Did you know that troops have to pay for their own uniforms and supplies?

[johnaries]

Cammies, boots, socks, insignia, even MRE's? Everything that I remember being issued when I was in during the late 70's.

I didn't believe it, until a friend of mine who has a son in the Marines showed me the detailed listing of everything he had to buy on his last visit to his son's base. Almost $2500.00 worth! I couldn't say anything, I was in total shock. Also, she told me that her son said when they were doing field training their payroll was deducted for 3 MRE's a day, whether they got them or not!

I couldn't believe it, but the list of items and their prices were right there on the 3 page receipt that I had in my hands. $2499! All for supplies they should be issued! My friend wanted to write her Congressman, but her son told her not to do anything or say anything because it would hurt his career.

Does the rest of the public know about this?

[tblue]

1. And how much does Blackwater make in an hour?

[johnaries]

23. I don't know, but I heard Murtha say something about $100k a year.

someone asked him if he was undermining the troops morale, and he said something like "what undermines the troops morale is seeing mercenaries getiing paid $100k a year for same job they are paid $30k a year".

[Monkeyman]

2. First I heard about this

There is a email [e-mail] send him this

[Cobalt Violet]

3. The wonders of a "ownership society" never stop amazing me.

It's just sick.

[aquart]

4. We kill them AND charge them?

Wow. We really support our troops. They owe their souls to the company store, don't they?

Seen Matewan? Early miners had to rent their tools from the mine bosses. They were paid in scrip only good at the company store.

Our soldiers need a union. They are being grossly abused by these pious murderers.

[johnaries]

26. Funny, when she told me that the Base Supply opens them a credit line

as soon as they get transferred in, I starting singing "St Peter don' cha call me cause I can't go, I owe my soul to the Company Store!"

edit: kan't spel.

[deadmessengers]

5. I believe they get clothing allowances...

at least that's what it says here: http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/clothing-allowances#3

[johnaries]

12. Thanks, I didn't know about that. But look when it is paid!

They get one allowance when they first enter. Then they get paid an allowance ONCE A YEAR. And my friend's son is an officer, and according to this "Officers of the Armed Forces of the United States are entitled to an initial uniform allowance. Except as provided in the note, below, the initial uniform allowance is payable only once to an officer" (The boldface is theirs, not mine). She says he has to pay out roughly the same amount every six months.

I don't know about you, but it still sounds like bullshit to me!

[Longhorn]

15. My son is not an officer but he gets his allowance quarterly.

He is stationed in Iwakuni, Japan.

[Gwerlain]

6. Not really...

and I'd love to know more. Got any links to make this more than an anecdote? There are some people I'd love to beat over the head with this.

[johnaries]

14. No, but she has agreed to let me scan in the receipt, as long

as I redact her son's name. I'll post it when I get it. But apparently, since it's a Volunteer Millitary, no one wants to speak out for fear of their career.

Has anyone else run into this?

[Longhorn]

7. My son is in the Marines.

They get a clothing allowance four times a year -- that is, an extra amount added to their pay. So technically, the clothing allowance is in addition to their salaries. However, I used to belong to a Marine parents message board (before I had to leave due to the politics at the time!) and I recall parents talking about long lists of supplies that their children had to buy for deployment to Iraq and it amounted to several hundred dollars. They do get extra combat pay over there but it seems to me that any extra pay should be due to the risk and living conditions, not to cover added equipment and supplies.

My son came out of bootcamp with very little money left over even though they couldn't go anywhere to spend anything because they were docked for the issuance of all of their uniforms and supplies. He graduated as platoon guide and was given his dress blues by the Marines as a reward, but he had to buy all the accessories so it still cost him about $100.

[Longhorn]

8. Link

http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/clothing-allowances

[orleans]

9. "Does the rest of the public know about this?" ABSOLUTELY NOT!

i never heard of this. what a complete fucking slap in the face--what a disgrace!

what else was on the list (and what is insignia?)

too bad there aren't more news stories about this. (or ANY news stories)

i wonder when a loved one is killed is the family made to pay for the coffin & flag that hangs on it?

