Oh, the Obama bashing. People who have their panties in a twist need to chill out. I swear — you can’t mention Obama and the Military without people on the right freaking out.
CHILL, PEOPLE.
In case you haven’t heard, the numbers for the 2011 fiscal budget are coming out, and the proposed military pay raise is 1.4%. OBVIOUSLY, this is low. If passed, it would be the lowest pay raise in the history of our volunteer Army.
But seriously, people? It’s January. Of 2010. There is no possible way that this number will stay this low. In fact, I’m pretty sure it always starts off low and typically ends up higher. Case in point? The initial proposed 2010 pay raise for military was 1.9%. Obviously, this did not stick.
They are also proposing a raise of just over 4% for BAH across the board — something that rarely happens (I know people whose BAH has actually gone down before. It’s never the same increase for everybody.) Let’s not forget that BAH is not taxed, whereas your base pay is — isn’t that worth more in the long run?
Either way, this is a year off. And people need to do their research, and check their facts before getting all fired up about something that is not set in stone. There are also many fabulous things that they are proposing that will HELP the military, such as:
- For military family support: $8.8 billion in funding (a 3% increase). This money is allocated to counseling and support of both active-duty and reserve-component families.
- Defense Department medical program: $30.9 bilion (5.8% increase). “$669 million would be devoted to treatment for traumatic brain injury and other mental health issues, while $250 million would go to fund continued research on mental health issues among service members.” according to the Military Times article.
- Military child care service availability: $1.36 billion. This number is up $87 million over the 2010 budget. Funding will go towards maintaining the high level of care and youth activity programs.
- Counseling and assistance services: $1.9 billion to expand availability, up $37 million from the previous year.
- Spouse career and education programs: $84 million to programs, tuition assistance and internship programs. This is up $12 million from 2010.
See? All great things. Let’s focus on the positive. And also remember that we are only 27 days into 2010. That gives us 338 days to see changes to this proposal. Including the overall pay raise for the military. I know, and you know (admit it) that Congress will never pass a pay raise that low. Not in these times.
*** UPDATE (2/10/10) Due to the ugliness of some of the comments that have appeared on here, I am closing comments for this. This is NOT because I don’t want to hear your opinion — I have enjoyed reading things from both sides of this — however this particular post is getting a lot of traffic, and therefore a lot of trolls are stopping by, saying mean ugly things that don’t have anything to do with the post. If you would like to continue this discussion, whether you agree with me or not (Like I said, I’m open to both sides!), please feel free to email me above! Thanks!! 
*** UPDATE NUMBER TWO (3/5/10) Due to the CRAZY amount of hits this post is getting, I’m going to do something brave and reopen the comments. FAIR WARNING, however. BE NICE. If you’re going to be an asshole, your comment will get deleted. Please keep the discussion healthy and polite. That is all.
*** UPDATE NUMBER THREE (5/29/10) Yeah, I’ve had enough. People are rude. And I’m tired of deleting comments from stupid people, who have no concept of being polite. Please see the links below for updates to this particular post. While I appreciate all the traffic, I don’t appreciate the asshats of the world spewing forth their ignorant and completely mean comments. If you’re just some random troll whose here to be an asshole, screw you. If you’re here to genuinely see what this blog is about, please take the time to scroll through my archives and get to know me. I love new visitors.
Update #1: Military Pay Raise 2011: Update
Update #2: Steps Towards 2011 Military Pay Raise (5/17/10)
{ 41 comments }
Exactly! Also if you look back through the Bush & Clinton years they had different raises each year. Some higher and some lower. And like you said, things will change by the time we actually get it.
A-freakin-men! Seriously. And even IF it does stay at a 1.9%, we should be happy. The majority of America is not only NOT getting any raise of any sort, but they are worried about losing their jobs. Heck, the last two years my pay raises have been 0% and 1%.
Even if they raised BAH by 4%, that’s MORE THAN A 4% INCREASE PEOPLE. You are right, it isn’t taxed so it’s an even better raise.
