<p>Thanks for the answers for my question from the original thread. I just want to make sure I understand this from the pay charts:</p>
<p>You graduate from the academy as an 0-1 with ZERO time served (the far left hand column which is $2,555). On top of that, you receive a housing allowance if you live off base (the standard for 0-1 is $565) and other incentive pays (avaiation, hazard, etc.) and clothing allowances. Do I have this right?</p>
<p>Almost. First of all, the grade should be O-1, not zero-1. The O is for "officer" (E-1 through E-9 are also valid grades in the AF (and W-1 through W-5 in the other services (for warrant officers))). Also, officers don't get uniform allowances, only the enlisted troops do. Lastly, you didn't mention BAS, which all personnel do receive, but other than that, you've got it right.</p>
<p>Your housing allowance varies from base to base. AK, CA, VA, and NJ typically top the list for the highest amount of BAH. I don't know where you are getting 565 for BAH, because again it is also based on whether you have dependents along with the location. Seeing as the chart is alphabetical by state(or at least that is how AF Times posts it)...I am guessing it would be a base in Alabama, and of course the pay would be lower since COL is lower. Also remember some duty stations will give you COLA (all overseas bases get COLA, some high cost area statesdie do to)</p>
<p>OK, a little more explanation of the logic behind so many of those pay acronyms:</p>
<p>Basic Pay. Exactly what it' stating. Your BASIC pay for your rank and time in service. Lots of folks have already linked the chart and explained how to read it. I'm pretty sure all commisioned Lts start out the same, regardless of commissioning source. (i.e. you DON't get two years of credit for time in service for going to the Academy, every one starts at O years time in service, except for prior enlisted, who get credited for their enlisted time). Notice that it's an OK salary; Pima is right: you ain't a rich man off the bat (and you never will be as a service member, with apologes to Zero Mostel, ask you rparents about him), but you ain't struggling to get food on the table either. You'll have a salary equivelant to a junior exec at IBM (at least in theory). Also notice how quickly it goes up the first few years. A raise ever two years, plus you should increase in rank from O-1 (2nd Lt) to O-2 (1st Lt) to O-3 (Capt) by your 4-year anniversary of joining, almost garaunteed (unless you screw up big time, such as a DUI or a criminal offense; if you're breathing and your nose is clean, you'll be a Capt in 4 years!). So, by 5 years, your making a decent buck, relatively speaking.</p>
<p>BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing). The government judges what itwould cost to live in a equivalent house (square foot wise) for some one of your rank, figures out how much the rent on that house would cost you, and pays you extra to make up for it. So, they figure a Capt (older than a Lt) usually lives in a bigger house; the gov't then figures out the average cost per square foot in that area, and figures out how much they need to subsidize you to live up to that level. You can see this is VERY dependent on where you live (for example: homes in NY and DC are MUCH more expensive than the same size home in say Alabama). Again, as you get more time in, you get more money (they figure you have a family, more stuff, etc.)</p>
<p>BAS (Basic Allowance for Sustenance). The Government adds more to your pay check based on thecost of living where your stationed. Again, the cost of living for areas like DC are WAY above the C-O-L for areas like Alabama or Florida. There is a maximum BAS mandated by law, so there may even be cases where the max BAS can't cover the extra expenses. That's when COLA (Cost Of Living Allowance) will be added, to give you even more (DC and NY have COLAs, plus almost all overseas assignments (to include Hawaii and Alaska) because getting stuff we take for granted here is more expensive (like gas and a good cheeseburger :) ) )</p>
<p>I won't even go into the special pays like Flight pay, hazard duty pay, TDY per diem, and the rest. All dependent on what job you're doing and where you are. But figure if you're in a job that there is a high demand for but limited number of people doing it (like doctor, lawyer, air traffic controller, etc.) you can expect the military to offer you some kind of financial incentive to consider staying in beyond your initial commitment. </p>
<p>All in all, like I said, you won't be rich, but you'll defintely be comfortable (read: square in the middle of the middle class, perhaps a little higher if you're smart with your money). 20 year career, and Pima never HAD to work for my family of five to survive comfortably. Of course, we also lived within our means. </p>
<p>Last piece of advice: I don't care how you do it (financial planner, a good friend, your own sweat and time) but INVEST a part of every pay check. The military makes it easy to set up your pay so investments are automatically deducted. Buy some mutual funds, a college plan, stock options, whatever, but do it automatically every month (so you'll never miss it). Increase your investments with every pay raise (promotions, time in service, etc.) by adding a percentage of each raise. Pima and I had 10% of my pay automatically deducted every month; after 20 years we built up a nice nest egg for retirement and the kids colleges! Spend ALL of your paycheck each month at your own peril.</p>
<p>Off my soapbox....</p>
<p>I just wanted to add that getting promoted from 2nd Lt to 1st Lt is a pretty sweet deal as far as pay is concerned. This is because you not only get a raise due to being promoted to the next rank but also for hitting the 2 year mark. Additionally, you get a raise in your basic allowance for housing. For me, the promotion meant about $1000 MORE a month.</p>
<p>I should add that even a 2nd Lt's initial pay is nice, all things considered. The AF really takes good care of its people. :)</p>
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<p>No more than the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, or Marines. Basic pay rates, BAS, and BAH are the same across the different services.</p>
