Subject: MILITARY PAY ARTICLE

In a message dated 1/11/2005 7:06:38 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,


This Airman's response to Cindy Williams' editorial piece in the
Washington Times should be printed in all newspapers across America.

Military Pay Article:

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 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 opened 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
THIS LETTER SHOULD BE APPLAUDED BY ANYONE WHO'S EVER SERVED OR HAD A FAMILY MEMBER SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES! THIS YOUNG MAN DESERVES….A MEDAL!


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.