Oh, and I totally forgot to mention that our BAH went down this year in Washington. Yes, we are grandfathered in, but Huzzy just made the next paygrade so while we’ll be getting more BAH for that, it won’t be as much as someone who made it a few months earlier. Because we’ll get the lower BAH for his paygrade since we weren’t grandfathered into THAT.
It’s annoying. Ours went up $15 this year (which, I’m not complaining. I’ll take $15). I had one friend whose went up $200 (and their BAH wasn’t much more than ours to begin with). There seems to be no rhyme or reason to how they decide what goes up, how much it goes up, or what goes down. A blanket increase across all pay-grades would be wonderful and FAIR.
While I read this stuff now, I tend to just “ignore” it mostly. There isn’t anything I can do about what Uncle Sam does. I just hope that when he does things he considers all the men and women serving this country who deserve the absolute best for their sacrifice.
Im sorry, but Im not in agreement with this at all. There is always talks of how money will be used to better military programs, child care, etc. but there is some real facts that take place.
First, to lower a pay raise and say its ok to the men and women who voluntarily serve and devote their lives is just a damn shame. Honestly, do you think Americans are really going to look into joining the military when we are at a state of war and the risk of your life is lowered…hmmm?
Second, peopl are struggling financially in this economy, yes we should be thankful to have jobs in the military, but by cutting pay in the military, the president is cutting security.
Third, whenever I have been near or on a base, the child care is usually cheaper off post, not to mention some bases, if not all, charge the military family regardless to enroll their children in any activities, each time, for example, $40/per child to play soccer, etc..then football comes, so its another fee. There is VERY LITTLE DOD schools, therefore, most families are forced to send their kids to the local public schools, which some are good, but take in consideration El Paso school district near, Ft. Bliss, this is a nightmare, and there is no bus transportation.
Theres a lot of suggestions that I would like to see, just like, spouses should not only be trained but guaranteed a job. Health care in the military needs to improve drastically, especially with dental, eye, vision, high risk health patients, and special needs children.
I have always loved being a military wife, but I think the wives and husbands put in way to much devotion to the military for not enough credit in return. The sacrifices that not only the active member submits, but the families, children, parents give up, should not be underguessed, and should know and believe, that WE are what makes AMERICA SAFE, and deserve to be treated with the utmost respect without financial burdens .
You put everything I was thinking into words when I couldn’t. Curious though, I wonder what increase our congressman are getting?
Vanessa,
I agree with everything you said and believes you “hit the nail on the head” so to speak! Why would men and women VOLUNTEER to serve and protect our country if their pay is cut. Im sure you have all heard the expression, “you get what you pay for” I dont understand why anyone would think that the military is not worth any amount of money. After 9/11 you would think that security would be a top priority. I know so many military men and women that get out to make more money to take care of their families, and if pay raises each year get smaller and smaller i beleive we might would have to go back to the draft to get people to join.
I agree, people need to chill out. Yes, this would be a huge slap in the face if passed… but I too believe this is too soon to be freaking out as much as some people are. Like you said … its NOT set in stone.
Why get yourself so stressed out over something that may not even happen?! That just seems crazy.
Yes, by all means get offended by the fact that the president thinks we only deserve a 1.4% increase. The very idea that he’d think that’s all our sacrifices are worth is absurd. Yet, I don’t think this will pass. With the amount of bad publicity this amount gets from the military.. it’d be a terrible mistake on his part to let it go through. Mainly because no one would willingly join knowing that they’d be risking their life for less.
So I think everyone really does need to chill out, for now.
As for medical coverage (in response to an above comment) I agree they do need to improve it, but compared to most coverage you’d get as a civilian.. I think its good. And for the people who need the coverage most (meaning the people who actually serve and get their lives put at risk) have amazing coverage… yes veteran benefits suck (which DO need major improvement) Active duty are well covered. Yes, our children and us may not get the coverage we need for everything, but I do think we need to be grateful that we have as much coverage as we do have. Cause it could be a lot worse.
I am an Air Force Wife. My husband supports our family of four solely on his paycheck. He’s even paying my college loans that are just sitting there while I raise a family. We live comfortably within our means and are not worried about a low pay raise. We are simply thankful for job security and the fact that we don’t have to worry about losing our jobs or home or living in a tent city. Many thanks to all tax-paying Americans who support our life. And thanks to my husband (and all military members) for signing up and defending our free country.
