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Originally posted by 2BobTanner:
First up, I (full-time 20+ years, now retired) would not encourage any youngster to join up into today’s military based upon the wokeism and politically correct crap that is being served up. But, I do agree that the troops are underpaid.

A quick-fix that doesn’t require any pay raises would be to EXEMPT FROM INCOME TAX all pay and allowances for all enlisted personnel (E-1 through E-9). This same tax exemption would apply to all company-grade officers (O-1 through O-3). You could then tax, at no more than 10%, the income of field grade officers (O-4 through O-6). Full disclosure; I retired as a Major (O-4). As for the flag ranks (generals and admirals), they get fully taxed at 30%, since they already overpaid for their positions.

I concur with your pay recommendations.!

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A quick-fix that doesn’t require any pay raises would be to EXEMPT FROM INCOME TAX all pay and allowances for all enlisted personnel (E-1 through E-9). This same tax exemption would apply to all company-grade officers (O-1 through O-3). You could then tax, at no more than 10%, the income of field grade officers (O-4 through O-6). Full disclosure; I retired as a Major (O-4). As for the flag ranks (generals and admirals), they get fully taxed at 30%, since they already overpaid for their positions.

A fair tax system should be broad and shallow, rather than steep and progressive.

One of the biggest problems in the US is that under GWB tax reform we exempted half of all US workers from any income tax liability. In fact, most tax filers get more money back (EITC) than they ever paid in.

As we exempt people, they no longer have any incentive to vote to limit taxes or spending.

I teach JROTC in high school and I have seen first hand the changes in kids over the last 15 years. Outside of the kids that play sports, the vast majority are pathetically weak or overweight or both. The military also changed the way they look at medical records the last couple of years and that has made it also far more difficult. My son would have a difficult time getting in now and he played hockey and did triathlons in high school. He did over 5 years in the USMC almost all of it with 1/6 and completed his obligation, then used the GI bill for college. The problem is perception/reality of wokeness/incompetence of leadership at all levels and a distrust in the government in general.

The VA is another issue entirely and I have had great experiences and absolutely horrific experiences.

The first step to resolving the problem is to repair the belief in the leadership being competent and apolitical, then the other issues can be addressed.

The marketing is interesting as well, between Chicago and Detroit on I94 there is exactly 1 billboard for then Marine Corps and it says that Hispanic values are Marine Corps values. That section of I94 is probably one of the heaviest travelled freeways in America outside of I5, I95 and some of the other costal urban blast zones. In approximately the same travel time between Sheridan, Wy and Rapid City SD there are a bunch (I counted around 20ish) of advertisements for the USMC and they all focus on patriotism and war fighting. The population density of those two areas is remarkable different.

A number of deep systemic issues need to be addressed in a meaningful way. Not just the wokeism and social engineering.

First and foremost fix the pay. Why are so many enlisted families needing food stamps just to make ends meet? Why is child care such a mess?

Fix the VA. If we send someone into battle for this country (forget about goals and objectives for now) why is it that we need a dozen private organizations begging for money for disabled veterans. If you can’t afford to provide care after battle then you can’t afford battle in the first place.

Get rid of the pansies in the upper leadership.

Bring back minimum standards. Weight, fitness, grooming.

And last but by no means least, fix the procurement process. We probably spend more lining the pockets of the lobbyists than we do on salaries for the troops. Why do we need 14 variants of the F35? Here is your airplane. Fit it or don’t fly it but we can’t spend billions on an airframe and then 2 years later have to re-engine the entire fleet. The B52’s are still flying and they’re twice as old as some of the pilots.

The overall leadership is rotten from the head down. Fix the head.

I haven’t even read all the official ‘why’ …cause it’s likely all bullshit. But I can think of 2 young men who would have made outstanding officers (one Marines or Army and one Air Force) and I did everything I could to steer them away.

Actually makes me really sad…for many reasons.

Fuck fuck games are part of the Military, but getting fucked by your military … for many reasons, is not something I’d want either one of them to have to put up with; especially when there would be literally nothing they could do to change it.

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Originally posted by Ronin1069:


Actually makes me really sad…for many reasons.

I can understand that. I suspect it is a feeling I share with you.

Conditions in the current military both anger and sadden me too. A proud profession, steeped in honor, blood and fire is reduced to some kind of woke Kabuki theater.

My wife and I were career military. Neither of our kids were encouraged to enlist. My son did talk to a recruiter and asked the questions I suggested. He quickly changed his mind.
Having lived under the draft I saw the lies, corruption, and dishonesty.I would not support a draft.
The military has always been used as a social experiment. The last time I looked there were entire months for one group. Blacks, Pacific Islanders, Native American women and more. However, never white.
Then there were all the management crap that someone sold the military on. One of the last was a 24 hour block. I asked how this was better then and recited the half dozen or so “great ideas” that had gone before. The answer was on the last day when the general ranted that were “get with the program or retire” yes sir, three bags full.

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Originally posted by Icabod:
Having lived under the draft I saw the lies, corruption, and dishonesty.I would not support a draft.

100% agree