Our Service Men and Women
> > >
> > >
> > > This response to the Washington Times op-ed written by Cindy Williams,
> > > (Formerly of the Laverne and Shirley TV show), should be printed in all
> > > newspapers across America.
> > > Especially now when the President is calling up more Reserves and National
> > > Guardsman.
> > > Get this response out to everyone you know. It's time the
> > > "Jane Fonda's & Sean Penn's" of this country wise up
> > > and support the troops that defend them.
> > >
> > > Noel Pritzl - 1st Vice President USDR
> > >
> > > Re: Military pay article
> > > On 12 Nov, Ms Williams wrote a piece for the Washington Times, denouncing
> > > the pay raise(s) coming service members' way this year -- citing that the
> > > stated 13% wage increase was more than they deserve.
> > > A young airman from Hill AFB (Air Force Base) 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
> > > (Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and my bank account.
> > > >
> > > Checking my latest LES (Leave and Earnings Statement), I see that I make
> > > $1,117.80 per month before taxes. After taxes, I take home $874.20. When
> >I
> > > run that through Windows' 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 (AFNCC), where I am part of the team responsible
> >for
> > > the administration of 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, nor does it
> >pay
> > > less than this. No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per
> > > annum. I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions.
> > >
> > > Also, you tout increases to Basic Allowance for Housing and Basic
> > > Allowance
> > > for subsistence (housing and food allowances, respectively) as being a
> > > further boon to an already overcompensated force. Again, I'm curious as
> >to
> > > where this money has gone, as BAH and BAS were both slashed 15% in the
> >Hill
> > > AFB area effective in January 00. Given the tenor of your column, I would
> > > assume that you have 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 AFDC, 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 DOD 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
> >DFP
> > > (Defensive Fire Position, the modern-day 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, vacuum sealed food packets) you manage
> >to
> > > get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco
> >to
> > > everything. This gives it some semblance of 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 op-ed 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"
> > >
> > > IF YOU AGREE, SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE AMERICAN FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN.
> > > THANK THEM BY SENDING THIS ON Its WAY. THIS LETTER SHOULD BE ECHOED BY
> > > ANYONE WHO'S EVER SERVED OR HAD A FAMILY MEMBER SERVE IN THE ARMED
> > > FORCES!
> > > THIS YOUNG MAN DESERVES A COMMENDATION!
> > >
> > > -- Ms Williams has proven once again, that the "elite" in the
> > > entertainment industry know how to portray military life and service,
> >but
> > > honestly have no idea what it means to actually live it. A thirteen
> >percent
> > > pay raise
> > > sounds like quite a bit. For an E-3, (enlisted, not an officer), that
> > > amounts to roughly $145 pretax per month. Being on call 24/7, that comes
> >to
> > > about .20 an hour. It's likely that Ms Williams spends more in a day on a
> > > facial and manicure than the Special Forces soldiers earn in hazardous
> >duty
> > > pay per month. And while she relaxes poolside in Palm Springs, those same
> > > soldiers are off in God-forsaken lands, attempting to protect this
> >country
> > > by stamping out evil at its roots. Let us all thank God for the men and
> > > women who continue to defend this country, not for money or glory, but as
> >a
> > > fulfillment of their patriotic duty. God has Blessed America! It's our
> > > responsibility to keep it that way.
> > >
> > > Scott Ogan, - USAF 1990-1992
> > >
>
>
>I am not what I ought to be; I am not what I wish to be; I am not what I hope to be; but by the grace of God I am what I am.
>-John Newton
> > >
> > >
> > > This response to the Washington Times op-ed written by Cindy Williams,
> > > (Formerly of the Laverne and Shirley TV show), should be printed in all
> > > newspapers across America.
> > > Especially now when the President is calling up more Reserves and National
> > > Guardsman.
> > > Get this response out to everyone you know. It's time the
> > > "Jane Fonda's & Sean Penn's" of this country wise up
> > > and support the troops that defend them.
> > >
> > > Noel Pritzl - 1st Vice President USDR
> > >
> > > Re: Military pay article
> > > On 12 Nov, Ms Williams wrote a piece for the Washington Times, denouncing
> > > the pay raise(s) coming service members' way this year -- citing that the
> > > stated 13% wage increase was more than they deserve.
> > > A young airman from Hill AFB (Air Force Base) 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
> > > (Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and my bank account.
> > > >
> > > Checking my latest LES (Leave and Earnings Statement), I see that I make
> > > $1,117.80 per month before taxes. After taxes, I take home $874.20. When
> >I
> > > run that through Windows' 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 (AFNCC), where I am part of the team responsible
> >for
> > > the administration of 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, nor does it
> >pay
> > > less than this. No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per
> > > annum. I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions.
> > >
> > > Also, you tout increases to Basic Allowance for Housing and Basic
> > > Allowance
> > > for subsistence (housing and food allowances, respectively) as being a
> > > further boon to an already overcompensated force. Again, I'm curious as
> >to
> > > where this money has gone, as BAH and BAS were both slashed 15% in the
> >Hill
> > > AFB area effective in January 00. Given the tenor of your column, I would
> > > assume that you have 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 AFDC, 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 DOD 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
> >DFP
> > > (Defensive Fire Position, the modern-day 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, vacuum sealed food packets) you manage
> >to
> > > get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco
> >to
> > > everything. This gives it some semblance of 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 op-ed 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"
> > >
> > > IF YOU AGREE, SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE AMERICAN FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN.
> > > THANK THEM BY SENDING THIS ON Its WAY. THIS LETTER SHOULD BE ECHOED BY
> > > ANYONE WHO'S EVER SERVED OR HAD A FAMILY MEMBER SERVE IN THE ARMED
> > > FORCES!
> > > THIS YOUNG MAN DESERVES A COMMENDATION!
> > >
> > > -- Ms Williams has proven once again, that the "elite" in the
> > > entertainment industry know how to portray military life and service,
> >but
> > > honestly have no idea what it means to actually live it. A thirteen
> >percent
> > > pay raise
> > > sounds like quite a bit. For an E-3, (enlisted, not an officer), that
> > > amounts to roughly $145 pretax per month. Being on call 24/7, that comes
> >to
> > > about .20 an hour. It's likely that Ms Williams spends more in a day on a
> > > facial and manicure than the Special Forces soldiers earn in hazardous
> >duty
> > > pay per month. And while she relaxes poolside in Palm Springs, those same
> > > soldiers are off in God-forsaken lands, attempting to protect this
> >country
> > > by stamping out evil at its roots. Let us all thank God for the men and
> > > women who continue to defend this country, not for money or glory, but as
> >a
> > > fulfillment of their patriotic duty. God has Blessed America! It's our
> > > responsibility to keep it that way.
> > >
> > > Scott Ogan, - USAF 1990-1992
> > >
>
>
>I am not what I ought to be; I am not what I wish to be; I am not what I hope to be; but by the grace of God I am what I am.
>-John Newton