Thank you, Frances. This is exactly how I feel. We should feel lucky to be getting ANYTHING when so many people out there are still losing their jobs, struggling, and NOT being given a pay raise.
Thank you for your comment.
Bottom line is that congress typically proposes a similar to cost of living increase for troops, but it’s absurd to even start at 1.4 . The only reason this won’t pass is that our service men and women are too visible in their hard work and sacrifices. Don’t think they wouldn’t rather keep the money for themselves for a minute.
With the waste and massive expenditures that our government is currently active in, our troops shouldn’t even be dealing with this. Nancy Pelosi had a 100,000 bar tab for in-flight services last year alone. For her and her guests. That’s not including the cost to fly her everywhere, just her piehole getting stuffed. Things like that are why we should be incensed at cuts in military budgets.
I know that the 4% sounds great and all, however, not all military members qualify for BAH. There are numerous members who live in barracks or on ships and who are not married who do not qualify for that, so I’m fairly certain they are looking for the base pay increase. A lot of the other benefits mentioned are also great, but again, are not used by all. It’s great that it’s available though.
Although the pay increase may not be set in stone yet, why start with such a low number? You know going too low is going to cause a public backlash such as it is now. There are all kinds of blogs, news articles and everthing talking about this and I’m sure it’s affecting his popularity as president. If I was thirsting in a desert for my country and all I got in return was a sip of water, I wouldn’t be happy. Make it worth while. That’s all I’m saying. I hope everyone has a great weekend! Take care!
P.S. I am not an army wife or wife of any sort…lol. Just ran across this site searching this topic
ha, you don’t have to be a military wife to comment here
Thanks for voicing your opinion!
By law the administration’s pay increase proposal is restricted to no more than the Employment Cost Index (ECI). The ECI is a quarterly economic series detailing the changes in the costs of labor for businesses in the United States economy. The ECI is prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in the U.S. Department of Labor. It is 1.4%. The 2009 inflation rate was -0.34%. Negative inflation is generally not considered ‘rampant’. Social security, which is national, did not increase in 2010 for the first time in three decades and is expected to not increase in 2011 either. Welfare payouts are determined at the state level, not by the President or Congress.
Also last years initial proposal was 2.9%. It ended up being 3.4% because Congress decides on the final increase, not the President, who submits the initial proposal based on law, not his discretion.
(source)Directly from the dfas.mil website-
How are annual pay raises calculated? Military pay raises are linked to civilian pay raises. Military pay raises have been at least one half of a percent higher than the civilian pay raise each year, as measured by the Employment Cost Index (ECI), until 2006. Starting in 2007, pay raises are equal to the increase in the ECI. Pay raises may exceed these automatic levels if authorized by Congress. In January 2010, the military pay raise was changed to 3.4% (ECI).
Mikee —- THANK YOU.
On January 13th, House bill H.R. 4427 proposes an additional .5% to the president’s proposal. The additional .5% is to close the gap and bring the military’s pay more inline with that of the private sector.
The presidents minimum proposal is effected by the ECI number – he could propose above that – that said, the Department of Defense puts together its input, and the DoD continually wants to limit the cost of personnel so they make good arguments to keep it at the legislated minimum –
The real dollars based on both proposals can be found here:
http://www.navycs.com/2011-military-pay-chart.html
You assessment of the situation is short term and centric. You are correct in the fact that BAH is not taxed. But what happens to BAH when the military person retires? It’s poof! It’s effects individual’s differently, but most people get half of their base pay for retirement. As it stands, this will barely be seen in a retiree’s pay. How does child care help a retiree? Almost all the other proposals do nothing for them either. A base pay increase helps EVERYONE, not just a few with select needs.
Unless you’ve been in the military for 40 years, I don’t know many people who retire and then depend SOLELY on their military retirement income. I understand that it doesn’t make much of a dent THIS year. But I also work for the military, and I have met MANY retired Generals, Colonel’s, Sergent Major’s, etc … people who worked a full career in the military … and have gone on to work jobs, typically with the military or as a contractor, post military career.
