Can someone explain the wealthy military officer phenomenon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s because the taxpayer funds a huge portion of their expenses (housing while on base, no down payment for Va loans, the list goes on). Welfare queens to the max

+1. Even one of Reagan's hires (Stockdale, I think his name may be) wrote a book a few years ago describing the US military as socialistic. But if you dare question it, you're labeled a "communist" or worse. DH has several retired military in his family, and when they start bragging about their free health care and whatnot at Thanksgiving, I say "you're welcome."

Maybe when the conversation turns to the safe and free society we live in, your retired military family members can turn to you and say, “You’re welcome.”

You think our society is safe?

Compare our gun violence rates to other wealthy countries!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My spouse and I probably fit into this category.

He retired after 27 years active duty and is now about to retire from federal job of 5 years.

Our net worth is close to $8 million. Own our family home in suburban NOVA, beach condo, and he has a 36 foot sailboat. Everything is paid off. We have no debt at all. $6 million in taxable and retirement accounts.

I have managed all of our finances since we married, because he has been involved in some capacity in most major conflicts of past 25 years.

We were fortunate to start w a nice inheritance from his mother (appx $700k). Through wise investing and living well below our means, we are very comfortable now. I have spreadsheets tracking every single penny earned, spent, invested, etc for the past 15 years. Since I could no longer work professionally due to frequent moves (and my personal choice to be SAHM), I made it my role to learn as much as I could about personal finances.

I know that we have peers who are curious about our circumstances. Neither of us talk about money to others. We realize we were fortunate, but we’ve also worked hard to be good stewards and managers of assets. My spouse has been able to focus solely on his career while I took care of everything else (especially when he was deployed multiple times).

I do not consider us “old money” by any stretch of the imagination.

A small inheritance of 700k. FFS

Seriously. Step One: inherit almost $1 million

I think we can all agree that poster is the most obnoxious. I bet that relative also helped with bill when he/she was alive.

🙄🙄🙄

For sure obnoxious, but she DID answer my question.

- OP

I’m the PP. It may sound obnoxious, but I just shared the truth. Sorry if people here don’t like it.

I grew up in a family with neither of my parents graduated high school. My dad was barely literate. I went to college on scholarships, Pell grants, and student loans.

My spouse enlisted as his family didn't have any money for college and no one was able to help him with scholarships, grants and loans. Officer attitude and behavior is often very different than enlisted.

I mean this kindly, but you really need to stop clinging to the old "officers are stuck up" stereotype. You'll be happier.

They are. When I was dating some officer's wives were lecturing me I should marry quickly and use the education benefits to get my college degree. I humored them for a while and finally said I had my masters so I don't need that and I'll marry when I'm ready. Many are stuck up and look down on enlisted, even if they enlisted have the same education or better.

How long ago is this?
I agree it was very hierarchical 25 years ago but it’s not as much anymore. Is this a current experience?
So much of this is “back in the day”…it’s really dated info.

She's a troll. I bet a whole 100 junior enlisted personnel (the ones who are least likely to be married) across all six services have masters degrees.

Do you have any idea what you are talking about? Hundreds of reservists in the DC area alone have enlisted with masters degrees. It’s not that rare. There are reasons to enlist over commission. And not everyone with an advanced degree is eligible to commission to begin with. It’s not like you walk into a recruiter’s office with an advanced degree and poof, officer.

No one is talking reservists. Enlisted do get degrees including masters but usually later close to retirement. And, you cannot switch to officer that late in the game. There are also a few jobs that are only enlisted.

I have a masters. I got it by age 23 but I am a spouse who went directly to college and grad school. That poster is clueless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Straw man. Base officer housing might not be that nice (though why you brought up enlisted housing I have no idea), but BHA definitely is.

Married to an officer. We don’t have access to base housing. Many in the Bethesda area don’t.

This isn't true at all. You have access to base housing on other bases, but you choose to live in Bethesda. You can go to Ft. Mead, Andrews, Bolling, etc.

I actually can’t. Husband has to live within a certain radius of the hospital.

But don’t they still give you lots of money towards your housing costs??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s because the taxpayer funds a huge portion of their expenses (housing while on base, no down payment for Va loans, the list goes on). Welfare queens to the max

+1. Even one of Reagan's hires (Stockdale, I think his name may be) wrote a book a few years ago describing the US military as socialistic. But if you dare question it, you're labeled a "communist" or worse. DH has several retired military in his family, and when they start bragging about their free health care and whatnot at Thanksgiving, I say "you're welcome."

Sorry, no one is bragging about Tricare.

