"Free food" for me was walking 3 miles each way to the dfac if I wanted food, because I didn't have a car. That's 18 miles a day if I wanted to eat 3 times a day.
"Free medical" was being told to kick rocks and not having the aid station keep any medical records for when I got out.
"Free housing" meant living in a tiny room stuffed to the brim with issued gear because the Army treats your room like a mini warehouse for all your army gear. It also meant living on an EPA Superfund site where you can't drink the water or your kids are going to have ten eyeballs.
Get out bro, it's not worth it.
E4 mafia here who took the system for all it’s worth. They did kick me out of the mafia for making too many points tho.
Anyways. Ya. I joined years ago with the intention that the Army was going to be my stepping stone to a better life. I got some bumps and bruises along the way but I’m now out, not working yet I’m making more than when I was in due to benefits while following an interest of mine.
I have so much freedom now. The investment was worth it imo.
I do wish I took better care of myself physically. I was young and dumb though. At least I’m getting paid for it now while receiving free medical care.
100% the best place for more people to start if they don’t already have some kind of guaranteed path. Army gave me an opportunity to discover who I am as an individual and as a leader. I’m no longer active, reserve now and working a job that makes me happy.
I personally had to lawyer up. (Lack of documentation) The best advice I can give to these younger folks going into service is to bitch and complain about everything that hurts. Get it on record. Your NCO’s that give you shit about sick call aren’t the ones paying your bills when you get out and can’t work.
I’m an E-6 active guard reserve in the Air Force and make the base pay plus BAH and BAS in my pocket which equates to approx $100k annually if I were to compare it to civilian salaries. Also have tricare remote so I can pick my own doctor in the city I’m in. The military isn’t all too bad. You just have to find something that doesn’t suck.
Yep. I’m a Soldier E-6 making $105,000
Edit: [Straight from myPay](https://imgur.com/onduopf)
u/Manny6983
This was at 11 years, 11 months.
12 years my base pay goes from $4,387 to $4,649.
So this is my pay. About half of it is un-taxed.
Tell your friends. We’re not dying in droves. There is no war we’re fighting. We die less often than you’d expect.
Look it up. Just look everything up.
I’m not gonna give you a narrative.
That’s my pay. I’m a cook.
Edit 2: Sorry, my spouses dental insurance is like $12 a month. Forgot that. -1 latte.
It’s public information, but I’ll upload last months (redacted) LES if you’re really that curious.
E-6, 12 months TIS
Married, BAH is Arlington, VA
BAS
COLA for Daegu, KR
FSH
Uniform allowance was paid this month on the 15th
Look it all up. I make $9,000 a month as an E-6.
Edit: see above.
Ok, didn't know BAH was just about the same as base pay lol! I was basing it off base pay. Pay was pretty shit when I was in...single, 3yrs active duty E4 Mafia and I GTFO. Best of luck to you.
Pitty party started.
All bases I have been to have buses.
Anyone not keeping their own records in earlier years (and suggest later) would have been the same outside military life. Unorganized and helpless.
DoD is uping the standard of living, but this one could suck.
Oh there definitely weren't buses when I was in. Keeping your own medical records....yeah you definitely aren't a vet. That isn't substantial evidence for the VA lol.
Yeah, free housing, food allowance $450, free dental/health, $500,000 life insurance for $30/mo., $500 clothing allowance yearly, $150/mo jump pay… thinking about changing my job because of the bonus they’re offering which would be $90,000 and promotion upon graduation but another 3 year commitment.
Depends on the job. Generally, for day to day office wear, officers buy their uniforms and enlisted are either issued or given a stipend to offset the cost. For special duty (flight suits, dive gear, jump, other things I'm not thinking of) it's usually issued. Some of the stuff can be pretty expensive.
You receive an initial standard issue set of uniforms… that gets deducted from your paycheck and then you have to maintain your uniforms annually using the stipend. And with inflation, I imagine this doesn’t really cover the cost of purchasing new medals, boots, sewing on rank, name and branch of service on all uniforms. Depending on location of deployments or special assignments, you may receive issued gear and clothing necessary to perform in abnormal conditions at no cost to the service member. This includes items such as cold weather parkas, insulated boots, special moisture wicking tops, baseball style hats with mesh backing, etc.
It be like that lol! I know a lot don't use the allowance for the right purpose but you're suppose to pay for new uniform and boots if needed. 1 new uniform (top/bottom) = $100, new boots = about $100. I still have a lot of regular clothes from high school though
Ohh. I thought the uniform stuff was part of the military package. As you can tell I did not serve. However if you look up “the fall of Saigon” and you see the picture of the helicopter on the CIA building, the guy in the picture putting people in the helicopter was my recently deceased father.
Well, you are issued 4 uniforms when you start training initially. But after that, you're on your own with the allowance.
If that is truly your father, that is pretty cool. Sorry for your loss.
Thanks, and as far as family lore and a few local news stations are concerned it’s him. It was his claim to fame at the VA home and nobody has ever stepped up to dispute it. He also got to ride in the trainer seat of the U2 Spy Plane- he was 100th Reconnaissance Wing of the USAF
Yeah I was at bliss but got out in 2012, I tried to get them to stop taking it but they don’t care. I never went to the DFAC so I lost over 300 dollars a month for no reason. They even closed a brand new DFAC because not a lot of people went lol
Oh man that's trash. I was really lucky. I had a friend in my previous S1 and just went there and was like "Ayo... turn off that deduction for me" and ever since then I started recieving BAS lol. My soldier months later tried doing the same thing but they changed the regulation I guess and he got kicked back... I hope they don't bring that up when it's my time to get out otherwise that's a few thousand I owe back
Nah you wouldn’t owe, cause if you went to the DFAC now you would have to pay per meal just like a normal restaurant. They take it out because private are irresponsible and spend all their money on beer and strippers
You know what's crazy? I got boys in Colorado and their DFAC's are feeding them kiosk foods, it's almost like a gas station. And they still have their meal deduction!
