If you get this more than once, feel honored that you know > more than one person who supports our military and > appreciates what they do. > > > > If you dont forward it, you dont deserve their sacrifice. > > > > > CINDY WILLIAMS was appointed by Obama as an Assistant > Director for NATIONAL SECURITY in the Congressional Budget > Office..... > > > > This is an Airmans response to Cindy Williams editorial > piece in the Washington Times about MILITARY PAY, it should > be printed in all newspapers across America. > > > > Ms. Cindy William wrote a piece for the Washington Times > denouncing the pay raise(s) coming service members way > this year, citing that she stated a 13% wage increase 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, Im > 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 per month. 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 in 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............. Im > 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 militarys 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 theyll be able to make ends meet > while the primary breadwinner is gone. Obviously theyve > 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 youre > actually over there, sitting in a foxhole, shivering against > the cold desert night, and the flight sergeant tells you > that there arent enough people on shift to relieve you for > chow, remember this: trade whatever MREs > (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 > wont be nearly 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 open 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 right 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 noses 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 cant offer the stability and > pay of civilian companies. > > > > And you, Ms. Williams, have the gall to say that we make > more than we deserve? What do you think someone should be > paid to defend your life, and the life of your family? > > > > > > A1C Michael Bragg, Hill AFB AFNCC > > > IF YOU AGREE, PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO > > AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT OF THE > AMERICAN FIGHTING MEN AND WOMAN
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 01:09:56 +0000