Just because someone does not or (does) depend solely on their retirement income means they don’t deserve a better raise? Most people that go the distance usually drop their retirement packet at 20 anyway, not 40. Either way, I don’t understand your argument there. Not every person in the military retires at the ranks you have mentioned either. The way I see it, retirees, medical or regular deserve each and every raise they get. And they shouldn’t be deprived of a decent pay raise because the money is put elsewhere.
Here’s another way to look at it. If you were childless, would you rather get a $100 pay raise every month or have the month go to a a child care program that obviously only benefits those that have children?
My point was that if you retire at 20 years of service, then that probably isn’t going to be your last job. Most people, including those that retire at 20 years, go on to work another career, which means supplemental income. Unless you joined the military late in life, of course.
I guess I look at it like this — while the military deserves some privileges, it still does not make you any better that somebody else. If you retire after 20 years of service, you joined at 18, and you don’t plan on ever working another career at 38 years old?? Then you suck. Plain and simple.
Your childless analogy doesn’t make any sense. Sorry.
The problem is so much has been done over the last several years to narrow the civilian pay gap, that a proposed small increase in pay is seen as a setback. Rather the increase rises or stays the same, its unsettling to see that in a time where are military is tasked beyond its means, that our pay is relatively stagnant. Its not just active duty that are being effected either, this year for the first time in a long time, retirees did not receive a COLA increase. How funny you would mention an increase in spouse career and education programs when that Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts are also frozen right now. By the way, I’m an active duty Soldier with almost 25 years of service who’s job is too advocate progression and sustainment for our Soldiers. Whereas some Soldiers make ends meet, many Soldiers have to use food stamps and handouts to meet the needs of their families. Too many times, I think that senior officers and enlisted forget that every single dollar counts to those young military families. Rather its President Obama or any other Commander in Chief, the military needs to be a priority.
DB touched on this:
Your retirement pay is based on PAY – not allowances. This is more important than you realize and the primary reason the government continues to approve drastic increases in speciality (language, for example), combat, hazardous duty, and other ALLOWANCES.
Do you know when your spouse is going to blow out a knee and be medically retired? What about -God forbid- they are injured in combat and medically retired? It’s based on PAY – not allowances. A 4% BAH hike is absurd. Give the GI’s a 4% pay hike and 1.4% BAH hike instead.
I hate to have a separate opinion from your statement of “I don’t know many people who retire and then depend SOLELY on their military retirement income. ” – but the truth is, the people that DO depend on it, aren’t the types you would typically meet in your normal social settings. Visit a VA hospital’s hospice ward and you’d be amazed how many have depended on it – and for how long. I once met a 105-year old nurse who served in WWI at the VA hospital in Miles, Texas. Her sole source of income was her military retirement. They are out there, and if we – as voters and veterans or spouses of veterans – continue to subscribe to the idea that we do not care what the difference between PAY and ALLOWANCES are – we all – collectively – will continue to be sold down the river.
Navy Chief, Navy Pride
Ok, I totally see your point and I 100% get where you are coming from.
But with that said, than why don’t we just get rid of “allowances?” Why not just take whatever allowances are given, and consider it pay, tax it, and then everybody will be happy. Everybody get’s their retirement money, the base pay goes up, and nobody REALLY loses anything. Paychecks still stay the same, minus the few tax deductions here and there.
I don’t know if this would realistically work. I’m just throwing another view point out there.
Brilliant! Allowance is really just a title anyways. That’s a great idea Brittany! When are you running for president or congress? You have my vote!
In your article you have posted you said do some research! and people need to CHILL OUT! I have done alot of research on the and i know that congress is not going to pass this. You have listed some good things that they are going to try to fight for like the BAH topic. But what about the single soldiers? If the pay raise stays at 1.4 this is going to be the lowest pay raise dated back to 1973! The cost of living for next year is projected to be over a 4% raise on consumer products. The major problem here is why is he cutting there pay raise and bring up welfare percent raise? Last year Obama really screwed the retired military pay!
IT BETTER BE MORE THAN WELFARE IS ALL I AM SAYING!
Welfare rates are decided on the state level. Not by the President. It’s two different systems.