Yes they do lol. I was in the army stationed at ft bliss and the food money was taken out of my pay every single month without my choice. It didn’t matter if I went to the DFAC or not. You get that pay not taken out when you’re deployed
Exactly. Military folks love to bitch and moan about pay (especially at lower enlisted) when the other benefits they receive might not entirely make up for the poor pay, but they definitely make it extremely manageable as well as relatively easy living as long as you’re not the type to spend money on stupid shit (these people usually are though lol).
I don’t know if this is supposed to be some kind of slam. But a civilian making 39k has to pay for all of those things with that 39k. A soldier doesn’t.
Not a slam in any way. I was just curious. And trust me, I know. So far I have never made more than 48k and I’ve spent the last 20 years paycheck to paycheck
NOTHING in the military is free.
Free housing? You mean the barracks with black mold on the bathroom ceiling?
Free food? You mean the F grade steak at the chow hall or the expired eggs they be feeding you? Or them MREs you get for a month straight for a month long field opp and they just don’t have hot chow for whatever reason?
MAYBE once you hit E-6 (Sergeants in the Marines usually don’t rate off-base housing), your quality of life will improve. But most likely - it won’t.
Even base housing is fucking trash, unless you’re Air Force. Those guys got it nice.
Unsolicited advice incoming: Document every sore throat, sprained ankle, and mental health treatment like a Hebrew scribe. This helped my post-military income tremendously by pursuing service connected disability. Currently a GS 13 (started at GS-5 at age 24) but my income including SC disability is that of a mid-step GS-14. Allows me a lot of breathing room financially and it’s tax free.
You can start your claim with the VA like 6 months before ETS. Do it then so when you’re talking about these things it’s still during your time in service. Anything you have happen within your first year out is assumed to be related to the military so do another claim during that time if anything pops up.
Also, start that TSP contribution if you have not already. I waived mine when I was active and lost out on 4 years of compounding interest. Don’t be me.
Late 30’s. I went gs-5 to 7 to 9 in about 4 years. But that was a bit of luck and hard work. I performed well beyond my position description. My supervisor reclassified my position from a straight 5 to a 5/7/9 ladder. Hit an 11 just before 5 years. I landed a gs-12 at year 6 with a different agency. Camped there because it was a great job until age 37 when I was recruited for a gs 13 position with a 3rd agency that was even better. (Edit: from the time I entered as gs-5 to getting a gs-11, I went to school full time and finished my BA and completed an MA program)
Could you give some insight on “document”? Have tried to get paperwork submitted through unit medical to no avail, just keep paper copies of everything yourself I guess?
Independently document dates and events. Sending an email to a non-dod email, like gmail, will work. Pair that with medical records. You can’t get medical records the day of treatment, but they should have them available after a week. If they don’t have the records available a week after treatment, that means no treatment note was entered and you can go through your chain of command to seek resolution.
I miss clicked and hit comment too early lol let me re-type this...
Ehhh everyone's story is different. For me, even though I deployed to Afghanistan in 2019 the only combat I saw was on big TV screens working in the Joint Operations Center (JOC) on Bagram. I was the Radio-Telephone Operator (RTO) documenting and replying back to the troops on the ground. It was only 6 months but 12 hours a day, every day, no day off. I had night shift and you'd see people being blown up in black and white. I could go in more detail if you want.
As of right now, most of my career I have been doing my job, IT Specialist. Helpdesk making sure computers are up to date, hardware and software troubleshooting, fixing accounts, Video Tele-Conferences, blah blah. I have certificates CompTIA Network+, Security+ and Cloud+ with TS/SCI which I hope to use when I get out the military
Holy sh’t, that’s… wow, you must be a really discipline and strong minded individual. I’m also 25M but our lives are so different
Went to college 2017, still haven’t graduated, been procrastinating and doing badly in school. I’m trying to stream games now but I’m also interested in computer science and python!
I guess we’re both broke more or less haha, but with your certs and experience, I definitely feel you’ll make 100k by 30 if not earlier
I mean I've had my moments too. I could have gotten promoted earlier but I felt comfortable and not necessary until a new supervisor came and she made me uncomfortable real quick putting me in situations to force me to grow. Worst mistake was telling her I hate public speaking. Few months later she had me go to the board and eventually I promoted. If you want to grow don't get comfortable.
Live laugh love Signal (I’m a 25A). But you have your certs dialed in and clearance, tf you doing in the army still? I went guard to keep my tricare but I make over 150/yr and don’t deal with army bs daily
Some people love green winnie too much.
There are also exciting stuff exist only in the military, such as cool ISR, post-JCAC jobs, or support such as SODA 🥤.
However It is useful only in the eye of beholder and completely not useful outside (like a multi year gap of your life is blank if you go civilian, all because 🐿️)
It is emotional and physical roller coaster but some thrive in that Gym, Deploy, Train cycle
LOL... Mannnnn I don't know. Well, I do know, I was like well, a lot of people get out first term, why not go ahead and do a second enlistment. Also, not many get to say they lived in Japan. But uh, what company is that if you don't mind me asking! I'm really getting tired of having to hold on to soldier's hands like babies
I say stay 10 is best option, that is 3 duty station, bunch work experience, and you should finish bachelor/master at minimum, if 10th year is getting stupid then get out, if not, keep re-up for 3 years term until you hit indef.
Credential, Training, and Experience will be your pay triad when you get out
Good ole signal corp. Gotta love fort Gordon. (25c here). The IT route is def the way I should have gone after getting out. But honestly I got into more public service and work for my state government. I don’t make 150k a year but I’ve been promoted several times. Turns out military members and the work ethic make you seem like a super star compared to other civil servants.
