Rank has a lot to do with it.

having all those cars can easily be done. Living for free in the barracks and having most of the cars paid off.


A single man at the rank of E-2 serving will make "500 every two weeks"
A married man at the rank of E-2 will make "600" every two weeks"
then throw some kids into the picture..

now send them both out to Iraq and that married guy will make even more than the single guy.


Military street talk... You civi wouldn't understand..lol

OP is claiming @ 3500/mo.
Maybe his housing allowance is being added to his income, etc.

E2? I never met an E2, but the E4's I know that are married only made around $2200/mo when they went to Iraq.

Please just stop while you are ahead.:icon14:

Nono, let him go on. Us lowly civilians want to be educated!

Yep. The military life ain't no high life. Most especially for the enlisted. True, they house you and feed you, so your basic needs are always met, but goin' in the military is not a way to get rich. And it shouldn't be anyways! :)

:bowrofl::bowrofl::bowrofl:

when I went to Iraq, I did my 6 months and came back with 20k single and E-2. This was in 2003

Now guys are getting married prior to leaving and coming back with about 30k in 6 months. (enlisted)

Im out now and did my time of 6 years.


If a kid is lost and confused, then join the military and save all the cash. Get out and use the GI bill for school (semi free schooling paid) and use savings accordingly.

Wish someone told me this when I was in.. at the time young stud with 20k in account. Lets just say that didn't last long. But it was fun!

The only difference is BAH,based on # of dependants. (About $200 or so, depending on the area).

FSA can also be recieved as well. Up to $250/mo for FSAII.

Sorry. Marrying a girl will cost you a LOT! more than the $200mo more BAH and the $250/mo FSAII.

You think you can keep a wife from getting more than $450 a month out of your wallet? The OP can't even keep his GF from getting more than that. It looks to me like she gets $790 that isn't including food, taking her out, etc.

Maybe that's just my civi math...

^^^
what kind of women are you meeting?


there is more than just BHA and FSA. I just cant think of the terminology right now. Its been awhile since I been out. Hazardous pay is also on the list.

there's no free lunch. If people joining the military were coming out of it filthy rich, more people would know about it.

^^^
the main thing is are you wiling to give up your life for 4 years? And are you wiling to risk your life?

Hang in there you'll be back, look at me back driving a Z. Best part is I let her make the decision:tup:

By that time your insurance will not be an issue. Went from a Maxima to 370Z, insurance difference was $36 more a year.

what was your story?

My story:

Drove sports cars most of my single life beginning with 1970 Corvette 454 4spd
Got married went to driving lawnmowers
Raised family
Educated family (down to my last tuition payment, yeah!!)
Drove whatever I could afford during this time
Wife and I go in for Maxima oil change just last week
Drove off with 2010 370Z Roadster (her decision)

Another chapter begins....

^^^
haha
one expensive oil change! but well worth it.

It was a great day as far as impulses go:D

Yeah, Hazardous Duty Pay (basically "Combat pay") wasn't all that much, as I remember it (but this was back in the early 90's). Like $150 bucks a month.

I seem to remember some kind of tax-free status as well (Federal), but I can't remember if it was on ALL your pay or just the hazardous duty portion.

I *should* remember, since I was basically an accountant when I was in. :)

This is 100% correct! :)

when your out there it is tax free.

150.00 has jumped significantly. I don't remember the amount but its way more now.

so you were admin?

Yes, to my ever-lasting shame. At the time, I wanted to be an accountant, just like my Dad. After 4 years of doing that type of work though, I had no further interest in it. Countin' other people's money is not as fun as it sounds! :)

If I could do it over, I'd want to be a gunner on a tank! :excited:

I was in the Marine Corp. If I can do it over again I would of joined the AF. I probably would have still been in.

I had to make friends with admin to rush my paper work or else it would of never been done..lol

I was in the Navy. So I guess we're natural enemies! :tup:

Yeah, I've heard the Air Farce has a pretty sweet gig. All the bases are new (relatively, since it's a "young" branch) and nicely appointed. I know this for fact because when I was in Japan, I was stationed at an Air Force base and it was niiiice!

Pretty soon, they're not gonna need any pilots anymore with all the drones (and, I suppose, tanks won't need drivers/gunners!). Maybe Z's won't need drivers either! :)

I guess we live in the sweet spot of time where we still get to drive our wonderful machines.

What kind? The kind that want to chew their way into my paycheck like a rat getting at some cerial. You know. All of them.

Hazard pay is not modified by marriage.

I refinance mine and went down to 3.75 APR. Just have to wait for the good deals.