The states do not determine the federal funds allocated for welfare spending, it’s not like states create their own money, it comes from somewhere. Here’s something to think about:
By 2014, annual spending on welfare programs will reach $1 trillion for the fiscal year.
“One in seven in total federal and state dollars now goes to welfare. But this is a completely unknown story,” Rector said. “This is not being reported. No one knows Obama is spending $10 trillion on welfare.”
Welfare spending has taken its toll on the federal debt. Since the beginning of the “war on poverty,” $15.9 trillion has been spent on welfare programs. The total cost of every war in American history, starting with the American Revolution, is $6.4 trillion when adjusted for inflation.
I agree with many of the posts on here, especially Chief Loomer’s comment. There are certainly those who depend solely on their retirement pay for survival, my fiancee’s father is one of them. Many of the additional benefits you listed apply only if you are not single. As a former Marine who lived many years in the barracks (BAH is not a given especially if you are a lower rank, single or living over seas) I can say from experience higher pay increases were always needed and ,especially now, are much deserved.
Ya’ll might be interested in this article
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/mar/11/chain-email/obama-pay-increase-military-based-formula/
Thanks, Zoe. Excellent article. I doubt they will read it, though
No one joined to the military to get rich and live in a McMansion! And if folks are struggling they need to re-evaluate their spending habits and be happy that they have a job and even happier it comes with benefits like medical, BAH, BAS, education/TA, etc….Good article!
I agree that the Welfare programs are operated on a state level. BUT, where does the money come from for the states to budget their programs? Yep, you guessed it, WE the people from EVERY state on the map, whether we live in said state or not! So, We the people, are “rewarding” each and every lazy American to continue to sit on their duffs, while our servicemen and women are putting their lives on the line each and everyday. It doesn’t make sense to me.
Give to the “doers” before the “no-doers”! Reward those that are deserved of reward.
I wonder if any of you who think we should “CHILL, PEOPLE” have thought about how happy Congress would be to leave the pay raise at 1.4% if we did indeed, chill. I believe that raising our voices and letting our representatives know that this is unacceptable is how we will get the so called “OBVIOUS” raise in the rate. So I say, if you want to see Congress raise this pay increase rate like they should, then raise your voice! Raise your hand! Raise the roof!!!
Britt, I know we are friends, and I am well aware of our political differences and I am soooo glad we can look past them. But…..this “TOPIC” would chap my rear if it was McCain proposing this pay raise. Plain and simple, 1.4% is unacceptable and should have never passed the initial review in the first place. The argument that BAH will be raised doesn’t help that private right out of basic who in a situation closer to you than you know, is paying for his grandmothers bills and housing. When M gets out of the army (which right now feels like never, I know) you won’t be getting that 4% BAH raise you will depend on his retirement pay. You work, which is not something everyone can do for different reasons of all their own. Point being, when you hit the end of the road or God forbid M medically retires early, its not going to be BAH that is paying your bills its going to be his paycheck and yours. Love ya!
I totally agree with you RetiredArmywife!
For the lazy among you:
“So, it’s true that Obama has proposed a 1.4 percent pay increase for the military in 2011. By law, it’s what he was required to propose.
“The last part of the claim — that the military pay increase is lower than what welfare recipients are getting this year — was nearly impossible to sort out. That’s because the term “welfare” refers to an array of programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, the Child Nutrition Program and food stamps. Many of these programs are administered by the states. For example, with TANF the federal government gives block grants to states, which use these funds to operate low-income benefits. That funding has not increased since 1996, according to Liz Schott, a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
“So, this viral Facebook update is correct that Obama proposed a 1.4 percent pay increase for military personnel in 2011. Depending on the time frame, it’s the smallest since 1973 or 1962. But there are some big inaccuracies about this claim as well. First and foremost, there’s really no such thing as a pay increase for welfare recipients, so it’s impossible to compare military pay to support for low-income communities. Furthermore, the claim leaves out important details about why Obama chose a 1.4 percent pay increase; in short, he’s required to by law. And while Congress can approve a larger number — and under extenuating circumstances, the president can propose an alternative pay raise — the administration is discouraging Congress from doing so in order to keep other military programs, such as health care, well funded.”