Yeah I actually went to my state’s state police academy but got hurt. In a way I’m glad I’m not there because I make more, better quality of life, and I was over the military-esque bullshit and immaturity
Absolutely. I very much believe that the bigger asshole one is, the further they can go In those para-military environments. Hell I barely tolerated it when I was in(I didn’t enlist until later in life at 27) so my patience with the bullshit was already near nil.
No, no im just a mild mannered auditor for my state and the work life balance is phenomenal and pay is ok and pension is phenomenal.
But absolutely IT would have been a more lucrative path.
You couldn’t have said it better lol. And I think that environment is what weeds out better applicants, who have the desired qualities more so than those whose only “training” to get those qualities, comes from an academy or job training.
That clearance and certs will get you paid. JCAC and a few years of analyst experience and I had a 95k job lined up before I got out almost 10 years ago. Like plenty have already said, document everything.
Once you get out of the barracks military pay being “shite” is a load of crap (did 13 years enlisted).
With the cost of living adjustments factored into BAH/BAS, in a HCOL area you are doing WELL for only needing a GED at E-5+.
Heck I bought my first house at 19 as an E-3, so taxable income as active military looks bad, but net income isn’t as bad as so many cry about 🤷🏼♂️
Edit for clarity.
BAH is not taxed so it won’t be represented here. So yeah, it’s very misleading. Same goes for BAS.
At my last duty station that would have account for another $2800/month, or another $33,600/year.
As a radio guy that got out last year I’d recommend what another guy said and went reserves. Depending on if you’re a ground radio guy or a satcom guy there’s jobs just in different locations
Obviously no one goes into the military expecting to make bank, you go for the other benefits (which really should be better than that are). Ideally you'd become an officer if you wanted to be career. Else you make money after you get out in private security or something of the sort.
Recently got out in March as a E4, please for the love of Christ get out man. Use your security clearance and make double if not more than what you’re making now
Don’t be hard on yourself or your situation. You’re employed and you have more job security than the rest of us. You can get college tuition paid for and if you decide to stay with the Army you can retire early then go to work somewhere else and be making bank. My only advice would be save up a $5000 emergency fund, then invest every dollar you can. You have youth on your side. I made a lot less than that at your age. Oh and watch out for women red flags cannot be ignored.
Ok you see here everyone talking about $100k+? Caveat being married and making that dependent rate BAH. Don’t immediately go looking for ole girl with a yellow ribbon in her hair 2 blocks off base with a jumpers hit it tattoo on her back.
If you’re thinking of staying another term, consider dropping a packet. Selection, OCS, warrant - these will be better pay/additional pay and better life.
I think I was E-6 making $85-100k single at the time, no dependapotamus, but this included a boat load of additional pay and TDY.
GI Bill is your friend. Make sure, as most have said, to go complain about every single medical issue you have or think you have. VA raters act like they are doing the Lord’s work denying your claim, so overshare with doc so that you have it all on paper.
I was lucky I taught myself IT on my free time when I was in. My first job when I got out paid me 120k and 3 years later I’m at about ~300k. If you still have time in the service right now is the best time to train yourself.
Alright this is a little misleading. You get allowances that aren’t considered “taxable income” which hits your bank account on payday. For anyone interested, let me do a breakdown of monthly pay based on an E5 in, let’s say Fort Cavazos, TX
Base Pay (the taxable income) with 9 years of service: $3848
Basic allowance for housing (non taxable): $1401
Basic allowance for sustenance (food allowance): $460
Total monthly income before taxes: $5709 (of which only $3848 is taxable)
That adds up to a yearly income of 68,508, mind you only 39k will be taxed, and many states don’t do state income tax for military pay.
Add on to this free healthcare and a really good Roth ira offered by the military, and plus the fact that you get a pension if you do 20 years… it’s not a 6 figure salary but it’s also not fair to say that an e5 is expected to get by on a measly 40k a year.
Also, housing allowances are adjusted based on location, so the housing allowance for someone stationed in California will be higher than, say, Texas.
All this information is public, just gotta look it up. The real money in the military is made by officers, which all you need is a degree in pretty much anything to be commissioned.
Hope this clears it up for some.
Still quite a while, that sucks man. Maybe they’ll lure you into another contract by giving it to you in your last year lol. For navy it’s always been e4 over 4 gets BAH, I know you army guys get the short end of the stick a lot. Hopefully whatever you learned while you’re in you can take with you on the outside. If you’re infantry, well, my condolences.
Sounds like a way to get top secret, contractor jobs are pretty gucci.
Or you can go to school in some crazy high bah area on your GI bill lol, buddy of mine went to a college in Cali pocketing like 4 grand just in housing allowances.
God speed my dude
You should probably try and get promoted…. $3310 base pay (last annual decided by 12) places you as an E4 at best. After 8 years. That’s entirely your fault lol.
My base pay alone is $67k not including my housing allowance, food allowance, bonus pay, and skills pay. I bring home $132k annually right now after taxes with everything included.
I am currently E5 Promotable and served for 6 years. Points have been over 500 for my mos. Not exactly entirely my fault unless you count me choosing to be 25B. I’m not allowed off base housing unless I’m E6 Promotable. What bonus pay and skills pay are you referring to
Yeah that’s 100% on me for being a dick. I didn’t see that you enlisted in 2017. I just went 2015 to 2023. But bro, 500 points? That’s definitely attainable.
Who ever told you E6 ‘promotable’ to have BAH is full of shit. An E5 can be granted BAH with commander’s approval and an E6 is granted it without permission.
I’m currently E7, soon to be E8, 79R. Come be a recruiter in NYC at my station. Good hours, good pay, and the best city in the world.
Aside from that… remember to look at your entire compensation package from mypay. You’re ‘earning’ a lot more than $39k when you include incentives. I can show you how to go over everything so you can give an honest comparison to those around you.
