No they are not going paid what they deserve. My borther-in-law is in the army and his wife gets paid more then he do just for cleaning houses and she dosen't get paid that much. I think that is sad! they put there lives on the line and a lot live in crap houses and get paid less then most jobs out there. and the fact that they get paid the same if they work 8 hours or 16 hours is not right.

Who in the world came up with that freaking number, are you out of your minds, do you really believe an E-4 make that kind of money, you are smoking something illegal! If an E-4 were paid $70,450 we would have more soldiers enlisting today, don't pump sand their butts and make them believe they are. No you are not paying them what they deserve for what they are doing, what kind of freaking question is that? Get that budget office in for a urinalysis test right now!

I THINK THE MILITARY DOES NOT GET PAID WHAT THEY DESERVE. THEY SACRIFICE ALOT TO KEEP US FREE AND SAFE HERE IN THE UNITIED STATES, AND WE HAVE FAMILIES THAT ARE ON WELFARE AND LIVE PAYDAY TO PAYDAY. THAT'S TO ME IS SO SAD. THEY DESERVE BETTER. SO INSTEAD OF GIVING EVERYONE ON CAPITAL HILL A RAISE THIS YEAR WHY DON'T WE GIVE IT TO THE ONES WHO ACTUALLY DESERVE IT. NO WONDER WHY IT'S HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO ENLIST IN TODAYS MILITARY. LOOK HOW THEY ARE TREATED. WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE MILITARY NOW..

an honest question how much is a soldiers life worth my buddie and cousin just showed me a little over 500 every two weeks thats alot less than any 70 grand a year would you put your life on the line for minimum wage?

As an E-2 in the Navy I can tell you no matter what branch you are in you get paid very little. Now i got bored one day and decided to the math. I figured out that if you dont count the cost of our poor benefits we get as an E-2 i get paid about a $1.46 and hour. Thats almost hateful when you think about. So there is no way that any of My friends that are in the Army and Marine Corps get paid any where near what they should.

Aa E- makes 36,000 if they have dependents and have at least 12 years in the Army. Now lets take away the BAQ and BAH, now do the math. The education is another incentive. What if they do not even use the GI BILL? Then the Government cannot add this into the income. If an E-4 makes that much then an E-8 makes $140,900.

its all bull**** i dont understand why actors get paid millions to act in movies and soldiers get paid as sutton said about 1.46 an hour??? what kind of crap is that. soldiers save lives protect our freedom and actors entertain us?? those are some wac as proirties!!

Did you forget all medical is paid no monthly health care insurance or co-pay some ppl get BAH for housing tell me what employer does that so i can wrk there at that company. SUCK IT UP AND DRIVE ON....

An E-4, I can surely tell you does not make over $70,000 a year. Our son is at the Cpl level & I know what he is making. He can barely keep up with his bills on what he's paid. He's also been doing the work of a 1'st Sgt. for a year now & he doesn't see any extra money for that either. For what our Soldiers have gone through in this horrible war they deserve much more pay & benefits. I look forward to seeing him earn this kind of money but it's not going to happen. I can't wait to let him know what I jsut read!

You have got to be kidding me. I was an E-4 in the Army (25R). I don't recall ever getting paid anywhere near that amount. as far as benefits. try getting an appointment at the VA for anything once you get out. I was told it would take 18 months before I could see someone to get a physical

Yeah, that's nonsense. I was an E-4, and at the end of my time on active I was making pretty decent money, including BAH for living off post, it certainly wasn't near $70,000 a year. I've seen the formula they use to come up with that, and it counts living in barracks as though it were a mortgage payment, and greatly inflates the other bennies like medical (which is sub par, to be honest) and chow hall food. These numbers might help with recruiting, but they're fundementally dishonest. Nobody joins to get rich, why not tell people "You won't be rich, but you'll always have a roof and food, and you can make good money once you've been in awhile"?

