Finally something the Pubs and Dems can agree on

[300ZX]

Amen Dave! Our pay in the military is horrible. The problem is the powers to be that make these decisions have never served. Well very few of them anyway. They are from a class that military service for them or their children is never an option or desire. They have absolutely no idea what we sacrafice and go thru and never ask for any special treatment or recognition. Money was the only reason I got out of my beloved Marine Corps in Dec. 95. My annual LES statement totaled a whopping $12,000 for 95. Yes I didn't have to pay for health care and I got $200 a month for groceries for being married and I got $600 a month for quarters, which I paid $850 a month for a 1 bed room apt that I felt we had a good chance of not getting out throats slit(southern Ca.) I was an E4. In 95 basically all married E5s and below with one child qualified for government subsistance. Now for the ones that did stick it out and finally got to retire they want to jack you around. Plus for the ones still in trying to reach retirement they're wanting to reduce their retirement even more!!! When is enough, enough!!!!! Sorry to get on a rant but this really get under my skin!

SEMPER FI!!!
Chris

[Chubminnow]

I got $200 a month for groceries for being married and I got $600 a month for quarters, which I paid $850 a month for a 1 bed room apt that I felt we had a good chance of not getting out throats slit(southern Ca.)

300ZX, thanks for serving...Dave, thanks for serving...Don, thanks for serving...and anyone else I may have left out, thanks for serving. I never joined the military, never felt like I needed to, was lucky enough to get a decent job right out of high school with plenty of room to learn a skill/profession...hindishgt is 20/20, but looking back I wished I would have served, but not everyone of us does.

300ZX - I'm curious to know why you didn't live on the base back in the day? The reason I'm asking is because through my work I've been working on several military housing projects (Fort Knox, Fort Campbell, Fort Wainwright, AK), and it looks to me like the housing on base is pretty decent, well maintained, etc.