Are you getting paid enough?

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Raymond Reyes
  • 48th Contracting Squadron Commander
Are you getting paid enough? Some people think you are getting paid too much. Some of you may recall the uproar among our troops created by a Cindy Williams article in the Washington Post in January 2000 when she argued against a hefty pay raise for the military. Luckily for us, Ms. Williams was in the minority. Back then, the conventional wisdom was that the military was suffering a 13 to 20 percent pay gap between military compensation and the private sector, contributing to the problems of morale and dissatisfaction across the military, as well as the decline in reenlistment rates. As a result, lawmakers and DoD authorized several measures that increased regular military compensation (RMC = basic pay, BAS, BAH) adjusted for inflation by 21 percent between 2000 and 2006.

Let's fast forward to 2007 and today. Many believe military compensation is now on par with salaries in the private sector. The June 2007 Congressional Budget Office Study "Evaluating Military Compensation" looked at compensation for active-duty enlisted personnel (83 percent of the active-duty workforce) and suggests that the measures taken in the late 1990s to make military compensation competitive to the private sector achieved its goal in 2006. The CBO estimates that the "average basic pay for enlisted personnel closely matched the 50th percentile of estimated earnings for civilians with some college education" and if cash allowances and tax advantages are included, the "average enlisted member exceeded the 75th percentile of civilian earnings." Simply put, you make more than at least 50 percent of the population and likely more than 75 percent of the population.

Are you getting paid enough? That's a tough question for our leaders in the Pentagon and the White House. It is always a balancing act with retention and recruitment, modernizing our aging weapon systems, keeping morale and sustaining our capabilities, among other things. As our economy and deficit spiral ever deeper into the red, more and more government officials are looking at defense cuts as one of the answers. With studies showing military compensation at par with the private sector and the total force not experiencing concerns with retention and recruitment, it's inevitable that DoD employee compensation would be a target. The DoD civilians have already been placed under a two-year pay freeze. In addition, I'm sure you are already aware that The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, a presidential commission looking at ways to reduce the federal budget deficit, included in its draft recommendation a proposal to freeze military basic pay and housing and food allowance for three years, projecting a $9.2 billion savings by 2015.

What about the pay freeze? It may or may not happen but it's definitely an emotional issue. Many could see it as our leaders turning their backs on us and not recognizing the many sacrifices our servicemen and women and their families endure. But let me offer this. We always say we want the best for our children and the future generation. We say that putting them in debt is not right and that we would do what we can; it's not just the government's job. We can now. The pay freeze may be the opportunity for us to actively contribute in reducing our nation's debt which hopefully translates to a better life for our children. $9.2 billion is not chump change!

Are you getting paid fairly? Many would argue that the studies regarding compensation did not include nor quantify the intangibles unique to our military profession. We are all expected to deploy and move at a moment's notice. Our spouses and family members have to start over every time we move, making establishing a career difficult (and a lower household income); and sometimes we maintain two households. Not to mention the many sacrifices with leaving our families behind, living in austere and dangerous conditions; the list could go on and on. But what's also not included are the intangibles we all enjoy by being part of the military--the camaraderie, the outstanding training, esprit de corps, the customs and courtesies, the nation's high regard for our profession, the opportunity to serve our country in uniform, a code of conduct to live our lives, being a part of a team, the going away parties and retirement and promotion ceremonies, even the joy of looking forward to a Goal Day! The list could go on and on too.

So, are you getting paid enough and getting paid fairly? Only you can answer that. Let's go back to what really made you join and stay in the Air Force and I'm willing to bet it was not the pay. Sure it may have started that way for some; it could also be job security, or the educational benefits, or veteran's benefits, or simply wearing the uniform. It could also be the opportunity to be in harm's way and possibly making the ultimate sacrifice. But for most, it was the honor of serving and giving back to our nation, being a part of something bigger than ourselves in defending freedom, democracy and our way of life. Are you getting paid fairly for that privilege? You tell me.