[johnaries]

16. Insignia are the collar pins that show their rank. $12./pair in this case.

[TahitiNut]

19. Or they can buy insignia from other officers promoted above that rank.

The 'market' in used uniforms and insignia is constant.

[onenote]

10. apparently a similar policy has been in effect for quite a while

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1312998#1313035

not sure if/how the current policy differs, but it would appear that if it does, its a difference in degree, not kind.

[Longhorn]

13. The recruiter told us that the reason they went to quarterly allowances

instead of monthly is for the very reason some people stated in that other thread -- that the money was spent by the time they needed new clothing. The monthly allowance just got mixed in with the monthly pay. The idea was that if they got the money is a larger lump sum, they would use it on uniforms instead of other stuff.

[johnaries]

17. She said it's been that way since 1998.

I don't remember a "clothing allowance" when I was in from 75-81. Of course, I was in the Guard.

[artfan]

11. true

people in the military get base pay and allowances
once a year they get a clothing allowance those of a higher rank get more $$
then they get an allowance when in a combat zone
if they live off base they get a housing allowance (higher rank = more $$) married get more $$ as well
under some circumtances they get a food allowance if they are collecting it they have to pay for MREs if they are in the hospital they have to pay a fee when released to cover their food

the sad thing is the allowances do not come close to covering what they are intended to cover. also if they lose gvt property they must pay for it sometimes people in combt lose gvt stuff and are billed.

my hubby misplaces a wrench and was told he would have to pay 24.00 (we went to sears and got one for under 6.00) stupid really

[TahitiNut]

18. Officers have always paid for their own uniforms.

:shrug: They get an intital clothing allowance and are expected to maintain their uniforms. When officers leave the military, other officers often buy their used clothing.

[johnaries]

20. I did not know that. Still, $2500 every 6 months seems awfully high,

especially considering now that they have to be made of special materials and have to be dry-cleaned.

[TahitiNut]

21. I don't buy the "every 6 months" ... they're required to maintain a basic set

... of uniforms by regulation and they can buy them from others or new.

[johnaries]

27. I'll admit I only saw the one receipt, but she told me it's about the

same every six months. So I'm going by what she says, but she's always been very truthful about everything else to me.

[TahitiNut]

28. It's no necessarily a matter of being truthful. The military is another world.

Is her son a clothes horse? Is he more likely to want eveything new? Uniforms are a constant matter of individual attention in the military - and different officers deal with it differently. Cadets at the military academies have the same problem. When I was in, the swabbies at Annapolis wore uniforms that weren't standard officer issue, so they faced the prospect of having to buy almost a complete set when they graduated. (I think that's changed, now and they do standard issue.) At the Coast Guard Academy, all the uniforms were standard officer's issue ... with cadet insigina. When cadets left the academy, they sold their uniforms before leaving - usually to seniors (first-classmen). Caring for one's uniforms can become almost a fetish.

Even cadets have to pay for their uniforms out of their monthly pay - which is another reason the cadets who leave sell their uniforms. They have to settle their debts.

The rules are different in a combat zone. You get stuff issued going over and have to give it back when you return. If your uniform get's sliced off you in the hospital, you have to get paperwork that says so ... or you pay.

[Ksec]

22. Yep. the powers are too busy paying for star wars weaponry

to worry about the grunts and their needs.
Priorities.......

This country is going downhill soooooo fast with the war profiteers running the show.

[Ksec]

24. boots are over a hundred bucks and theyre issued

like a pair a year .

[davepc]

25. They get an allowance for uniforms

and they are issued a lot of equipment upon deployment.

However they are free to buy extra gear on their own dime. Many soldiers and Marines do so.

When it comes to supplies in a war zone, too much is never enough.