I've spoken with a lot of military people. Few seem to understand what they are getting as compensation. Accordingly, they drastically undervalue their compensation. That's not to say they are wealthy. But as a whole, they are extremely well compensated outside of battlefield conditions. Opportunity for advancement, education, and benefits is enormous.
All things equal, in general, military people complaining about pay is a good indicator they are incompetent and unqualified for their current position and/or advancement. They should feel lucky receiving what they do.
Especially at the age range that they get it. All I threw in there was the immediate compensation avenues. That does not include hazard pay (which most of the time isn't hazard, just means you're deployed to a "hazardous area"), VA loans, VA schooling, family benefits for wife and kids, VA medical after discharge (good or bad, it IS free), CONTINUED commissary access, access to banks with amazing rates like USAA and Navy Fed, and a general discount at almost any store or service just by flashing your CAC card. When I graduated high school, my good buddy joined the navy and tried to get me to join, even offering to share the recruiting bonus he got with me. Now, decades later, I KICK myself for not doing even 4 years rather than wasting my early 20s chasing a jew and going from apartment to apartment.
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