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People always using military pay scale to argue against a raise of the minimum wage
So here’s a thread explaining why you just look dumb if you make that comparison
So here’s a thread explaining why you just look dumb if you make that comparison
Everyone focuses on E1-E4 pay being lower than a $15/hr wage, so I’ll talk about that first
What they completely ignore is that E1-E4 are expected to live in the barracks, which is free housing. So a major expense most people have to deal with on minimum wage is nonexistent.
What they completely ignore is that E1-E4 are expected to live in the barracks, which is free housing. So a major expense most people have to deal with on minimum wage is nonexistent.
As well, at least in the Army, we got free food through the dining facilities on base, 3 hot meals a day. Wasn’t gourmet by any means, but free food is free food.
And we often drove up to the AF base and ate there because their dfac was amazing. Still free.
And we often drove up to the AF base and ate there because their dfac was amazing. Still free.
Okay but what about married servicepeeps not living in the barracks?
They get neat little bonus pays called BAH and BAS, which as an E-1 without dependents on JBLM is $1,386 and $386.50 of additional pay, respectively, per month.
They get neat little bonus pays called BAH and BAS, which as an E-1 without dependents on JBLM is $1,386 and $386.50 of additional pay, respectively, per month.
As well, there are a lot of different bonus pays. Different branches handle them differently, so I’ll focus on what I got in the Army.
EOD is dangerous, so we got a bunch of bonus pays. At one point in my contract, I was getting about $800 a month just in bonus pays.
EOD is dangerous, so we got a bunch of bonus pays. At one point in my contract, I was getting about $800 a month just in bonus pays.
While yes, not every MOS gets bonus pays, there are a decent handful that do.
While you’re active duty, you get free health insurance. I got 2 impacted wisdom teeth removed, was given a month’s worth of painkillers, and didn’t pay a dime.
While you’re active duty, you get free health insurance. I got 2 impacted wisdom teeth removed, was given a month’s worth of painkillers, and didn’t pay a dime.
Now after my service, I’m using my GI Bill benefits to go to school. They pay for my tuition in full AND I get a monthly allowance directly into my pocket, tax free, which is higher than what I made at my last job making $17.75 an hour.
tl;dr using the military for sympathy points in your argument against a basic livable wage is cheap and incredibly uninformed
I forgot to mention that you also get 2.5 leave days a month. That’s 30 days a year.
At my last job I accrued 8 hours of PTO per paycheck. With me working 10 hour shifts, I got 20 days off a year.
And the military gets damn near every holiday that exists off.
At my last job I accrued 8 hours of PTO per paycheck. With me working 10 hour shifts, I got 20 days off a year.
And the military gets damn near every holiday that exists off.
“But you might die in the military so the pay should be higher!”
That’s precisely why there are bonus pays tied to exactly that while on deployment, as well as paying no tax on the money you make on deployment, AND the bonus you get at the end of a deployment.
That’s precisely why there are bonus pays tied to exactly that while on deployment, as well as paying no tax on the money you make on deployment, AND the bonus you get at the end of a deployment.
P.S. for those who try to compare a $15/hr wage to how much teachers get paid: you're not proving your point against minimum wage, all you're proving is how grossly underpaid teachers are 
