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.Read the article first (click on the link below):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33607-2000Jan11.html
then come and read the rest of this page.
If you have a weak heart - don't read this as you may not be able to get to a hospital in time due to a heart attack. For the bleeding hearts - You won't understand this letter anyway, so don't waste your time reading it .
On Nov. 12, Ms Cindy Williams (This is not Cindy 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 GI's 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. 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 forcesBefore 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? Rubbish!A1C Michael Bragg Hill AFB AFNCC
my final thoughts
First I wish to thank A1C Michael Bragg of Hill AFB, Utah for his service to our country
Many folks do not understand that, we not asked to work for the government in the military, but we voluntarily gave up some of the freedoms that non-military people enjoy. In many cases - We also voluntarily offer up our lives so that the non-military people can sleep well at night without posting a lookout for people who want to do us harm. We, and I repeat from the letter above, We voluntarily work, live apart from our families, fight and die so these the Ms Williams types can go about their daily routines of work, play and sleep without the fear of someone killing them or their love ones.
I am retired Air Force, but I would go again at the request to protect our freedoms and the constitutional rights of my fellow Americans, even those like Ms Williams who have different opinions.
I just believe that many people that feel the need to speak out do not have the facts and they have been misled by other like-minded people. I feel sorry for them that they have never experienced the threat of their freedoms or the moment of truth that when a poor overpaid service member takes a bullet that parts them from their loved ones.
My words to Ms Cindy Williams is "pay attention" you just may not be right as I would fight to protect my and your freedoms for no pay at all.
Larry Christy, MSgt Retired, USAF
All Gave Some - Many Gave All