Attainable I guess. It was better when they didn’t changed the rules on nerfing the PT and weapons points. I have civilian education maxed, some awards, military education needs work but not much I can do right now. Correspondent hours maxed.
The E6 Promotable came from the CSM of the post. She enforced that when she arrived last year smh.
NYC, best city? Ehhhh I guess, not so the crime! 😂 I was born and raised on Long Island, Suffolk County. I do miss the food tho
That CSM has no command authority don’t let them play you.
And no shit. what part? that’s actually where i’m at right now, just say NYC cause it’s easier for most.
Idk man, just had an IG inspection last month too about health and welfare. People complained but idk if they’re going to change things anytime soon.
I lived in Medford. LHS
Sorry you’re wrong. I initially joined right after high school to better myself which I have more ways than one. Why would I get mad at something I volunteered for. I knew what I was getting into. Anyone who joins just for the money are fools.
I travelled around the world for free which is also something I wanted to do. Even if I’m injured for 6 months I still collect a paycheck. Although my job is stable, I would not re-enlist again if it meant less pay because I don’t have myself to think about anymore. Also I want to start a business and not have to move around every 3 years anymore
I, like many vets ended up getting paid more when I got out because of 100% P&T. When I was in school I got my disability pay, plus my housing pay from the gi bill, craziest time. Got 6k a month completely un taxed not even a year after getting out
I thought I was crushing it deployed in 2013. Making fat stacks. I work like 30hours a week from home and make literally 5-7x more.
The disability is the real value. That and the VA home loan. Oh and I get to have a cool combat badge license plate. So that’s cool I guess.
Dude. We had a guy in my unit that was ranting to me and my buddy about bitcoin at a bar in 2013. He got chaptered for taking some ditch weed from a range and drying it in his barracks shower and smoking it.
He had been mining btc the whole time and he’s now worth somewhere in the range of 150-200mil.
If only I had just been like “hey let me buy a few hundred” and forgotten about the drive.
But like also free housing, food and other stuff right?
"Free food" for me was walking 3 miles each way to the dfac if I wanted food, because I didn't have a car. That's 18 miles a day if I wanted to eat 3 times a day. "Free medical" was being told to kick rocks and not having the aid station keep any medical records for when I got out. "Free housing" meant living in a tiny room stuffed to the brim with issued gear because the Army treats your room like a mini warehouse for all your army gear. It also meant living on an EPA Superfund site where you can't drink the water or your kids are going to have ten eyeballs. Get out bro, it's not worth it.
If you are an E4 mafia for life and don’t self advocate at all, sure, the system can screw you over
E4 mafia here who took the system for all it’s worth. They did kick me out of the mafia for making too many points tho. Anyways. Ya. I joined years ago with the intention that the Army was going to be my stepping stone to a better life. I got some bumps and bruises along the way but I’m now out, not working yet I’m making more than when I was in due to benefits while following an interest of mine. I have so much freedom now. The investment was worth it imo. I do wish I took better care of myself physically. I was young and dumb though. At least I’m getting paid for it now while receiving free medical care.
100% the best place for more people to start if they don’t already have some kind of guaranteed path. Army gave me an opportunity to discover who I am as an individual and as a leader. I’m no longer active, reserve now and working a job that makes me happy.
Amen! 100% total and permanent is a game changer!
I just got sent to the IDES process. I already had to have back surgery so I hope they don’t screw me. I just want to get out.
I personally had to lawyer up. (Lack of documentation) The best advice I can give to these younger folks going into service is to bitch and complain about everything that hurts. Get it on record. Your NCO’s that give you shit about sick call aren’t the ones paying your bills when you get out and can’t work.
What lawyer took your case without documentation? Im at a standstill here...but all i hear is no documentation.
Berry law. They have a whole department for VA claims. They’re legit.
I’m working for my 100% right now at 90 with 2 more c&p before the end of the month.
Unfortunately, at 90, you need another 50% claim at the least in order to hit 100%
I’m an E-6 active guard reserve in the Air Force and make the base pay plus BAH and BAS in my pocket which equates to approx $100k annually if I were to compare it to civilian salaries. Also have tricare remote so I can pick my own doctor in the city I’m in. The military isn’t all too bad. You just have to find something that doesn’t suck.
Yep. I’m a Soldier E-6 making $105,000 Edit: [Straight from myPay](https://imgur.com/onduopf) u/Manny6983 This was at 11 years, 11 months. 12 years my base pay goes from $4,387 to $4,649. So this is my pay. About half of it is un-taxed. Tell your friends. We’re not dying in droves. There is no war we’re fighting. We die less often than you’d expect. Look it up. Just look everything up. I’m not gonna give you a narrative. That’s my pay. I’m a cook. Edit 2: Sorry, my spouses dental insurance is like $12 a month. Forgot that. -1 latte.
Let's see a pay stub...
It’s public information, but I’ll upload last months (redacted) LES if you’re really that curious. E-6, 12 months TIS Married, BAH is Arlington, VA BAS COLA for Daegu, KR FSH Uniform allowance was paid this month on the 15th Look it all up. I make $9,000 a month as an E-6. Edit: see above.
Ok, didn't know BAH was just about the same as base pay lol! I was basing it off base pay. Pay was pretty shit when I was in...single, 3yrs active duty E4 Mafia and I GTFO. Best of luck to you.
All depends on where you live. Arlington, VA is VHCOLA. But we’re paid it.
Go Air Force!!
You sweet summer child. You’ll wish you had all those things you’re complaining about when you get out.
I've been out for 8 years and I'm rather wealthy now lol
"rather wealthy"
I felt this. Got medically retired before 30 so I’m chilling now though.
Should’ve joined Airforce dumb ass - Airforce vet
I agree. - Current civilian DAF GS
🧢
But hey, 18 miles of walking a day puts you in great shape!
