<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>I thought someone says we get paid too much?
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On 12 November, Ms Cindy Williams (from the 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 gap was bogus. 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 of 12 Nov, "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 leave and earnings
statement (LES), I see that I make $1,117.80, before taxes. After
taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through Windows' 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 (AFNCC), where I am
part of the team responsible for the administration of 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, nor does it pay less than this.
No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum. I'm sure you can
draw the obvious conclusions.
Also, you tout increases to Basic Allowance for Housing and Basic
Allowance for Subsistence (housing and food allowances, respectively)
as being a further boon to an already overcompensated force. Again,
I'm curious as to where this money has gone, as BAH and BAS were both
slashed 15% in the Hill AFB area effective in January 00.
Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you have 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 AFDC, 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 DOD 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 DFP(Defensive Fire Position, the modern-day 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 op-ed 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
<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>1. business owner= and show a cash flow. and bank statements. and have the bank write a note atesting to my cash flow.
or
2. be a doctor lawyer etc. etc. etc
or
3. be a cop or a retired cop
or
4. have proof that I have been threatened or assaulted lately....with police reports as proof. ( even then it is not guaranteed..)yippe...they wanna wait till I am jacked up before I can carry This State sucks!!!
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This is another example of a state that says they don't violate the second amendment.
They just don't speak the whole truth about their views that say if you aren't rich or elite, then you won't be allowed. This is another way to remove weapons from the common law abiding citizen.
California is ( New York, too)
also like this, where you can apply for a concealed carry permit,but unless you are one of the jetsetters, you'll never be issued your permits.
Senator Diane Feinstein (D) Cali. is very outspoken against the second amendment, saying the normal citizen can't be trusted and that EVERY situation can be handled by the police.
Funny thing is, she has a Cali. concealed carry permit and carries a .38 in her purse because she doesn't feel safe while alone at night and while traveling and also claims that she, being a senator, possesses enough intelligence to know when and how to use the weapon.
She also believes only the military should be allowed to have weapons, which in her eyes, should only be in times of war. In other words, a totally disarmed military, lacking basic weapons skills, unless we are at war.
There are whacked people out there, you find them everywhere. Unfortunately, there are others that are even worse off mentally that will vote for these nutjobs like this.
Ritchie,
I can't telll you what you can and cannot do, but if you are caught and it goes into felony status, then your military career is also down the tubes. Also the NRA wouldn't be able to help you too much, if you broke the existing laws, but if you were violated by local or state police, while doing things properly and legally, they would help.
[addsig]