Tricare is the absolute worst right now. I have to wait 3+ months for doctor appointments. Doctors say follow up in a month and the best I can do is 3-4 months. Forget seeing your primary care for an emergency. And, it takes months to get CT's/MRI's and other tests done. And, they refuse a lot of testing or specialists because they claim it's unnecessary. Or, worst, no one off base who is good takes tricare so if you get referred out as multiple clinics refuse patients good luck finding a competent doctor to help. And, if the outside doctor refers you for anything, you cannot get it done on base and the co-pays and stuff have gone sky high. I have chronic health issues and we end up paying a fortune out of pocket for doctors and medications tricare refuses. It really sucks.

If you are healthy, tricare is fine. If you are not, good luck.

I hear sadly the illegals using veteran's services don't have to wait at all. Such a shame what has become of our country.

Stop with the nonsense. You have no clue what you are talking about. Illegals don’t get va services and we are talking retiree benefits which is tricare, not va.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My spouse and I probably fit into this category.

He retired after 27 years active duty and is now about to retire from federal job of 5 years.

Our net worth is close to $8 million. Own our family home in suburban NOVA, beach condo, and he has a 36 foot sailboat. Everything is paid off. We have no debt at all. $6 million in taxable and retirement accounts.

I have managed all of our finances since we married, because he has been involved in some capacity in most major conflicts of past 25 years.

We were fortunate to start w a nice inheritance from his mother (appx $700k). Through wise investing and living well below our means, we are very comfortable now. I have spreadsheets tracking every single penny earned, spent, invested, etc for the past 15 years. Since I could no longer work professionally due to frequent moves (and my personal choice to be SAHM), I made it my role to learn as much as I could about personal finances.

I know that we have peers who are curious about our circumstances. Neither of us talk about money to others. We realize we were fortunate, but we’ve also worked hard to be good stewards and managers of assets. My spouse has been able to focus solely on his career while I took care of everything else (especially when he was deployed multiple times).

I do not consider us “old money” by any stretch of the imagination.

A small inheritance of 700k. FFS

Seriously. Step One: inherit almost $1 million

I think we can all agree that poster is the most obnoxious. I bet that relative also helped with bill when he/she was alive.

🙄🙄🙄

For sure obnoxious, but she DID answer my question.

- OP

I’m the PP. It may sound obnoxious, but I just shared the truth. Sorry if people here don’t like it.

I grew up in a family with neither of my parents graduated high school. My dad was barely literate. I went to college on scholarships, Pell grants, and student loans.

My spouse enlisted as his family didn't have any money for college and no one was able to help him with scholarships, grants and loans. Officer attitude and behavior is often very different than enlisted.

I mean this kindly, but you really need to stop clinging to the old "officers are stuck up" stereotype. You'll be happier.

They are. When I was dating some officer's wives were lecturing me I should marry quickly and use the education benefits to get my college degree. I humored them for a while and finally said I had my masters so I don't need that and I'll marry when I'm ready. Many are stuck up and look down on enlisted, even if they enlisted have the same education or better.

How long ago is this?
I agree it was very hierarchical 25 years ago but it’s not as much anymore. Is this a current experience?
So much of this is “back in the day”…it’s really dated info.

She's a troll. I bet a whole 100 junior enlisted personnel (the ones who are least likely to be married) across all six services have masters degrees.

Do you have any idea what you are talking about? Hundreds of reservists in the DC area alone have enlisted with masters degrees. It’s not that rare. There are reasons to enlist over commission. And not everyone with an advanced degree is eligible to commission to begin with. It’s not like you walk into a recruiter’s office with an advanced degree and poof, officer.

Not if you hold a college degree.

Some job categories are enlisted only. Musicians for one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My spouse and I probably fit into this category.

He retired after 27 years active duty and is now about to retire from federal job of 5 years.

Our net worth is close to $8 million. Own our family home in suburban NOVA, beach condo, and he has a 36 foot sailboat. Everything is paid off. We have no debt at all. $6 million in taxable and retirement accounts.

I have managed all of our finances since we married, because he has been involved in some capacity in most major conflicts of past 25 years.

We were fortunate to start w a nice inheritance from his mother (appx $700k). Through wise investing and living well below our means, we are very comfortable now. I have spreadsheets tracking every single penny earned, spent, invested, etc for the past 15 years. Since I could no longer work professionally due to frequent moves (and my personal choice to be SAHM), I made it my role to learn as much as I could about personal finances.

I know that we have peers who are curious about our circumstances. Neither of us talk about money to others. We realize we were fortunate, but we’ve also worked hard to be good stewards and managers of assets. My spouse has been able to focus solely on his career while I took care of everything else (especially when he was deployed multiple times).

I do not consider us “old money” by any stretch of the imagination.

A small inheritance of 700k. FFS

Seriously. Step One: inherit almost $1 million

I think we can all agree that poster is the most obnoxious. I bet that relative also helped with bill when he/she was alive.

🙄🙄🙄

For sure obnoxious, but she DID answer my question.