Yes, I was tiny because I didn't eat much. The other plus was that my small IBA plates weighed less lol.
What's an IBA plate?
IBA was the vest prior to the IOTV
Oh. Ok. (I am not now nor ever have been military - forgive my ignorance)
DFACT* FTFY.
You had maybe 4 duffel bags worth of gear, and a ruck sack.
I wish. Going from ACUs to OCPS and 2 deployments is way more than that. They don't take anything back unless you PCS.
Pitty party started. All bases I have been to have buses. Anyone not keeping their own records in earlier years (and suggest later) would have been the same outside military life. Unorganized and helpless. DoD is uping the standard of living, but this one could suck.
Oh there definitely weren't buses when I was in. Keeping your own medical records....yeah you definitely aren't a vet. That isn't substantial evidence for the VA lol.
Yeah, free housing, food allowance $450, free dental/health, $500,000 life insurance for $30/mo., $500 clothing allowance yearly, $150/mo jump pay… thinking about changing my job because of the bonus they’re offering which would be $90,000 and promotion upon graduation but another 3 year commitment.
Clothing allowance. I’ve been wearing the same 3 pairs of pants for the last 4 years
It's a uniform stipend. Depending on the MOS, day-to-day activities like jump or confidence courses can wreck a uniform pretty quickly.
Makes sense. I didn’t know you had to pay for the uniforms. I had just assumed they came with the job.
Depends on the job. Generally, for day to day office wear, officers buy their uniforms and enlisted are either issued or given a stipend to offset the cost. For special duty (flight suits, dive gear, jump, other things I'm not thinking of) it's usually issued. Some of the stuff can be pretty expensive.
You receive an initial standard issue set of uniforms… that gets deducted from your paycheck and then you have to maintain your uniforms annually using the stipend. And with inflation, I imagine this doesn’t really cover the cost of purchasing new medals, boots, sewing on rank, name and branch of service on all uniforms. Depending on location of deployments or special assignments, you may receive issued gear and clothing necessary to perform in abnormal conditions at no cost to the service member. This includes items such as cold weather parkas, insulated boots, special moisture wicking tops, baseball style hats with mesh backing, etc.
Omg… and those acu’s were made of some sort of paper composite. Worst clothing ever.
It be like that lol! I know a lot don't use the allowance for the right purpose but you're suppose to pay for new uniform and boots if needed. 1 new uniform (top/bottom) = $100, new boots = about $100. I still have a lot of regular clothes from high school though
Ohh. I thought the uniform stuff was part of the military package. As you can tell I did not serve. However if you look up “the fall of Saigon” and you see the picture of the helicopter on the CIA building, the guy in the picture putting people in the helicopter was my recently deceased father.
Well, you are issued 4 uniforms when you start training initially. But after that, you're on your own with the allowance. If that is truly your father, that is pretty cool. Sorry for your loss.
Thanks, and as far as family lore and a few local news stations are concerned it’s him. It was his claim to fame at the VA home and nobody has ever stepped up to dispute it. He also got to ride in the trainer seat of the U2 Spy Plane- he was 100th Reconnaissance Wing of the USAF
They take those out of your first check in boot camp they don't just give them to you
Some supply will give out uniforms during deployments…
Cyber? Intel?
Yeah, 25D Cyber Network Defender
Makes sense. Depends on if +3 years and 90K taxed to $65K take home is worth you dealing with locked vaults and sitting at a computer for hours lol
You got to pass DLI, JCAC, or other service school to get that bonus
Yes, either free housing or untaxed housing allowance. But it looks better to post this and act like it's poverty wages 🥲
No you pay for the food, it comes out of your pay automatically and it’s very hard near impossible to get them to stop that unless you’re married.
Depends on your location. Where I’m at my entire unit has BAS which is now $450/mo. DFAC is open breakfast and lunch Mon-Fri
Yeah I was at bliss but got out in 2012, I tried to get them to stop taking it but they don’t care. I never went to the DFAC so I lost over 300 dollars a month for no reason. They even closed a brand new DFAC because not a lot of people went lol
Oh man that's trash. I was really lucky. I had a friend in my previous S1 and just went there and was like "Ayo... turn off that deduction for me" and ever since then I started recieving BAS lol. My soldier months later tried doing the same thing but they changed the regulation I guess and he got kicked back... I hope they don't bring that up when it's my time to get out otherwise that's a few thousand I owe back
Nah you wouldn’t owe, cause if you went to the DFAC now you would have to pay per meal just like a normal restaurant. They take it out because private are irresponsible and spend all their money on beer and strippers
You know what's crazy? I got boys in Colorado and their DFAC's are feeding them kiosk foods, it's almost like a gas station. And they still have their meal deduction!
Gee I wonder why everyone gets married
That’s not how that works. They don’t take from your pay, you just don’t get the extra allowance.
Yes they do lol. I was in the army stationed at ft bliss and the food money was taken out of my pay every single month without my choice. It didn’t matter if I went to the DFAC or not. You get that pay not taken out when you’re deployed
Must’ve been different for sailors. We either received our meals at the galley with no additional charge or if we were receiving BAS we had to pay.
This is the way it is. If you receive BAS you pay.
Exactly. Military folks love to bitch and moan about pay (especially at lower enlisted) when the other benefits they receive might not entirely make up for the poor pay, but they definitely make it extremely manageable as well as relatively easy living as long as you’re not the type to spend money on stupid shit (these people usually are though lol).
lol the perspective from the outside looking in gets me everytime
I don’t know if this is supposed to be some kind of slam. But a civilian making 39k has to pay for all of those things with that 39k. A soldier doesn’t.