I am an E-4 in the military and I only mad 26,500 last year.

i just got as an e-4 and if you count living expenses then you should count having a roomate in a room that's not quite the size of an average prison cell. I'll bet if you found a room that small without baths or private toilets that you didn't clean yourself or have some private clean wouldn't cost you the same as the military or government would have you think. I'd imagine rent in a place like I lived in the barracks would be at the most $200 a month but I still don't see that happening.

also we over pay for chow services. it would cost me a lot less(as it does now), to cook for myself tastier and healthier meals than that crap we get served. The only good meals I had in the Army were when I was in Iraq.

I would like to know what universe the person that supplied these facts lives in!! In my universe an E-4 does not make that much.

Soldiers don't make much because they are not that intelligent and slightly crazy. Who in their right mind would choose a career to go kill people?

Of course they don't get paid much, they will never get paid much. They are the pawns on a chess board.

Why else are veterans homeless on the streets and in hospitals in horrible condition? Because nobody but maybe those related to these people cares.

If you want to make the world safer, then get an education and go into diplomacy. Killing people and wars makes the world LESS safe for EVERYONE. Simple concept that soldiers do not understand, hence why they do not get paid much.

Harsh, we'll do it for you anyway because honor and service is s. An E4 who does know this also realizes that the Army approves him/her for a VA loan allowing him/her the opportunity to purchase a home/s.

I've bought three condos remodeled them and sold them for a profit of $110k this year. Plus my rent free paychecks every month. It also helps that my school loans were repaid so maybe someday I can stand behind the fact that I have the experience and credentials to positively influence diplomacy rather than armchair quarterback it.....duh.

Harsh, we'll do it for you anyway because honor and service is more than enough to make a soldiers life mean more than your comments ever can. An E4 who does know this also realizes that the Army approves him/her for a VA loan allowing him/her the opportunity to purchase a home/s.

I've bought three condos remodeled them and sold them for a profit of $110k this year. Plus my rent free paychecks every month. It also helps that my school loans were repaid so maybe someday I can stand behind the fact that I have the experience and credentials to positively influence diplomacy rather than armchair quarterback it.....duh.
12/14/07 12:14:43

i am an e4 in the military, shake and bake....college grad for you civilians. i make 1699 a month base pay....add in 160 more a month bc i am stationed in fucking hawaii....its ridiculous here, 8 dollars for a gallon of milk....yeah i am literally broke 24/7. with the cola and bas i get which is money for food bc as a MP i dont have time to eat in the dining halls which suck. all that considered after taxes, which is a whole seperate issue, i take home 805.01 every 2 weeks....so thats 1602.02 a month or 19224.24 a year...that is below the poverty level...and i live in hawaii where the average home is 600,000 and the average income is nearly 100,000. do we need to be paid more...abso-fucking-lutely....but i joined knowing this and did it of free will and went enlisted because i wanted to fight the war....the two towers went down and thousands died...i wont forget that, i am not here for the money, but if i were, well i wouldnt be here. have a little respect for your local soldiers and give them a break for all that they do. i imagine ever having roots, and deploying to another country to risk your life every 12 months...imagine waking up at 5am everyday and getting off work at 6pm everyday...imagine having one day off a week. imagine working for a bunch of fucking idiots. imagine this....follow orders for once in your life. hooah soldiers..drive on and ignore these idiots...i have respect for all my fellow soldiers, ignore the civilians they wont know what we put up with until they walk a mile in our shoes, if they arent too fat to walk a mile. haha. Remember 9/11/01 i will never forget

I'm not in the army,but i still think they should get payed more.Paying these guys dirt doesent make much since.Remember they keep us free.

"Soldiers don't make much because they are not that intelligent and slightly crazy. Who in their right mind would choose a career to go kill people?"

Are you kidding me? I know that as a medic with my bachelors in microbiology I am a pretty smart guy. Yet I still joined up.

"If you want to make the world safer, then get an education and go into diplomacy. Killing people and wars makes the world LESS safe for EVERYONE. Simple concept that soldiers do not understand, hence why they do not get paid much."

Soldiers don't decide to go to war. your so called diplomats do. We just have the fortitude and discipline to do what our nation asks. it's called selfless service. go over to google and look up "The Seven Army Values"

It just shows us who is important in today's society. I'm not worried about our pay in todays military. Its when I seperate from the military and there is nothing there for me.