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/mar/11/chain-email/obama-pay-increase-military-based-formula/
In one of those weird cyber-coincidences, I read this post, clicked out, and then immediately clicked on this:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/07/AR2010050703054.html?hpid=topnews
which addresses this very issue, opening with “The Pentagon, not usually known for its frugality, is pleading with Congress to stop spending so much money on the troops.”
Worth a read, and some thought.
My husband is a MD working out of a mobile clinic for the poor and I run a food bank. We serve the public as well. I was stabbed last year walking to my car from work and my husband has been robbed 7 times. Where is our raise?? There are so many of us who put our share of blood, sweat, and tears for the country, civilian or not. We are not rich, our child goes to a fair public school, I drive a 1994 Volvo, and live in 1700 sq ft house that is falling a part. Our Military deserve so much for their service, but there are those of us who serve and put our lives at risk for MUCH less. It seems like everyone wants more, more, more. Me TOO! Enjoy your well deserved raise, I’m sorry it’s not enough. Hopefully we will get ours in heaven, LATER then SOONER, i pray.
The LONG run, well I am not sure what your background is, this being my first visit so I will be as nice as possible. You’re joking of course when you say “in the LONG RUN”, right? In the long run your BAH, BAS, and any other incentive you get is not used to calculate your retirement pay. With that said, this has always been a way for our government no matter their affiliation to get over on the Military. Not all people receive these additional pays and as such their pay does not increase as others do. The one thing that is however constant throughout the military is BASIC PAY! So in the LONG RUN you and all the other military members are being screwed. In the short term some will prosper and some will not. Your point is well taken that the first submission price of a raise is usually low however the lower they start the lower the end result usual is as well. In the past anytime we have had high unemployment and hard times on the civilian side it is always the military that takes the hit by having their salaries reduced as a sign of attempting to lower the deficit. Just look it up! Also all the programs you have mentioned here are just as easily cut out when it comes time to balance the budget, basic pay does not get cut out , you may not get a raise but it never goes down. If you do not think that is coming then you are sadly mistaken and once again should only look at the history of military pay to see it. From what I read in your blog here you seem to be a person of caring and concern but you have drank from the Obama and democratic kool-aid and as such could rationalize anything to be a good thing. Take some time and do some research and you may well be surprised. I am sure others have presented these points and good for them; to somehow sit here and spew forth rhetoric that life is rosy is insane, with unemployment at this all time high, there are people climbing hand over fist to join the military and as long as that happens there is no reason to give the military a reasonable pay raise. Good luck with that pay raise and OH yea just figure what you will lose in future earnings, I can promise you that the government civilian union workers won’t lose any money!
thank you for your one time visit, since I’m sure you’re one of the random people that seem to come because of this stupid post. First off, I’d like to direct you to this follow up posts (http://myarmywifelife.com/archives/1557 and http://myarmywifelife.com/archives/1652) that describes just exactly how the military pay raise is decided, and what exactly the money is going towards next year. Secondly, if YOU do any research, you will see that its the MILITARY OFFICIALS that have fought against the raise this year, so that other much needed programs (as mentioned in that second link I provided) in the military can get some help. The same officials that in fact are fighting against their own raise. But to be upset with the MILITARY seems impossible for some people, yourself included. You seem like a typical republican, who will blame Obama for anything and everything, whether he has anything to do with it or not, because you simply don’t like him. I fully realize what the economy is like, and I am thankful every single day that a) my husband has a job AND a paycheck, and b) i happen to work in an industry that is growing, and not shrinking (military housing). Because see? I work for the military as well. So I am fully aware of what goes on.
You said yourself that the economy sucks. So isn’t a raise, even as small as this one, better than nothing at all? What about all the people who are getting pay CUTS because the economy is in the toilet? But people like you feel so privileged. Get over yourself.
For the record, I am 30 years old. I was a Democrat long before Obama came along, and I didn’t “drink the kool-aid” as you so lovingly put it. I am an educated women, and have a brain of my own. I am capable of doing my own thinking. I suggest you take your own advice, and do your own research before you come here and “spew forth rhetoric.”
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