Ms. Cindy Williams wrote a piece for the Washington Times, denouncing the pay raise(s) coming service members'  way this; year citing that she stated 13% wage increase was more than they deserve.

A young  airman from Hill AFB responds to her article below. He ought to get a bonus for this.

"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 red  a**!!!  

A1C Michael  Bragg Hill AFB AFNCC

IF YOU AGREE,  PLEASE PASS  THIS ALONG TO AS MANY PEOPLE  AS POSSIBLE AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT OF THE   AMERICAN FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN.  THANK    YOU.