[lookout123]

ok, i don't know how to make this any more clear. the people that are actually in combat zones continue to receive increased pay as they should.

for the rest of the people it was pure gravy, a post 9/11 feel good thing. there is absolutely no reason that someone sitting at Ft Carson, Andrews AFB, or Marine Air Station Yuma should be getting hazardous duty pay just because other american troops are being shot at.
they should get a larger base pay increase but that is a different subject.

reservists and guardsmen are having problems because often they are receiving a lot less money while activated than they would in their civilian lives. that is information that is known and considered when they sign up. other than full time students, i don't know anyone in the guard or reserve units that i have been a part of that is doing it strictly for the money. it is a soldier's right (possibly duty) to bitch and moan about damn near everything in the military, but when reenlistment time rolls around they stand up and do it again.
My own situation is like that. when i am activated my military pay is less than half of what i make in civilian life, and i bitch about it. but i've reenlisted 3 times now. BTW - i was supposed to report to Baghdad on Sept 15th but switched tours with someone i know so they wouldn't have to reschedule their wedding and honeymoon. so that's right folks, the way things are planned i will report for duty in Baghdad on March 15th, 2005. ain't that a bitch?
while i'm there i will bitch about the pay, the benefits, the conditions, and a lot of other things, but come January 11th 2006 i will reenlist for a 4th time.