GOD bless america i am a proud soldier
do we get paid enough- no but if your here because you believe in what your doing then it doesnt really matter. to all my fellow soldiers HOOAH!!!!!!!!!!
NOTHING ELSE NEED TO BE SAID.

I am a 30 something year old mother who just enlisted for active duty. My husband has also enlisted. Did we enlist for the money?? HELL NO we enlisted to show are love for our country and to further influence our childrens morals.

ok who does enlist in the military for money i mean those are the retarded people...i joined for pride and selfless service to my country i mean yea some people join for benefits but most join for there country not money i mean honestly...and DUH you gotta be a 14 yr old that sits around and plays video games because there is no logic to your reasons come back when you can actually post something worth reading...oh and by the way if you want to sound intelligent don't put your name as DUH because your remarks are about the equal of your name.

I'm in tha navy n it sucks ass NAVY "Never Again Volunteer Yourself"

When everyone says that they don't get paid enough, they are talking about actual cash in your bank account. When they came up with the $70,000 figure, they include all the benefits that you have and could have. Like free health care, G.I. Bill, BAH, etc... They also base it off of a soldier that is married with dependents. If you want to make the military worthwile financially, then you should take advantage of every opportunity available to you as a soldier. I.E. G.I. Bill, VA loans and whatever else they have to offer. BTW, congress just passed a new Post 9/11 G.I. Bill that pays 100% tuition and up to $1400 a month for housing and $1000/yr for books. Thats basically free college and almost $18,000 a year in your pocket tax free. I served 4 years active, 4 years in the guard and I've been out 4 yrs and I said I would never go back. This new G.I. Bill has seriously got me thinking about re-enlisting. My advice to all those underpaid..... take advantage of your opportunities!!!

Whovever DUH IS.... you need a reality check. Yes there are some less than bright soldiers, but the majority are smart. Just because you enlist in the army does not mean you do not have a degree. I have a bachelors degree, and will be enlisting. My husband is already enlisted, although there is a lot of BS to put up with and pay is LOW it is still a great experience and can teach you something. Even if a soldier is getting 70 grand including benefits, and of course army used all benefits, it is the retainment package, it still is not enough for what they put up with or what they do on the front lines. The only way you can change anything is from the inside out, if enough people was to do a little bit maybe by the time it is all over something might actually change.....

SPC Rojas, you don't know what you're talking about. The medical care we get is useless unless you want to get some Ibuprofen and told to just stretch more when your knee is deteriorating. Ya we have excellent benefits to make up for the small salary.

i am not in the army but my boyfriend is and hes an E4 but he doesnt make anywhere near $70,000 anything sometimes he cant even pay his cell bill after all his other expenses and to be honest hes not happy being there i see and hear his struggle daily but i wish all the soldiers my love and best of luck because i truly dont know how they do it and their families as well

hell no, soldiers dont get paid enough. its craziness, stupid ppl who get on tv and act like jack asses get paid so much and the ppl who put their lives on the line for all of our freedom get paid so little. my finacee is in iraq and hes a e4, the money he makes will never be enough for the worry and hurt that hes been through.

I'm and E-4 looking at about 30K for a year long afghanistan deployment. I sold cars and made more money, but I do it so some of you don't have to. I'm getting out and going to college... I assume that I could get more for re-enlisting but It wouln't get close to 70K someone's deffinitely on crack. Before bonus for a 3 year soldier it's about 30K.

roger, i get the fact that they are rolling our benefits into our yearly salaries. even still you'd have to use them at a rate of one or two minor surgeries a year to even total this 70k figure! ill tell you what, just give me the 70k cash and ill pay out of pocket for my own dental cleanings and annual check ups!!!! and i hope some body important reads this blog!!!

I am not in the army but I am the wife of an e4. i don't feel like they get paid enough either. A lot of suvillians walk around here saying things about soldiers and what they make. Some people really think that soldiers are rich. I have had people tell me that my husband can send me a whole lot more money because he makes a lot. I feel like mind your own damn business these people go through a lot and don't get paid what they should. As for you duh that comment was ignorant. These soldiers put their life on the line for your safety everyday.

