical bills, no health care insurance, and if they choose and can get into
base housing and forfeit Housing allowance, no rent. This no rent scenario,
reduces income to about $13.60 hourly with zero rent, utilities or health care
costs.
At current minimum
wage in Florida the equivalent McDonald's employee make$7.93 hourly. With a
national poverty threshold of $15,510
for a family of two, the Florida worker just comes in below the poverty line
working full time. Of course, the FR lie (see Michele Bachmann for numerous idiotic
quotes on this subject) is that the vast majority of minimum wage earners are
kids, a statement proven false numerous
times. Note that the minimum wage at present is about half that of the E-2
living in base housing. Of course the sailor /soldier /airman has no rent, no
utility bills, no health insurance costs. As an aside, the military person, should they
complete 20 years of service will also have (under current law) medical insurance
for self and spouse , and non-contributory retirement pay equal to a minimum of
half of their basic pay. How does this compare to MacDonald's IRA plans for
their minimum wage earners?
So, back to the original assertion, that military makes less
than minimum wage. For essentially all of married members, that is blatantly false.
For single members, it is totally erroneous, as well. In fact single, senior barracks
living enlisteds are flush with cash
I guess what I'm trying to say is that before you begin
shooting off your keyboard on subjects in areas in which you are vastly under informed,
you should try learning first, typing later.
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