The Obama National Security Office at Work.....

[NickyK]

Cindy Williams is an Assistant Director for National Security in the
Congressional Budget Office.

Ms. Cindy Williams wrote a piece for the Washington Times, denouncing
the pay raise(s) for service members and she stated (among other
things) that the 13% wage increase was more than they deserve.

This is an Airman's response to Cindy Williams' editorial piece in the
Washington Times about MILITARY PAY, it should be printed in all
newspapers across America.

"Ms Williams: I just had the pleasure of reading your column "Our GIs
earn enough", and I am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where
this vaunted overpayment is going, because as far as I can tell, it
disappears every month between DFAS (The Defense Finance and
Accounting Service) and my bank account. Checking my latest earnings
statement I see that I make $1,117.80 before taxes per month. After
taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through the calculator, I
come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes, and
$10,490.40, after.

I work in the Air Force Network Control Center where I am part of the
team responsible for a 5,000 host computer network I am involved with
infrastructure segments, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment. A
quick check under jobs for Network Technicians in the Washington ,
D.C. Area reveals a position in my career field, requiring three
years experience with my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT pay
$13,413.60 a year. No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000
per annum........... I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions.

Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you NEVER had the
pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces. Before you take
it upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD
leadership for attempting to get the families in the military's
lowest pay brackets off of WIC and food stamps, I suggest that you
join a group of deploying soldiers headed for AFGHANISTAN ; I leave
the choice of service branch up to you. Whatever choice you make,
though, opt for the SIX month rotation: it will guarantee you the
longest possible time away from your family and friends, thus giving
you full "deployment experience."

As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure to note the
spouses and children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also
take care to note that several families are still unsure of how
they'll be able to make ends meet while the primary breadwinner is
gone obviously they've been squandering the "vast" piles of cash the
government has been giving them.

Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are
perennial favorites.. And when you're actually over there, sitting in
a foxhole, shivering against the cold desert night; and the flight
sergeant tells you that there aren't enough people on shift to relieve
you for chow, remember this: trade whatever MRE (meal-ready- to-eat)
you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini,
and add Tabasco to everything. This gives some flavor.

Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it won't nearly
be long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be
thankful for it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree
with most of the points you present in your opened piece.

But, tomorrow from KABUL , I will defend to the death your right to
say it.

You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First
Amendment rights and every other right you cherish. On a daily basis,
my brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people
like you can thumb your collective nose at us, all on a salary that is
nothing short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most
people cringe. We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private
sector because we can't offer the stability and pay of civilian
companies.

And you, Ms. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we
deserve? You can kiss my royal rich ass!!!

A/1C Michael Bragg, Hill AFB, AFNCC

[Al Lanman]

Post by NickyK
Cindy Williams is an Assistant Director for National Security in the
Congressional Budget Office.
Ms. Cindy Williams wrote a piece for the Washington Times, denouncing
the pay raise(s) for service members and she stated (among other
things) that the 13% wage increase was more than they deserve.
This is an Airman's response to Cindy Williams' editorial piece in the
Washington Times about MILITARY PAY, it should be printed in all
newspapers across America.
"Ms Williams:  I just had the pleasure of reading your column "Our GIs
earn enough", and  I am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where
this vaunted overpayment  is going, because as far as I can tell, it
disappears every month between  DFAS (The Defense Finance and
Accounting Service) and my bank account.  Checking my latest earnings
statement I see that I make $1,117.80 before  taxes per month. After
taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through  the calculator, I
come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes, and
$10,490.40, after.
I work in the Air Force Network Control Center where I am part of the
team responsible for a 5,000 host computer network I am involved with
infrastructure segments, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment. A
quick check under jobs for Network Technicians in the Washington ,
D.C. Area reveals a  position in my career field, requiring three
years experience with my job.  Amazingly, this job does NOT pay
$13,413.60 a year. No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000
per annum........... I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions.
Given the tenor of your column, I would  assume that you NEVER had the
pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces. Before you take
it upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD
leadership for attempting to get the families in the  military's
lowest pay brackets off of WIC and food stamps, I suggest that  you
join a group of deploying soldiers headed for AFGHANISTAN ; I leave
the choice of service branch up to you. Whatever choice you make,
though, opt  for the SIX month rotation: it will guarantee you the
longest possible  time away from your family and friends, thus giving
you full "deployment  experience."
As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure  to note the
spouses and children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also
take care to note that several families are still unsure of how
they'll be able to make ends meet while the primary breadwinner is
gone obviously they've been squandering the "vast" piles of cash the
government  has been giving them.
Try to deploy over a major holiday;  Christmas and Thanksgiving are
perennial favorites.. And  when you're actually over there, sitting in
a foxhole, shivering against the cold desert night; and the flight
sergeant tells you that there aren't enough people on shift to relieve
you for chow, remember this: trade whatever MRE (meal-ready- to-eat)
you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini,
and add Tabasco to everything.  This gives some flavor.
Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it won't nearly
be long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be
thankful for it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree
with most of the points you present in your opened  piece.
But, tomorrow from KABUL , I will defend to the death your right to
say it.
You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First
Amendment rights and every other right you cherish. On a daily basis,
my brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people
like you can thumb your collective nose at us, all on a salary that is
nothing short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most
people cringe. We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private
sector because we can't offer the stability and  pay of civilian
companies.
And you, Ms. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we
deserve? You can kiss my royal rich ass!!!
A/1C Michael Bragg, Hill AFB, AFNCC

As a matter of clarification, the Cindy Williams (NOT the actress of
the same name from Laverne & Shirley) who wrote this was a member of
the Clinton administration, NOT the Obama administration.

I don't doubt the same attitudes exist in the Obama administration,
just this isn't one to be laid on their doorstep.

Al (in canada)

[TBombadil]

Post by NickyK
And you, Ms. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we
deserve? You can kiss my royal rich ass!!!
A/1C Michael Bragg, Hill AFB, AFNCC

So sad, and yet nothing new. R. Kipling wrote this about 120 years
ago:

TOMMY

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the
tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in
the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the
wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the
brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

Different time and different country but not much has changed.
Bob in SD

[John - Melb]

A bowl in honour of Mick Bragg.

That Williams women needs a stern dose something, but I'm not sure
what.