QUIT CRYING ABOUT BEING IN THE MILITARY AND ALL THE BAD STUFF THAT GOES ON,OUR COUNTRY DEPENDS ON US TO SET THE EXAMPLE FOR OUR NATION.IF YOUR GONNA CRY LIKE THIS IN GARRISION IMAGINE HOW YOU WILL IN BATTLE.LET ME GUESS YOU DONT WEAR A COMBAT PATCH.FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.OUR FATHERS FATHERS WENT THROUGH MUCH MORE TO PREVENT THE ENEMIES OF THE UNITED STATES TO MAKE US CRUMBLE.YOU RAISED YOUR RIGHT HAND HOPING YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND TO SERVE I HOPE.IF YOU DIDNT DO THAT CHOKE YOURSELF.SFC CHAVEZ 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION,"DEATH FROM ABOVE"

Not including medical benefits

I am an e4 in the national guard and during my last deployment I made somewhere between 55 to 60k between bah cola sep pay hardship duty and it was tax free, given that this was based off of NYC bah I still did make the money

I think the fact that you will always have food, clothes, and a roof over your head accounts for alot that the actual dollar figure doesnt. Basically all of the money that is in the paycheck is extra. It is for a car or spending money. Food, clothes, and housing is all taken care of, and in the civilian world that accounts for a very large portion of civilian income.

92Y (Ret) Well, how much do you think E4's should get paid? I they do deserve a decent amount of money if the army were to ever raise pay rates significantly. You don't need to tear the person's head off who said that they should make 70k. Plus, SFc Chavez, I don;t think the alst guy was complainig. Plsu ,askling the guy to choke himsf? Oh, that sets a good damn example all right. Isn't part of being in the army respecting any comrades from any service? If any guy was in the reserves and went to war, they would probably shape up once the realization of being in a warzone hit them. All I'm giving is my honest opinion.

Well Practical, clothes are not paid for, your work clothes are paid for. Housing is paid for, however, to get all this I work twelve hours most everyday. I have been deployed three times working 7 days a week for 15 months each time. So wow, they pay for housing and clothes. The civilians doing what we do in iraq make well over a 1,000,000. 00 doing it. I think I came home with like 30

my bad, apparently I don't know numbers I meant 100,000, heck if they made a million I would probably go ahead and join them

Actually Chavez I'm sure your forefathers were busy growing maze or something south of the border, get off it dude, everyone has a right to their opinion....damn

Im a E-4 in the navy and im telling you it is possible to get paid that much in a year. If you are deployed that is. You would get the following: Basic Pay (tax free if in middle east), BAH, BAS, and special pays which normaly include 2 or 3 (i.e. hazard pay, family separation, etc). It also depends how long youve been in, an E-4 with 2 years of service doesnt get paid as much as an E-4 with 6 years in. It is possible. And if your in the military and youre complaining about our benefits and pay, get the hell out and find another job, we didnt get drafted.

This for all the retards that think that the army gives you free food and medical. READ YOUR LES NOTHING IN THE ARMY IS FREE FOR STARTERS THE ARMY TAKES AWAY MONEY FOR GETTING THE DFAC, MGIB, AND YOUR SO CALLED MEDICAL, AND ANOTHER THING IF YOUR SO MUCH OF A RETARD TO SAY DRIVE ON I SUGGEST YOU GET YOURSELF SOME SELF RESPECT AND REALIZE THAT YOUR JUST A TOOL. I RATHER BE PICKING UP TRASH AND CUT GRASS THE REST OF MY LIFE THEN JOIN THE MILLITARY......OH WAIT A MINUTE IM ALREADY IN AND IM ALREADY DOING BOTH THINGS.

$70,000 yea right!!! Like most everyone said it is not about the money it is about serving this wonderful country the money is just extra I would serve even if there was no pay at all... But be happy we do get paid more than any other military in the world...