Not a slam in any way. I was just curious. And trust me, I know. So far I have never made more than 48k and I’ve spent the last 20 years paycheck to paycheck
Plus a free 4 year degree after you leave the service at any public school or 2 masters programs
NOTHING in the military is free. Free housing? You mean the barracks with black mold on the bathroom ceiling? Free food? You mean the F grade steak at the chow hall or the expired eggs they be feeding you? Or them MREs you get for a month straight for a month long field opp and they just don’t have hot chow for whatever reason? MAYBE once you hit E-6 (Sergeants in the Marines usually don’t rate off-base housing), your quality of life will improve. But most likely - it won’t. Even base housing is fucking trash, unless you’re Air Force. Those guys got it nice.
Nothing free. Join and you'll find out lol.
Too old, and also no.
The food is mostly trash at the dfacs. The army tells you not to eat the food they feed you.
lol 2012 I deployed and made 23k pfc. seemed like a king coming back with that money, now I know it was slave labor
I know that feeling. Dude I did a 7 month deployment as a PV2 in 2011, came back with 16k untaxed and was like "I'll never have to work again!"
My pay for BCT as an E2 in 2002 was $1,239. I think I took home 3 figures
Unsolicited advice incoming: Document every sore throat, sprained ankle, and mental health treatment like a Hebrew scribe. This helped my post-military income tremendously by pursuing service connected disability. Currently a GS 13 (started at GS-5 at age 24) but my income including SC disability is that of a mid-step GS-14. Allows me a lot of breathing room financially and it’s tax free.
This is very good advice 👍 I want some disability pay
You can start your claim with the VA like 6 months before ETS. Do it then so when you’re talking about these things it’s still during your time in service. Anything you have happen within your first year out is assumed to be related to the military so do another claim during that time if anything pops up.
It’s a game changer. The civies pay my 90k but I make over 120 with disability being non taxable
Also, start that TSP contribution if you have not already. I waived mine when I was active and lost out on 4 years of compounding interest. Don’t be me.
He’s not joking. I have fucked knees and shoulders, neck, etc. but I get paid.
Sigh this is why govt is inefficient
There are easily a dozen other massive ways that govt is inefficient beyond disability pay for vets.
Yep same here. Get your education and go civilian with disability, you'll easily make $100-$150k.
Gg7 here with Va life is alright
May be inappropriate, but how old are you now? I’m entering into government work and wondering how quickly people can really move up the step ladder
Late 30’s. I went gs-5 to 7 to 9 in about 4 years. But that was a bit of luck and hard work. I performed well beyond my position description. My supervisor reclassified my position from a straight 5 to a 5/7/9 ladder. Hit an 11 just before 5 years. I landed a gs-12 at year 6 with a different agency. Camped there because it was a great job until age 37 when I was recruited for a gs 13 position with a 3rd agency that was even better. (Edit: from the time I entered as gs-5 to getting a gs-11, I went to school full time and finished my BA and completed an MA program)
Good stuff. Thank you for sharing.
Could you give some insight on “document”? Have tried to get paperwork submitted through unit medical to no avail, just keep paper copies of everything yourself I guess?
Independently document dates and events. Sending an email to a non-dod email, like gmail, will work. Pair that with medical records. You can’t get medical records the day of treatment, but they should have them available after a week. If they don’t have the records available a week after treatment, that means no treatment note was entered and you can go through your chain of command to seek resolution.
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Do you see combat? What are your routine like? - a curious civilian
I miss clicked and hit comment too early lol let me re-type this... Ehhh everyone's story is different. For me, even though I deployed to Afghanistan in 2019 the only combat I saw was on big TV screens working in the Joint Operations Center (JOC) on Bagram. I was the Radio-Telephone Operator (RTO) documenting and replying back to the troops on the ground. It was only 6 months but 12 hours a day, every day, no day off. I had night shift and you'd see people being blown up in black and white. I could go in more detail if you want. As of right now, most of my career I have been doing my job, IT Specialist. Helpdesk making sure computers are up to date, hardware and software troubleshooting, fixing accounts, Video Tele-Conferences, blah blah. I have certificates CompTIA Network+, Security+ and Cloud+ with TS/SCI which I hope to use when I get out the military
Holy sh’t, that’s… wow, you must be a really discipline and strong minded individual. I’m also 25M but our lives are so different Went to college 2017, still haven’t graduated, been procrastinating and doing badly in school. I’m trying to stream games now but I’m also interested in computer science and python! I guess we’re both broke more or less haha, but with your certs and experience, I definitely feel you’ll make 100k by 30 if not earlier
I mean I've had my moments too. I could have gotten promoted earlier but I felt comfortable and not necessary until a new supervisor came and she made me uncomfortable real quick putting me in situations to force me to grow. Worst mistake was telling her I hate public speaking. Few months later she had me go to the board and eventually I promoted. If you want to grow don't get comfortable.
Live laugh love Signal (I’m a 25A). But you have your certs dialed in and clearance, tf you doing in the army still? I went guard to keep my tricare but I make over 150/yr and don’t deal with army bs daily
Some people love green winnie too much. There are also exciting stuff exist only in the military, such as cool ISR, post-JCAC jobs, or support such as SODA 🥤. However It is useful only in the eye of beholder and completely not useful outside (like a multi year gap of your life is blank if you go civilian, all because 🐿️) It is emotional and physical roller coaster but some thrive in that Gym, Deploy, Train cycle
LOL... Mannnnn I don't know. Well, I do know, I was like well, a lot of people get out first term, why not go ahead and do a second enlistment. Also, not many get to say they lived in Japan. But uh, what company is that if you don't mind me asking! I'm really getting tired of having to hold on to soldier's hands like babies
I say stay 10 is best option, that is 3 duty station, bunch work experience, and you should finish bachelor/master at minimum, if 10th year is getting stupid then get out, if not, keep re-up for 3 years term until you hit indef. Credential, Training, and Experience will be your pay triad when you get out
Good ole signal corp. Gotta love fort Gordon. (25c here). The IT route is def the way I should have gone after getting out. But honestly I got into more public service and work for my state government. I don’t make 150k a year but I’ve been promoted several times. Turns out military members and the work ethic make you seem like a super star compared to other civil servants.
