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.