Concerning combat pay

[shawn703]

An enlisted servicemember at the E-1 pay grade earns $1467.00 a month, or $17,604 a year. If they are deployed to a combat zone, they will earn an extra $225.00 a month, up to an extra $150 a month if the area qualifies for HDP-L, and FSA of $250 a month if they are separated from their families for more than 30 days. So they would earn a total of $20,304 a year to fight and die for our country on the low end to $25,104 a year on the high end. Sorry if I missed anything there, or have anything wrong - I got these numbers from the Intertubes because if I had first-hand knowledge of combat pay I probably wouldn't be writing this post right now.

I'd like to boost combat pay by a factor of 10000% to $22,500 a month and require that it be paid for by a new tax which is shouldered by everyone based on the proportion of America's wealth they control. So a third of this money will come from the top 1%, half of it will come from the rest of the top 20%, leaving the final 1/6th of the cost to come from the rest of the 80%. Progressively taxed of course, so if your net worth is $0 or less, you pay nothing. Separate this money just like Social Security so it goes to where it's supposed to and nobody can talk about cuts elsewhere to pay for it.

Before anyone balks at $22,500 a month for combat pay, that comes out to $750 a day. Paying someone $750 a day doesn't sound like a whole lot of money when you're asking them to put their lives on the line.

I think this would do a couple of things. It will make combat cost a whole lot more, so you shouldn't see as many needless wars or wars that drag on for years and years. There isn't enough sacrifice back home and it seems like a lot of people frankly don't care unless they have family/friends in harm's way. Throw in a mandatory draft for everyone 18-45 if combat operations last longer than 30 days and everyone rich or poor is going to take a nice long look at what we're supposedly fighting for. $22,500 a month will make it harder for people to claim 3-A "hardship" deferments. If $22,500 a month is more than what mercenaries earn, those guys might find it worth their while to enlist, so we wouldn't need to read stories about the illegal shit Blackwater/Xe is doing.

And I've got an idea for a PPV event involving our Congresscritters right before the vote to authorize such a bill. Round them all up and bus them out to FedEx field. Everyone who thinks $225.00 a month (about $7.50 a day) is just right for combat pay will get to show their bravery and commitment to fiscal discipline by lining up at one end of the field. All they need to do is get from one end of the field to the other. Of course there will be an undisclosed number of proximity mines hidden in random places on the field. The ones that make it will win their prize of $7.50, after which they will be free to vote their conscience on whether or not that is a fair amount.

[mike_c]

1. any idea that involves congress persons and land mines...

...gets my :thumbsup:. :rofl:

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

2. If the wages are too low, I imagine people would not enlist.

It's not like enlisted military pay grades are secret. Obviously, the price is right to keep enlistment numbers up.
I'm not saying that risking my life is worth that price... but to some folks who signed up I suppose it is.

Plus you're glossing over the fact that a soldier's living expenses are covered while on actively deployed.
Many people make significantly more than an E-1 but have to pay rent, buy food, and pay utilities.
I know if I had an extra $1000/month I'd be doin alot better (as long as I stayed in one piece).

[shawn703]

3. That's part of the problem

The poor are disproportionately represented in the enlisted ranks compared to everyone else, because of the attitude "I'm not saying that risking my life is worth that price".

Factor in the extra $1000 a month in allowances, even factor in that combat pay is excluded from federal taxes. I'm betting it's still not worth it for the "haves" of the population to enlist and serve in a combat zone.

[Bandit]

4. If I remember correctly my Hazardous Duty Pay was $45. a month

I also received overseas pay, $40. a month and rations not available pay for another $40. a month. on top of my regular monthly pay of about $100. per month and I was an e-4. I doubt very seriously you would ever find an e-1 anywhere near a Combat zone..