Question about the military pay charts. I understand you get paid twice a month in the military. Does the amount of money in the pay chart include both paychecks or each paycheck is that said amount?
I've always felt that the only dumb question, is the one you ask in public. But that's another story...
mbeard89 - If you're looking at a "basic pay" chart, it's only one piece of the puzzle. In addition to base pay, there are separate pay and allowances for housing, subsistence, cost of living, sea pay, flight pay, additional responsibilities, hazard pay, etc., etc.
to add to Brian's post, that is the 'free money' so to say. YOUR food, YOUR medical/dental, YOUR roof, YOUR uniforms (enlisted) are paid for above that. About the only basic need the military expects you to pay out of that money is your transportation & higiene expenses. The rest of that is 'disposable' income that you might choose to spend on fancy food, a spouse and children, a NICE car, etc!
I really appreciate everyones response. I will most likely invest a lot of the money I receive. For some of the pays you guys were talking about like flight pay and what not? What extra pays would AST's receive? I am guessing flight pay and hazard pay.
The 'general' rule of thumb is anything followed by the word 'pay' is taxable, i.e. base pay, sea pay. Anything with the word 'allowance' is not, i.e. Basic Allowance for Housing, etc.