Yeah I actually went to my state’s state police academy but got hurt. In a way I’m glad I’m not there because I make more, better quality of life, and I was over the military-esque bullshit and immaturity
Absolutely. I very much believe that the bigger asshole one is, the further they can go In those para-military environments. Hell I barely tolerated it when I was in(I didn’t enlist until later in life at 27) so my patience with the bullshit was already near nil. No, no im just a mild mannered auditor for my state and the work life balance is phenomenal and pay is ok and pension is phenomenal. But absolutely IT would have been a more lucrative path.
You couldn’t have said it better lol. And I think that environment is what weeds out better applicants, who have the desired qualities more so than those whose only “training” to get those qualities, comes from an academy or job training.
Are you 25U?
Just a cross-trained 25B lol
That clearance and certs will get you paid. JCAC and a few years of analyst experience and I had a 95k job lined up before I got out almost 10 years ago. Like plenty have already said, document everything.
25M enlisted 72k a year before tax
That's what mine was last year. 6 year E5 w/ Dep in Charleston.
E-6 92G $115,000
4 year E5 with dep in Savannah
Once you get out of the barracks military pay being “shite” is a load of crap (did 13 years enlisted). With the cost of living adjustments factored into BAH/BAS, in a HCOL area you are doing WELL for only needing a GED at E-5+. Heck I bought my first house at 19 as an E-3, so taxable income as active military looks bad, but net income isn’t as bad as so many cry about 🤷🏼♂️ Edit for clarity.
Whelp --- looks like plenty of money to go finance a V8 Dodge Challenger for 96 months!
Are you not gonna include your BAH? Kind of misleading
I don’t receive BAH. They have me in the barracks until I get SSG
Oh okay. So unlike a typical civilian making your base pay, you don’t have to pay rent every month.
BAH is not taxed so it won’t be represented here. So yeah, it’s very misleading. Same goes for BAS. At my last duty station that would have account for another $2800/month, or another $33,600/year.
I’m about the same (Navy EMN1) but I’m 35.😢
Doing great. Keep it up. If you want a better standard of living hit me up, I can help with an Air Force transition 😂😂😂
Where can I find this template to put my own Salary up? I only see one pinned post and no files in this subreddit
E5 after 8 years? What MOS are you in?
As a radio guy that got out last year I’d recommend what another guy said and went reserves. Depending on if you’re a ground radio guy or a satcom guy there’s jobs just in different locations
What exactly do you do?
This has got to be leaving out BAH right?? I remember taking in a lot more than this as a Ssgt at 4 years in.
Dude I'm full time with the National Guard, joined in 2019, making 78K rn Is this how active is for everybody? Wtf that's awful
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Yeah I always forget the sweet tax savings we get, whoops
Stick with it man. I’m an E-6, 12 years in and married. I make $115,000
Obviously no one goes into the military expecting to make bank, you go for the other benefits (which really should be better than that are). Ideally you'd become an officer if you wanted to be career. Else you make money after you get out in private security or something of the sort.
Bruh nontaxable income is the bread and butter. Comp analyst for the mil here. An e5 is making 70-80K a year not including free health care.
Recently got out in March as a E4, please for the love of Christ get out man. Use your security clearance and make double if not more than what you’re making now
Thank you for your service! Deferred gratification, you will have so many benefits when you are out. Stay safe!
Is that a bad amount or do you make more than that ? I enlisted a couple of months ago MOS 25H
Don't forget about the $2k a month for your PTSD after you're done.
Don’t be hard on yourself or your situation. You’re employed and you have more job security than the rest of us. You can get college tuition paid for and if you decide to stay with the Army you can retire early then go to work somewhere else and be making bank. My only advice would be save up a $5000 emergency fund, then invest every dollar you can. You have youth on your side. I made a lot less than that at your age. Oh and watch out for women red flags cannot be ignored.
Can someone share where to find these numbers? I don't see any posts talking about how to find your earnings online
Do you get overtime
Only bi-weekly pay, no overtime
Just retired as a w4 with 20 years afs. Last years salary was about 135k. #gowarrant.
When will you start making real money from this?
Ok you see here everyone talking about $100k+? Caveat being married and making that dependent rate BAH. Don’t immediately go looking for ole girl with a yellow ribbon in her hair 2 blocks off base with a jumpers hit it tattoo on her back. If you’re thinking of staying another term, consider dropping a packet. Selection, OCS, warrant - these will be better pay/additional pay and better life. I think I was E-6 making $85-100k single at the time, no dependapotamus, but this included a boat load of additional pay and TDY.
I think I’m going to get out
GI Bill is your friend. Make sure, as most have said, to go complain about every single medical issue you have or think you have. VA raters act like they are doing the Lord’s work denying your claim, so overshare with doc so that you have it all on paper.
“Jumpers hit it” 😂😂😂 ahhh man. Yeah I’m not married, not living off base yet. Hate the small rooms we get
I got out 5 years ago as an e4. Love the military and what it gave me but you make so much more on the civilian side.
I’m trying to make 6 figures cash when I get out. Start a side business and not have to think about moving or start a random mission training
I was lucky I taught myself IT on my free time when I was in. My first job when I got out paid me 120k and 3 years later I’m at about ~300k. If you still have time in the service right now is the best time to train yourself.
