[flada]

Pay in the E-1 through E-3 ranks is very low, and there are cases of families using food stamps to make ends meet.

With all due respect to those military families who do qualify for welfare benefits, this is an exaggeration. My wife is an E-3 in the Navy with less than 17 months of service. Her gross pay (with allowances for housing and subsistence) is about $2800/month. Furthermore, only her base pay (about $1500/month) is taxable income.

Her income by itself would preclude us from any welfare benefits. Of course the fact that I make considerably more puts us way out of range, but that's beside the point.

[Graybeard58]

Her gross pay (with allowances for housing and subsistence) is about $2800/month.

The only thing you may infer from what I am about to tell you is that I am old.

When I enlisted I made $69 per month. When I got out 4 years later I was making almost $300 per month.

[reformed_democrat]

My wife is an E-3 in the Navy with less than 17 months of service. Her gross pay (with allowances for housing and subsistence) is about $2800/month.

I'm very glad to hear things have improved since the 90's. Frankly, anyone who enlists is worth his/her weight in gold.

If I had my way, we'd stop financing the EPA, the NEA (both of 'em), and the IRS, and give the money to the military. That would rock Putin's world.