An email I received

This Cindy Williams is NOT the "LaVerne & Shirley" Cindy Williams. She is a Assistant Director for national Security in the Congressional Budget Office...... /////////

Military Pay

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

Ms. Cindy Williams wrote a piece for the Washington Times, denouncing the pay raise(s) coming service members' way this year citing that she stated 13% wage increase 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 taxes per month. 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 been 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? You can kiss my royal red a**!!!

A1C Michael Bragg Hill AFB AFNCC



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I say good for him.
Well said.
I get so damn mad at those sanctimonious F***s and there thinking they know whats best for us.
I dont see how any of them can sleep good at night.

Ive always said if we put the politicians on the front lines, there would be a lot less wars.

I think he should get a medal and be promoted!

I think someone should find out his address (Red Cross can get it) and attach it to this email so we can all write him a postcard/letter of support.

Lastly I also think I am grateful to people like him who risk life and limb everyday so that we can be free.

Freedom is Not Free!

Most of the service men I know who actually served in any war are poor. They volunteered their lives to our freedom, and didn't get much besides a swift kick to the door when they got back. Sure a few guys I know did get good training, never got screwed by the Government, and did get those far and few between well deserved, well paying jobs. THe difference between Government, and the Military is the Military serves the Country, Governmet serves only themselves. I'll believe Government the day they all sit down to a shorts and t-shirts dinner of mac and cheese, and pb&J sandwiches, after stacking fire wood all day, so they have heat for the winter, but they still have to pay $250 a plate, because it's a fund raiser> Not much of a fundraiser other wise if the food, the ambiance, the entertainment, and the staff to prepare it, and run the event costs $750 - $1200 an hour, which is what those galla fund raisers they have in Washington cost per hour.

We can do them a service. I think, that if we see a young person going in the service, we can take it on ourselves to assist them in aquiring a contract that will fit and serve them best. If they will listen. If we would take time to ask there dreams and expectations. And do an effective search of there options. Many that volunteer for the service, only have a few dreams or goals, and they therefore get a whole lot they didn't expect. And lack a lot, of what they thought they would get. I've sat and listened to Marines that got scewed on there contracts. And others with guareenteed occupations, duty stations, pay raises, schooling, etc. The recruiters want the enlistments. So the entrants must hold back there enthusiasum, and think, of the beifits that might be available for the next 3 or 4 years of there lives. The recruiters will lie to them. I only wanted to be in top shape, have the adventure, and to aquire some more disapline. I wasn't expecting to be forced to talk blood and guts. How to scream happily while practicing disembowling people. So we can let them know if they join with an open contract, they greatly reduce there say. Many of the service men have money to spare, with no kids, rent, food, medical etc. So a military family man could retail many items to the other guys on the side. Even in the field I used to take others guard duty for 10 bucks an hour. Shine there shoes and brass for inspection. Do artwork for them to send home. Give karate or guitar lessons, what ever your strengths are. I dated a girl once that had a skinny red headed younger brother. He was going in the Marines. I said take advantage of the facilitys while your there. Years later I was in the tractor store looking for bolts and nuts. I seen a super athlete browsing down the aisle. I approached and asked if his daddy worked him hard and his momma fed him good. I was suprised to see it was the redheaded kid, he said he never forgot what I told him, and he took it serious. He now has a nice family and business. With the sevice being voluntary, we can coach them to help themselves. I really dont have much to say about this subject. LOL Rick

we all can do our part as a former firefighter i helped alot of vets familys in emergencys. also you can donate carvings for veteran fund raisers and if a fireman,policeman or vet makes a purchase give them a discount. i gave a marine medic retired a discount and told him it was for his service . he told me a story of course i have seen many things but war is terrible . i was telling him about how patients who was screaming were better off than the quiet ones. he said he had one who was screaming that his arm had been blown off the sad part was the guys arm had impaled into the chest and killed his buddy. war is terrible but (jesus) said if the army says carry the pack a mile i say carry it two. veterans of foreign wars are the elite they saw action like no others.