"mean income for 2004 recruits was $43,122 (in 1999 dollars). For 2005 recruits, it was $43,238 (in 1999 dollars). These are increases over the mean incomes for the 1999 cohort ($41,141) and 2003 cohort ($42,822)."
You have to look at this data with Charlies Dem-o-crat worldview --
If you are a family of 4 and only make $43K/yr, you must be at poverty level, right? It is the 'mean' after all.
(Real life, a family of five making $23,108 dollars in 2004 is at poverty level) see http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/povdef.html
I would like to see some pay raises.
I think it is a disgrace that many military with families are on food stamps!
Semper Fi,
Kelly