Military Times: America’s Military: A force adrift
The height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were fat times for military pay and benefits. Troops were flush with combat cash and other special pays, tax breaks and sometimes six-figure re-enlistment bonuses.
.. But that’s all changed. Several years of steep cuts in defense spending, troop layoffs and diminished pay raises has left those in uniform shaken, worried whether the military remains a viable career path and whether they can get ahead while in uniform.
.. “They’re still living paycheck to paycheck,” said the sailor, who asked to remain anonymous. “It’s really only after you’ve been in 10 or 12 years when you actually start making money.”
.. Moreover, the survey shows about half of troops say they are “very worried” or “somewhat worried” about their household finances.