- OP

I’m the PP. It may sound obnoxious, but I just shared the truth. Sorry if people here don’t like it.

I grew up in a family with neither of my parents graduated high school. My dad was barely literate. I went to college on scholarships, Pell grants, and student loans.

My spouse enlisted as his family didn't have any money for college and no one was able to help him with scholarships, grants and loans. Officer attitude and behavior is often very different than enlisted.

I mean this kindly, but you really need to stop clinging to the old "officers are stuck up" stereotype. You'll be happier.

They are. When I was dating some officer's wives were lecturing me I should marry quickly and use the education benefits to get my college degree. I humored them for a while and finally said I had my masters so I don't need that and I'll marry when I'm ready. Many are stuck up and look down on enlisted, even if they enlisted have the same education or better.

How long ago is this?
I agree it was very hierarchical 25 years ago but it’s not as much anymore. Is this a current experience?
So much of this is “back in the day”…it’s really dated info.

She's a troll. I bet a whole 100 junior enlisted personnel (the ones who are least likely to be married) across all six services have masters degrees.

Do you have any idea what you are talking about? Hundreds of reservists in the DC area alone have enlisted with masters degrees. It’s not that rare. There are reasons to enlist over commission. And not everyone with an advanced degree is eligible to commission to begin with. It’s not like you walk into a recruiter’s office with an advanced degree and poof, officer.

Not if you hold a college degree.

Some people don’t want the responsibilities that go with being an officer. I’ve talked to some enlisted people with advanced degrees who like to be able to just do their job and not have to worry about all the other work officers have to do. It’s a personal choice, and not everyone chooses the same things.

Higher ranking enlisted have leadership responsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s because the taxpayer funds a huge portion of their expenses (housing while on base, no down payment for Va loans, the list goes on). Welfare queens to the max

VA loans aren't that great as often the interest rate is higher. When we looked at it for our mortgage, because we could put 20% down, it wasn't worth it as the interest rate was much higher than what I got on a regular mortgage. And, most base housing isn't very nice, especially for enlisted, who aren't paid well at all.

Seriously. Base housing?!

"...asbestos, lead-based paint and mold in military housing..."

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2023/12/06/senators-say-dod-has-a-long-way-to-go-to-fix-military-housing-issues/

That's enlisted housing. The officer housing I grew up in tended to very well build large houses that backed onto golf courses.

Welcome to 2024.
I just love all these people telling us that are actually military how great our benefits are.

Nice. Glad you enjoyed it years ago. That’s super relevant.

OP is a pot stirrer.

Fortunately, you have a very generous housing allowance making a very large portion of your income tax free.

They do a nousing allowance to reduce pay for retirement. It’s not a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Late to the party here, but in all honestly, I think our high school counselors did many of us a disservice by directing us to go to 4-year universities.

I had lots of friends who after taking the ASVAB enlisted in the military at 18, retired 20 years later at 38 with pension and benefits, then started new careers in the private sector. They're all doing well now. The ones who become mustangs are doing particularly well... even not having reached the O-6 level.

While serving, the biggest expense for many was their car. While overseas, they got housing allowances allowing them to save up. For the ones deployed to combat zones, they got extra pay and their families typically stayed with parents back home. Not unusual at all to retire by 38 with a net worth over one million, no debts, then get a 150k job a year as a contractor.

Again, our high school guidance counselors did many of us a disservice.

Sure, this is not normal. Existed who do 20 years have a pension of about $12-20k a year. Most spouses don’t stay with their families and pay for housing. They don’t retire with one million. And, without a degree with a career field you are not making $150k. My spouse does very well but it’s very rare. Even with officer friends. Most are not making what he is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Straw man. Base officer housing might not be that nice (though why you brought up enlisted housing I have no idea), but BHA definitely is.

Married to an officer. We don’t have access to base housing. Many in the Bethesda area don’t.

This isn't true at all. You have access to base housing on other bases, but you choose to live in Bethesda. You can go to Ft. Mead, Andrews, Bolling, etc.

I actually can’t. Husband has to live within a certain radius of the hospital.

You can live where ever you want. The rule is for your husband, not you and you can live in a cheaper area and not just Bethesda.

Shut up. Even the military, for all its MANY faults, prefers to keep the servicemember with their civilian spouse. Hell, they try to keep dual military couples together.

You were blessed. We were separated two years because of it. Sure, it's nice to stay together but it's not realistic for everyone. Check your privilege but you were probably an officer family.

Um. Enlisted or not, the military never expected your husband to live within a certain radius of his place of employment and for you to not.

Actually, yes they did. We couldn't afford it, so I stayed behind. See how that works.

Troll. You can't "not afford" to move on accompanied orders.

