Sent in by Veterans News and Information Services
By Linda D.Kozaryn
CAMP DOHA, Kuwait -- Pay raise? Fifty percent retirement?
Service members here say a resounding: Yes! Its a great
move. Its a morale boost. Its the right thing to do.
They hope Congress approves it.
Service members at remote sites on the Arabian Peninsula
and at sea in the Persian Gulf hailed the Pentagons
proposed pay and benefits package as a long overdue step in
the right direction. They said it proves military leaders
are listening and that someone cares.
Thats exactly the message Defense Secretary William S.
Cohen hoped to send when traveled to the region in late
December. The secretary said he wanted to thank military
men and women for Operation Desert Fox, the successful air
campaign against Iraq, and personally tell them about the
compensation package hed announced a day earlier at the
Pentagon.
Troops in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and aboard the USS
Enterprise cheered when the secretary declared the Pentagon
is seeking the biggest pay raise since 1981. The goal is a
4.4 percent pay raise for fiscal 2000 and a 3.9 percent
hike per year through fiscal 2005, Cohen said.
The proposed package will also change the redux retirement
system. Under the proposal to change redux, service members
retiring after 20 years of service will receive 50 percent
of base pay rather than the current 40 percent. The redux
system affects all service members who joined after Aug. 1,
1986 -- approximately two-thirds of the force.
At Prince Sultan Air Base, Cohen addressed several hundred
of the 4,000 363rd Air Expeditionary Wing troops who
enforce the U.N.-mandated no-fly zone over southern Iraq.
Air Force Capt. Debbie Meserve, of Shaw AFBs 79th F16CJ
Fighter Squadron, said that later that night talk around
camp focused on the pros and cons of staying in the
military.
People who were considering getting out -- airmen
finishing up their first term and nine-year guys
considering getting out before that 10-year mark -- are now
going to wait and see, the Severn, Md., native said. The
monetary benefits are definitely getting them thinking. A
lot of them are just waiting to see how it works -- the
details.
Several F15C Eagle crew members from Eglin AFBs 60th
Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Wing, said news of the
proposed pay raise definitely sends service members a
signal.
Thats a big sign to our young folks that the leadership
is committed to the military, said Chief Master Sgt. David
Gless, squadron maintenance superintendent. Our young
folks need that signal from the top level leadership that
says they do care about them.
Because of the pay gap, eroded benefits, and particularly,
frequent overseas deployments, Gless, a 21-year Air Force
veteran from Warren, Ohio, said his biggest concern is
retention. Experienced people are walking out the door,
he said.
Pointing to an F15C avionics technical sergeant standing
nearby, Gless said, Guys like him, you cant replace. He
has lots of experience. It takes four years to train
avionics specialists, the chief noted, and at that point,
you just get somebody where theyre capable of being on
their own.
Despite the sacrifices involved, most career service
members love their jobs, Gless said. The number one reason
why we do the things we do, its not about money, it has to
do with pride in performing the mission. Its all about
doing things for the American people. Thats what it all
boils down to.
But lately, Gless confessed, even he sometimes questions
whether its worth the long hours and separations from his
wife, Cynthia, 17-year-old son Derek, and 15-year-old
daughter, Brandy. This year, squadron members have spent
more than seven months away from home on deployments in
Turkey, Bahrain and now in Saudi Arabia.
Quite honestly, Gless said, I dont want to leave this
job, but theyre going to force me into doing it based on
the pace. I want to balance my family with the Air Force.
Ive never worried about the money, if that was the case
Id have gotten out a long time ago. I love the
accomplishment at the end of the day.
Pointing at the sophisticated gray fighter jet to his left,
Gless said, Theres nothing better than to take something
like that and put it in the air. Thats a kick in the
pants.
Staff Sgt. Billy A. Kerr, an F-15C crew chief from Des Arc,
Arkansas, with 13 years Air Force service, echoed Gless
concerns about the loss of experienced people and frequent
deployments. He hopes the pay and benefits proposal will
boost morale and retention rates.
This trip over here is my sixth trip to the Middle East
since 1994, Kerr noted. All totaled, Ive spent seven
months in this part of the world this year, and Im not the
only one whos done it. Its very hard on family life and
its very hard on personal life in general.
Kerr said hes fortunate that his wife, Katherine, is
understanding. My wife has learned to deal with it, he
said. Shes not thrilled with it when I leave, but its
become an accepted part of our lives. Shes been very
helpful and supportive and I praise the Lord for that. But
its hard for the wives or husbands who stay behind and
take care of all the things their spouse would normally
take care of and take care of their children.
The Air Force has changed dramatically since Kerr first
enlisted, he said. Then, you went to work each day and came
home each night. Now, there are fewer overseas bases, fewer
people, and far more overseas deployments.
Still, the NCO said, he plans to continue his military
career. To be totally honest with you, I enjoy serving my
country. I like getting out there working on aircraft and
getting dirty. I dont like the long hours too much, but
generally I enjoy what Im doing.
I grew up in a small town in Arkansas, worked as a farm
hand as a teenager, Kerr recalled. To come out here to
work on airplanes -- its a better job and better benefits
than being a farm hand ever was. But, there are down sides
to it. I can understand why people want to get out. Its a
difficult life and its not for everybody.
Tech. Sgt. Shaun Churilla, an F-15C avionics specialist,
assigned to the squadron, is a 12-year Air Force veteran
from Pittsburgh. The fact that his wife, Julie, is an Air
Force staff sergeant, means she understands the demands of
his military duty.
For a long time, I never thought I could be married, Churilla commented, not until I could find someone whod
understand me being away from home so much and the long
hours that we put in on the aircraft. She understands the
mission comes first, but theres a lot of wives who don't.
Pay alone isnt going to take care of the retention rate,
Churilla advised. You have to look at the amount of time
were gone from home and the opportunities people miss with
their children -- their son or daughters first words, their
first step. Trying to further your education thats hard
to do when youre away from home five or six months a
year.
Senior Airmen Jonathan Spencer, an F15C crew chief from
Carmel, Ill., has six years service. He hasnt yet decided
whether hell stay for 20 years and the proposed changes
will be a factor in his decision. This shows that theyre
thinking about us, he said.
The main factor affecting his future is a quest for
security for himself, his wife Sonja and 2-year-old
daughter Alison. I like the security of the Air Force, but
on-the-other hand, I can find security elsewhere, too. Plus
the deployments - this is my third deployment this year.
Im not really getting to see my daughter a lot. Its a
hard decision as far as the family is concerned.
Senior Airmen Brad Lapelley, from Laconia, N.H., another
six-year veteran, plans on staying in the Air Force and
welcomed the talk of more pay. I got out in 92 for about
six months. I did the young airmen thing, thought I could
do better, but I had a hard time finding good work so I
came back in. While I was out, I joined National Guard. I
like working on airplanes but it wasn't enough just working
on airplanes once a month.
Overall, Lapelley said, the moneys not that bad. There
are a lot of jobs where youre not going to get paid as
well as this, especially if you dont have a college
education. Without that youre not going to find a decent
job. The Air Force gives you the training and benefits and
youre doing more challenging stuff. If you like to travel,
its definitely the career field to go into.
American Forces Press Service