<p>Sorry Luigi, but some of our sister services (cough-army-cough) have fallen behind in the average quality/quantity of services offered. That is not to say that other branches have poor services available. They just prioritize differently.</p>
<p>Luigi, it has been known for many yrs that the AF takes care of their own. When Bullet went to PME at Leavenworth, the Army people would joke about how that it was basically a hardship tour since we weren't accustomed to their Base Housing...Bullet always would say **It is not my fault you didn't choose wisely<a href="Indiana%20Jones">/B</a></p>
<p>If you go to Pope, Elmendorf or any other AF base next door to an Army base, housing is night and day difference.</p>
<p>The AF spends millions of dollars to train their flyers, they understand the concept that if the family isn't happy, than the servicemember will leave. Housing is one of those factors...no wife wants to live in 1970 conditions</p>
<p>I also have never had a problem getting doc appts. for my family unless I was forced to go the Army base. There are just too many members and too few resources. When we were at Bragg paint was peeling off of the Officer housing. When we were at Leavenworth, our house as a Major for a family of 5 was 1300 sqft with commissary linoleum floors...When we had dew outside we had it inside too! My favorite is that the Army forced us to rent our chain link fence...the AF does not, and BTW the newer homes on AFB have vinyl privacy fencing ---free of charge. There was an AF officer who was at Leavenworth as a child, he entered the house 20+ yrs later and nothing had been renovated. Meanwhile for the AF every base we were ever assigned to has been completely renovated during the time we served. Also the AF requires you to broom sweep your base house when you move out, in the Army you have the same requirement, but will fail the inspection, so everyone hires a cleaning service for $200-300(rec. by housing)...that hurts when you are moving regardless of rank.</p>
<p>AF has always been known to take care of their own...it could also be because it is one of the smallest in our services.</p>
<p>Yes pay is pretty much the same with a few exceptions like flight pay, hazardous duty pay, and other incentive pays. Since about half the Academy graduates will enter some form of flight training = flight pay. Many Army 2nd Lt's will likely enter a hostile area entitling combat pay, and the story continues...</p>
<p>As for quality of life it will always be Air Force. I served at Air Force Bases, Naval bases, Army Posts, and even had the opportunity to spend time with the Marines. The Army, Navy and Marines are concerned with the weapons they fight with (Tanks, Humvees, Artilery, and Ships). The emphasis at forts and posts tends to be on supporting those systems. They will have BX's, Theatres, Commissaries, and Gym's. The Air Force just always seemed to place more resources and concern in those areas. If you check out an AF enlisted dorm the chances are it will be like a college apartment. Four bedrooms with separate bathrooms, a common livingroom area, and a kitchen. An Army dorm is more likely to place 2 to 4 soldiers in the same room, a common gang bathroom etc. Navy living quarters always seemed a little more like discount motels, very transient.</p>
<p>It isn't about one being better they just have different requirements and goals</p>
<p>Even if the bases are different, every military member is entitled to use another branches BX/PX/NX, etc. Always use the MWR facilities...in NC go to Kure Beach, in FL go to Hurlburt and shades of green(disney), in Hawaii use the Hale Koa, use the facilities in Chiemsee in Germany. There are even facilities in NYC. Use them all, it does not matter your branch, just thatyou are military. AD on orders is the top of the list...retired is at the bottom.</p>
<p>There are tons of things that military members don't ever use. That includes free tickets to Bush Gardens, renting campers and boats from MWR, trying out their gyms, applying for Spousal tuition assistance. All of this is open to everyone.</p>
<p>There is a great Navy Hotel in downtown Tokyo called the New Sanno. You will never find a better deal in the heart of Japan. Tokyo Disney is a short subway/train ride away. The shopping district is near by, and they even have a decent place to eat inside. Try getting a family suite for $90 a night, never gonna happen.</p>
<p>Yeah in a lot of ways it is part of the whole benefit, may not be pay, but used properly it can make up for a lot.</p>
<p>Military</a> Pay and Benefits</p>
<p>Some stats may be a little out of date, but it gives you the idea.</p>
<p>Cadets receive no time in service for time at the Academy. They are technically "active duty" but their Academy time doesn't count for anything (time in service or for the purpose of retirement). The one thing I have heard is that once you hit 20 years your Academy time will now count. (i.e. you now retire with 24 years vice 20.) I've also heard that is a myth. So I guess take that for what its worth.</p>
<p>That indeed is a myth. ALL of our friends that graduated from the AFA do not get extra time added to their retirement pay. Think about the problem that would cause for budgetary reasons. Every extra yr after 20 is 2.5% more in pay, thus equalling 10%. If they give it to the new cadets, they better hope the other AFA graduates are all dead or they will have to give it to them too. It would just cause too much. Think of it this way anyway, you will be able to retire at 42 years old wiith 50% of your base pay for the rest of your life. We know several people who than switch over to the govt and go to work for another 20, so by the time they are 62 yrs old they can retire with @100% of what they made without touching their SS. NOT BAD</p>
<p>My good friend was Army JAG for years, then retired after his 20 years. He then returned to the same job, now as a civilian. So, he gets his retirement pay, plus the nice civilian pay... great benefits, etc. Best of all worlds for him!</p>
<p>Shhhhh it is supposed to be a secret only those in club know about. Except that smile on the first of every month :)</p>