No, we could not afford it. I had a good job and close to retirement. We needed my income till my husband could retire and get a job and start over working their way up which isn’t easy to do in your late 30s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Straw man. Base officer housing might not be that nice (though why you brought up enlisted housing I have no idea), but BHA definitely is.

Married to an officer. We don’t have access to base housing. Many in the Bethesda area don’t.

This isn't true at all. You have access to base housing on other bases, but you choose to live in Bethesda. You can go to Ft. Mead, Andrews, Bolling, etc.

I actually can’t. Husband has to live within a certain radius of the hospital.

You can live where ever you want. The rule is for your husband, not you and you can live in a cheaper area and not just Bethesda.

Shut up. Even the military, for all its MANY faults, prefers to keep the servicemember with their civilian spouse. Hell, they try to keep dual military couples together.

You were blessed. We were separated two years because of it. Sure, it's nice to stay together but it's not realistic for everyone. Check your privilege but you were probably an officer family.

Um. Enlisted or not, the military never expected your husband to live within a certain radius of his place of employment and for you to not.

Actually, yes they did. We couldn't afford it, so I stayed behind. See how that works.

Troll. You can't "not afford" to move on accompanied orders.

No, we could not afford it. I had a good job and close to retirement. We needed my income till my husband could retire and get a job and start over working their way up which isn’t easy to do in your late 30s.

This really isn’t relevant and you’d think you’d know better than to tell someone just to live apart from their spouse because you chose not to. It’s not that you couldn’t afford it. It didn’t make financial sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Straw man. Base officer housing might not be that nice (though why you brought up enlisted housing I have no idea), but BHA definitely is.

Married to an officer. We don’t have access to base housing. Many in the Bethesda area don’t.

This isn't true at all. You have access to base housing on other bases, but you choose to live in Bethesda. You can go to Ft. Mead, Andrews, Bolling, etc.

I actually can’t. Husband has to live within a certain radius of the hospital.

But don’t they still give you lots of money towards your housing costs??

Define “lots” in the Bethesda area. Yes it’s a nice perk but it’s certainly not a windfall given housing costs in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They get excessive housing subsidies, free tuition for their kids, free medical care, their moves are paid for, tons of tax breaks. And they can retire quite young, make a generous pension and launch a full time second professional career. I think it is relatively easy for their money to add up.

These are officers, mind you. Enlisted people are quite poorly treated & compensated.

So why didn’t you do it if it’s so cushy? Because you’re clearly not in the know, mind you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the retired military personnel I know are all 100% disabled. So in addition to their pensions they get a very large monthly disability payment. And since they’re 100% disabled many jurisdictions such as Loudoun county waive property taxes. One guy in my neighborhood is a retired colonel who doesn’t pay property taxes on his $1.5 million home and works as a commercial airline pilot. Triple dipping.

I know of several 20-something’s who served their three years and get paid $2k a month for life due to stubbing a toe or twisting an ankle while serving.

I don’t believe you or believe that you know all the facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Straw man. Base officer housing might not be that nice (though why you brought up enlisted housing I have no idea), but BHA definitely is.

Married to an officer. We don’t have access to base housing. Many in the Bethesda area don’t.

This isn't true at all. You have access to base housing on other bases, but you choose to live in Bethesda. You can go to Ft. Mead, Andrews, Bolling, etc.

I actually can’t. Husband has to live within a certain radius of the hospital.

But don’t they still give you lots of money towards your housing costs??

For officers yes, enlisted no and it depends on rank. If they can afford Bethesda they are higher ranking officer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Straw man. Base officer housing might not be that nice (though why you brought up enlisted housing I have no idea), but BHA definitely is.

Married to an officer. We don’t have access to base housing. Many in the Bethesda area don’t.

This isn't true at all. You have access to base housing on other bases, but you choose to live in Bethesda. You can go to Ft. Mead, Andrews, Bolling, etc.

I actually can’t. Husband has to live within a certain radius of the hospital.

You can live where ever you want. The rule is for your husband, not you and you can live in a cheaper area and not just Bethesda.

Shut up. Even the military, for all its MANY faults, prefers to keep the servicemember with their civilian spouse. Hell, they try to keep dual military couples together.

You were blessed. We were separated two years because of it. Sure, it's nice to stay together but it's not realistic for everyone. Check your privilege but you were probably an officer family.

Um. Enlisted or not, the military never expected your husband to live within a certain radius of his place of employment and for you to not.

Actually, yes they did. We couldn't afford it, so I stayed behind. See how that works.

Troll. You can't "not afford" to move on accompanied orders.

No, we could not afford it. I had a good job and close to retirement. We needed my income till my husband could retire and get a job and start over working their way up which isn’t easy to do in your late 30s.

This really isn’t relevant and you’d think you’d know better than to tell someone just to live apart from their spouse because you chose not to. It’s not that you couldn’t afford it. It didn’t make financial sense.

It was not a choice.