He didnt write it but I think any patriotic person will enjoy it
On this 1st day of Passover, in which my family thanks the Lord for our freedom thousands of years ago I think it is also appropriate to thank the men and women of our military services for their continuing sacrifices.
God bless all of them and bring them safely home
Oss
Military Pay
> >
> > 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.
> >
> > On Nov. 12, Ms Cindy Williams (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 increase 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 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 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 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 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 open 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
> >
> > IF YOU AGREE, PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE
> > AND SHOW OUR SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN. THANK YOU.
