DON'T FREEZE OUR PAY - It ain't much but its all we have!

Instead of joining the military, I married into it.  It has become my family.  I forged a second chance and was set to enlist in 2008 but became pregnant in 2007, guess God had other plans for me.  So, I have since become active in military affiliated groups in my community like the Military Ministry at Restoration Church (Colorado Springs) and WOW (Wives of Warriors).

I am so thankful for our voluntary military.  Our service members deserve so much more than what they get.  They are often treated without the dignity and respect they so greatly deserve.  They perform a job that most people cannot fathom, taken from their families for months on end, placed in harms way of people who want to kill them for no real reason other than they are American, all the while worrying about how their families are getting on in their absence.

Things could be different.  In Italy, military service is obligatory.  According to their Constitution, it is the duty of every Italian citizen to serve their country.  We don't really feel that way but what if we did?  Would our patriotism and support of country be increased because all people would then have a better understanding of what military life is really like?  From what I have experienced, civilians mostly, have a preconceived and underestimated notion of what military life is like. 

I heard that our government, in its 'infinite wisdom' (SARCASM), is considering passing a bill that would freeze military pay for the next 2 years.  I think that is crap.  I think our government should pull its head out of its rear and realize that without our soldiers, our country would be an even bigger target for extremist domination than it already is.  We need our soldiers. My guess is that the size of our military will be shrinking if this bill passes because those who are nearing the end of their contracts will opt for contracting jobs with the military where their pay will be substantially more, than to re-enlist for the same rate of pay they are ending their service with.  Some will stay because they love what they do or they have an inflated sense of patriotism. 

Military life has taught me to be frugal.  Most of us are in debt up to our eyes because the military paycheck just doesn't stretch that far.  In  areas where the cost of living is so high, the paycheck is gone before we even get it.  We don't live 'high on the hog'.  Most of us live paycheck to paycheck, utilizing local food pantries and thrift stores as a means of providing for our families.  Whats really pathetic is that most military families can qualify for assistance programs like WIC and Food Stamps (present company included), which the military privately frowns upon because it makes their tight-fistedness when it comes to paying their soldiers, look bad.

Our pay is barely enough to survive.  I am constantly 'robbing Peter to pay Paul' and doing without what I need so my children can have a new pair of shoes or dinner at McDonald's once a month.  My husband works a second job after he leaves the post and we are still struggling.  I am babysitting for a living because work just isn't available.  This economy is hurting everyone.  The only place I can see where making pay cuts or freezes would be beneficial, is in our own government.  Spending is our of control, we have too many politicians trying to make decisions for the people they are completely out of touch with and our defenders don't deserve to be disrespected in this way.  Honestly, if this bill passes and the extremists wait it out, our defenses will be spread so thin, taking over America and destroying it won't be that difficult.  In that case, I am moving back to Italy!