All Soldiers Should Be Treated Equally!

Just my opinion folks.

Published on May 17, 2004 By greywar In Politics

*Disclaimer* This is my personal opinion only and in no way reflects the official position of the US Army.

The Army should stop recognizing soldiers marriages. Now that I have your attention let me tell you why. For a large chunk of my time in the US Army I have been legally married. Due to this lifestyle choice the Army has treated me far differently than they treated unmarried soldiers. My rent and utilities are paid. I live off-post almost always. When I am away from home they pay me more for being separated. I am given more money to eat. They take my family activities into consideration when assigning duties... the list goes on forever. For our upcoming deployment to Iraq they even prioritized the list first by marital status for fucks sake! This is bullshit!

*I* made the choice to be married. *I* made the choice to have children. The Army didn't make me do these things so they should not be forced to deal with them. Ever or at all. If a single soldier chooses to go out and buy a $250,000 car, the Army is certainly not responsible for making the payments. Marriage should be treated the same way. Tell enlisting soldiers up front that if they wish to get married it is their business. If they want to live off-post thats fine too. Just don't expect even one additional penny for it. I would love to see the Army pay every soldier of equivalent rank the same pay. Their lifestyle choices should not figure into it. We are all adults here and all volunteers. The current system has to go eventually. It would be relatively simple o phase out, simply granfathering the existing married couples in the Army for 2 or 3 years or until their next re-enlistment. At that point the can adjust to the new system or get out.

As a married soldier I am perpetually less ready to deploy than any of the single soldiers in our unit and it has been my general and subjective observation that I am in the majority that way. Single soldiers typically are able to pack up and go in far less time than the married ones although for years it has been *very* politically incorrect to say so in the Army. The Army also spends massive quantities of time and effort dealing with dependants and their troubles. I think the future will not allow for such niceities.

Comments

pseudosoldier

on May 18, 2004

You make some good points here. I mean, I reenlisted (may ghod have mercy upon my soul) because I knew that I could easily take care of my dependents in the service, rather than trying to find a job in a short amount of time. There was always the concern that I wouldn't have health-care for them... it's free in the military.
Your point is even further supported by soldiers who get married simply for the pay raise/off post privileges, and other marriages that are in name only (such as soldiers who remain married long after they should have been divorced).
I hadn't applied these thought processes to the military, but I had been thinking about it in relation to the US Government in general. Why should the government make it any harder or easier for you to cohabitate with who you want to? I'm of course alluding to other current events, and that's why I'll drop the point right there (to remain On Topic, ghod willing).
If they implemented these policies, however, and no longer gave admittedly special priveleges to soldiers with spouses and/or children, there would be a huge uproar of discriminating *against* soldiers with dependents, instead of the current discrimination *in favor* of them. Your proposed system is fair and equitable, without the appearance of being fair and equitable (due to comparison with the system we currently have in place). For my part, under your new proposed model, I would hope I'd STFU about complaining (at least bringing it down to an acceptable level) at least if I was reminded (fairly constantly, at first) that the old system really wasn't fair to, say, Talisein that he had to go to Iraq just because he hasn't found the right girl (or was too afraid to ask her out).

Estrogen Lass

on May 18, 2004

"Why I do not agree with you sir, I will defend your right to the death to say it"...I just put that in there cause I have always wanted to quote it.
Anyhow, I do concur with your article, except for the fact that they dont recognize our marriage. Well, they do.....but they don't and that is echelons above the both of us and that is neither here nor there. And thats all I have to say about that.
A single soldier will get tasked out in a heartbeat and not even get a second thought. Married folks on the other hand........task them out (well....the majority speaking) and sit back and watch the show. Its funny to see how many excuses they can belt out in a matter of seconds. Now, my answer to these soldiers when they start throwing out issues like day care and "family time"......is simply, "At least they live with you and you get to see them more than 3 times a year." To which they respond with........silence. And then they know that they were wrong to have opened their mouth. Its quite satisfying.
But then again, on the other hand....the way you speak about marriages in the military......do we need to have "the talk"? Was all the lovey-dovey saccharine shiza for nothing?? : (
Well....I still want to be married. And I still agree with everything you said. I think it is shitty to prioritze deployments by marriages. We are all soldiers. And just because you are single it doesnt make you more expendable. It is still tragic to hear of a single soldier falling for their country and I cry just the same for them even though they didnt leave a spouse and kids behind.

greywar

on May 18, 2004

I wasn't disparaging our marriage a bit dear:) We both knew what we were gettign into from the get go. I just think the Army would benefit from a bit of streamlining.

Estrogen Lass

on May 18, 2004

Ok........that makes me feel better. I thought maybe it was time to call up lawyers already. It was kinda depressing.

oleteach

on May 18, 2004

At times, some of your views are way out of my realm of experience. Your blogs have opened up a whole new world to me and I am enjoying it simply because I am learning. With this blog, all that I can say is that it pleases me that you are have such thoughts and concerns for other people. When our minds are on others, there is no time for selfishness. Keep it up.

Estrogen Lass

on May 18, 2004

Just to let you know, baby.....and youre gonna be proud.....I was called the Alpha Female by none other than the female company commander. Oh yeah. My work is done.

Arquonzo

on May 18, 2004

What about camp followers? If we're going to do away with Military marriages, we need to re-instate camp following.

Or at least young Agashis who will do your laundry and attend to all your needs for $30/month.

greywar

on May 18, 2004

Arq - I won't touch that with a ten-foot pole. Swing alone in the possible feminist flame fest to follow. My prayers are with you and your asbestos underwear.

Ithaycu

on May 22, 2004

I to served in the United States Army (82nd Airborne, Grunt) and; I disagree with many of your points if you are married do you not have a family to support? That alone accounts for the difference in pay. Trust me those of us unmarried had no problem with standard of living. Our food and housing were free and cost me nothing. Now I admit that some people found the housing and food offered to be sub par, I disagree. I found everything adequate to meet my needs.

Cheers, Chris Oliver
P.S. I served in Saudi Arabia and Iraq during the first Gulf War.

greywar

on May 22, 2004

Chris - Thanks for stopping and giving us your opinions. We may disagree but I always welcome the discussion that being said...

My point is not that there *are* additional expenses, but that the *Army* is not responsible for them. You the individual are. Have a kid? Fine pay for it. No one else but you is responsible for *your* lifestyle choices.

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