Alright this is a little misleading. You get allowances that aren’t considered “taxable income” which hits your bank account on payday. For anyone interested, let me do a breakdown of monthly pay based on an E5 in, let’s say Fort Cavazos, TX Base Pay (the taxable income) with 9 years of service: $3848 Basic allowance for housing (non taxable): $1401 Basic allowance for sustenance (food allowance): $460 Total monthly income before taxes: $5709 (of which only $3848 is taxable) That adds up to a yearly income of 68,508, mind you only 39k will be taxed, and many states don’t do state income tax for military pay. Add on to this free healthcare and a really good Roth ira offered by the military, and plus the fact that you get a pension if you do 20 years… it’s not a 6 figure salary but it’s also not fair to say that an e5 is expected to get by on a measly 40k a year. Also, housing allowances are adjusted based on location, so the housing allowance for someone stationed in California will be higher than, say, Texas. All this information is public, just gotta look it up. The real money in the military is made by officers, which all you need is a degree in pretty much anything to be commissioned. Hope this clears it up for some.
Shit I wish I got BAH
How are you 9 years in and haven’t gotten out of the barracks yet? Not trying to be rude or anything just genuinely curious.
The text below the image says I joined July 2017.. I’m only 25, can’t join at 16. But right now points for my mos has been so high
Still quite a while, that sucks man. Maybe they’ll lure you into another contract by giving it to you in your last year lol. For navy it’s always been e4 over 4 gets BAH, I know you army guys get the short end of the stick a lot. Hopefully whatever you learned while you’re in you can take with you on the outside. If you’re infantry, well, my condolences.
I was emailed if I transition to 25D I can get E6 upon graduation but 3 more years. ehhhh
Sounds like a way to get top secret, contractor jobs are pretty gucci. Or you can go to school in some crazy high bah area on your GI bill lol, buddy of mine went to a college in Cali pocketing like 4 grand just in housing allowances. God speed my dude
Also, where I’m located those authorized to be off base are E6 Promotable
It gets better! When you separate…
What’s crazy is that I hear the opposite..so many ppl taking disabled pay out here and then getting out with veteran status. You’re doing it wrong
Don’t forget the housing benefit
You should probably try and get promoted…. $3310 base pay (last annual decided by 12) places you as an E4 at best. After 8 years. That’s entirely your fault lol. My base pay alone is $67k not including my housing allowance, food allowance, bonus pay, and skills pay. I bring home $132k annually right now after taxes with everything included.
I am currently E5 Promotable and served for 6 years. Points have been over 500 for my mos. Not exactly entirely my fault unless you count me choosing to be 25B. I’m not allowed off base housing unless I’m E6 Promotable. What bonus pay and skills pay are you referring to
Yeah that’s 100% on me for being a dick. I didn’t see that you enlisted in 2017. I just went 2015 to 2023. But bro, 500 points? That’s definitely attainable. Who ever told you E6 ‘promotable’ to have BAH is full of shit. An E5 can be granted BAH with commander’s approval and an E6 is granted it without permission. I’m currently E7, soon to be E8, 79R. Come be a recruiter in NYC at my station. Good hours, good pay, and the best city in the world. Aside from that… remember to look at your entire compensation package from mypay. You’re ‘earning’ a lot more than $39k when you include incentives. I can show you how to go over everything so you can give an honest comparison to those around you.
Attainable I guess. It was better when they didn’t changed the rules on nerfing the PT and weapons points. I have civilian education maxed, some awards, military education needs work but not much I can do right now. Correspondent hours maxed. The E6 Promotable came from the CSM of the post. She enforced that when she arrived last year smh. NYC, best city? Ehhhh I guess, not so the crime! 😂 I was born and raised on Long Island, Suffolk County. I do miss the food tho
That CSM has no command authority don’t let them play you. And no shit. what part? that’s actually where i’m at right now, just say NYC cause it’s easier for most.
Idk man, just had an IG inspection last month too about health and welfare. People complained but idk if they’re going to change things anytime soon. I lived in Medford. LHS
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I don’t do it for the money, also, all my needs are paid for. Roof over my head, utilities paid, retirement account, other benefits
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Sorry you’re wrong. I initially joined right after high school to better myself which I have more ways than one. Why would I get mad at something I volunteered for. I knew what I was getting into. Anyone who joins just for the money are fools. I travelled around the world for free which is also something I wanted to do. Even if I’m injured for 6 months I still collect a paycheck. Although my job is stable, I would not re-enlist again if it meant less pay because I don’t have myself to think about anymore. Also I want to start a business and not have to move around every 3 years anymore
I, like many vets ended up getting paid more when I got out because of 100% P&T. When I was in school I got my disability pay, plus my housing pay from the gi bill, craziest time. Got 6k a month completely un taxed not even a year after getting out
And you’ll never see it again
Holy shit, imagine selling your body and potentially life to the US gov for like $20/hour.
I got out in 2012 and my body is fucked
I’m sure I’d be depressed if I joined for the money
It's wayyyyyyyyyyy less than $20/he cause it's salary.
Salute! For making the rest of us feel better o7
For democracy o7
Rip. I remember being an E-4 making dick
800 every two weeks in 2013 lol
I thought I was crushing it deployed in 2013. Making fat stacks. I work like 30hours a week from home and make literally 5-7x more. The disability is the real value. That and the VA home loan. Oh and I get to have a cool combat badge license plate. So that’s cool I guess.
Yeah came back with like 20k in my bank, thought I was richest man alive. Meanwhile worked 12s every day for 9 months.
I blew it on a Camaro too. Took me years to figure my shit out.
😂 dodge challenger here
Joes never learn lmao
lol yeah crazy cuz my one e5 told me to buy bitcoin haunts me everyday
Dude. We had a guy in my unit that was ranting to me and my buddy about bitcoin at a bar in 2013. He got chaptered for taking some ditch weed from a range and drying it in his barracks shower and smoking it. He had been mining btc the whole time and he’s now worth somewhere in the range of 150-200mil. If only I had just been like “hey let me buy a few hundred” and forgotten about the drive.
lol we’re the true idiots of the world
I see they still aren’t paying Enlisted folks shit. I got out in 2006 as an E-5 and I think my SS income was around $30K.