On 12 November 01, 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 5% in the Hill
AFB area effective in January 02. 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, probably written from your nice cozy
million dollar home in Hollywood. 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 and want to trample. 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.

I believe this has alread been posted, and it was shown that the author was NOT the Cindy Williams of "Laverne & Shireley" fame.  IIRC, she was a college student or something.

Another example of celebrities with nothing better to do than jam their personal agendas up our asses.

Maybe, but I just recieved this from a friend.  Never heard it myself.  Sorry to keep bringing up old news if that's the case.

a nice reply in any case.

Either way, "Overpaid"? WTF, Over?

somebody is doing WAYY too much of something..

Meplat-

All,

No, Ms. Williams (the actress) didn't write the accusatory piece.

Actually, if memory serves, a woman wrote an op-ed piece to a large newspaper (though I can't remember if it was the NY TIMES or the WASHINGTON POST).  His reply is accurate.

This came out on government email about two years ago.

Speaking form being in the same boat as that Airman,I can't stand when people think that the military make too much money!!
My husband is Active Duty AF,we get crappy medical services,have to live in substandard housing(our were bult in the 40's)! Hello here  people they are WORKING FOR THE GOV.,not welching(people who would rathe watch Jerry all day than go to work). Why not complain about people on welfare!!![:(!]