Our thanks to MCrager for his help on this page
See more of his exploits at www.desertdogs.com
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Have a flag?
Want to know how to properly display it? Show your American pride! We encourage the wearing of red, white, and blue on Sep 11th in memory of our fallen countrymen and women |
The Polk's Pub Board of Directors conference on Dec
22-27, 2002 was a huge success.
More coming soon!
Email me at kevin@polkspub.com
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The latest proposal to drive the Taliban and al Qaeda out of the mountains of Afghanistan is to send in the ASF (Alabama Special Forces). Billy Bob, Bubba, Booger, Scooter, Cooter and Junior are being sent in with these instructions: 1. There is no limit
And most important of all...
Early estimates show it should be over in about two days... |
For
Our Veterans
On 12 Jan, Ms Cindy 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 gap was bogus. A young airman from
Hill AFB responds to her article below. He ought to get a bonus for
this!
Ms. Williams:
I just had the pleasure of reading your column of 12 Jan, 00 titled
“Our GI’s 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 (The Defense Finance and Accounting
Service) and my bank account. Checking my latest leave and earnings
statement (LES), I see that I make $1,117.80, before taxes. After
taxes, I take home $874.20.
When I run that through Windows' Calculator, I come up with 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 25,000-host computer network.
I am involved with infrastructure segment, specifically with Cisco Systems
equipment. A quick check of http://www.monster.com 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 Sustenance (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 Saudi-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 the 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 you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole
or cheese tortellini, and add Tobasco to everything. 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
Sarajevo, 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
(Please cut, copy and paste this message into
an email and send to everyone who believes in their freedom.
