Soldiers get housing, food, clothing, medical care. They also get bonus pay for being sent random places. That's not counting discounts on groceries, free stuff on base to do for entertainment, and all the other little side bits. The paycheck is about 80% spending money.
The commissary prices are about the same as Walmart. The store brands are cheeper. We ended up doing most shopping off post because it cost less. The only positive on post was nothing was locked up.
Yep, but apples to apples, it's about the same cost. A full time officer compared to an active duty soldier. Excluding variables such as off post, base housing, etc. Assume E-1 to rookie officer. E-1 lives in the barracks, Rookie officer has roommates.
A rookie officer starts at $57k, gets a take home car, and a set schedule and overtime. The E4 gets $42k, no over time, no take home car, and a constantly changing schedule and has to have permission to live off post or take time off. Military is cheaper than any cop.
The funds for food and uniforms was for you. Not your family You get bonus pay if you are away from home for more than 30 days, $200 a month after 30 days That’s it Guard and reserves don’t have bases to get your imaginary “free stuff” We had to pay fees to use the pool, parks, gym unless in uniform
Not when I served You got substandard housing (though mold was standard), you got one issue of uniforms then a stipend once a year to replace any damaged that did not cover the cost, you had a clinic and a random doctor for health care, and you got a monthly food fund that you used to pay for meals