Can someone explain the wealthy military officer phenomenon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Retired O-6 who works for a contractor does not live like "old money" - especially if they've got kids in college.

Sincerely,

Retired O-6 who works for a contractor who has got kids in college.

No GI Bill? College shouldn't be killing you.

I'm not the pp you quoted.
Please tell me what your understanding of the GI bill is.

At least one of their kids should be going to school for free. I know, because one of my kids did.

Not everyone got a GI bill. My husband didn't get a GI bill. He was under another plan and he would have had to pay to covert it to a GI bill which he didn't have the money to do. You were lucky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Think of the expenses you had during your working life. Major ones were housing and kid's college fund. Imagine if someone gave you a house the whole time and was going to pay for your kid's college. Kind of changes the calculation. Also, you got to engage in posh hobbies like sailing and horses for basically free on base.

When you retire you take a position with a DoD Contractor for 250k, just low key, nothing fancy.

And imagine if you had a much lower salary....

And what's this about someone paying for your kid's college?

Post 9/11, if you didn't use your GI Bill, your kid can, no? A retired colonel I know said that the GI Bill is paying for his kid's college since he didn't use it. No?

If I'm wrong, I'd like to know, honestly.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

—multiple Iraq/Afghanistan deployments. Danger pay adds up FAST. (People routinely “hit the cap” on federal salaries in the war years)

—using GI to pay for kids college

—VA jumbo loans with practically no down payment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Think of the expenses you had during your working life. Major ones were housing and kid's college fund. Imagine if someone gave you a house the whole time and was going to pay for your kid's college. Kind of changes the calculation. Also, you got to engage in posh hobbies like sailing and horses for basically free on base.

When you retire you take a position with a DoD Contractor for 250k, just low key, nothing fancy.

And imagine if you had a much lower salary....

And what's this about someone paying for your kid's college?

Post 9/11, if you didn't use your GI Bill, your kid can, no? A retired colonel I know said that the GI Bill is paying for his kid's college since he didn't use it. No?

If I'm wrong, I'd like to know, honestly.

Correct. Post 9/11 allows this.

[Anonymous]

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.

[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."

Sorry, no one is bragging about Tricare.

They might as well. It's pretty good.

[Anonymous]

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/

[Anonymous]

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.

They might as well. It's pretty good.

It's really not. I pay out of pocket to see private doctors much of the time.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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."

That’s super obnoxious on your part. We can’t even get appointments at Walter Reed or find a place to park, so I’d tell you quickly to shove it. Trust me, you wouldn’t think military healthcare was such a great deal if you actually had to use it.

I have a secret to let you in on—private healthcare sucks too.

That may very well be but the “you’re welcome” is obnoxious for something you clearly don’t have much knowledge regarding. People who say this in this given situation are always the most obnoxious whiners without fail. I’m sure you expect your kids’ teacher to thank you also for their payment. There is just such a type that talks like this

[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."

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

It’s not for the privileged

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Think of the expenses you had during your working life. Major ones were housing and kid's college fund. Imagine if someone gave you a house the whole time and was going to pay for your kid's college. Kind of changes the calculation. Also, you got to engage in posh hobbies like sailing and horses for basically free on base.

When you retire you take a position with a DoD Contractor for 250k, just low key, nothing fancy.

And imagine if you had a much lower salary....

And what's this about someone paying for your kid's college?

Post 9/11, if you didn't use your GI Bill, your kid can, no? A retired colonel I know said that the GI Bill is paying for his kid's college since he didn't use it. No?

If I'm wrong, I'd like to know, honestly.

Correct. Post 9/11 allows this.

Yes, kid can use 36 months of in-state tuition (or equivalent if out of state schools give you in state rates for using GI Bill- sometimes schools cover the difference on their own to get you to use it there - they are called Yellow Ribbon schools- but they are getting to be fewer and fewer).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know many that completely retire after 20 years. Usually they move onto a government contractor position. Those can pay a lot, plus they simultaneously get their pension and low-cost healthcare.

This.

Also, if they spent age 22-42 living on base housing (or getting a stipend) that means they've essentially had NO housing payments. At all. So if they were smart and saved some of their paycheck to go towards eventual housing, they can "retire" at 42 with a huge housing nest egg to buy a house. Then go work for a DoD contractor, making at least the same amount if not more than they did in the military. Except now they are still getting their military pension and have healthcare covered.