three year freeze on military pay and stuff?

My response to http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/11/military-debt-commission-recommendations-111010w/

I read this, and I am kinda (don't hate me) on the fence about being all bent out of shape about it. Both my husband and I are in the service, so yes, it would affect us, but it's only being considered, it's not in writing, they're throwing ideas out there how to save money. (right or wrong, I know).

I just come from a different viewpoint I guess where everyone else in the civilian sector is cut in pay, benefits, etc. but the military can't be (this I am thinking is their viewpoint)? Firefighters, cops, law enforcement, they are being fer-lowed (made to work for free) right now, my father is in law enforcement and it's true. He puts his life on the line daily for us, and he's being made to work for free, not getting paid, his pension being negotiated to get lowered cause the Federal Govnt can't afford it....it's bad all over. It's sad because the military is complied of the people who fight for our right, and fortunately, up to this point, we haven't been 'scraped' of our pay, told to work for free, our medical coverage taken from us; in the civilian world, this is the case, and it's sad.

I don't see this going any further, due to the outrage the military community will raise if it goes past this point. It's a pay freeze, not a pay cut, but either way, and I am sorry to say this, but military families have gotten used to pay increases, esp with Bush, and even Obama. The military community, generally speaking, isn't used to being cut back on pay, especially the younger people like myself---yeah we complain that "we didn't join for the money and stuff", but we joined for the benefits and steady income. It's INSANE to get medical coverage through a private company right now at a civilian job (did this before I was married-or tried to) and it was very difficult. I would get all my "medical stuff" done on drills cause I couldn't afford it otherwise.

I understand people are upset, and I have issue with some of the things in this article they want to cut back on, but you start neglecting pay increases to a entity that is used to getting that, then the number of enlisted people will go down, and people will be angry, and that is never good.

People in the military---and their families-- get commissary privileges, discounts at parks, groceries, military discounts in many businesses and shops, medical coverage, dental, optical coverage, car insurance breaks depending on who you use, FREE housing that doesn't come out of your base pay, and many other perks. I am quite frankly tired of hearing military spouses complain about how "they can't freeze our pay, we're the military". To that I say, look around, look at the economy, you think you're the only one having financial trouble? It's not just military folks, it's everyone. At least in the service you don't have to (not all but most) have to worry about a house payment, medical bills, and hospital bills; civilians and other who aren't "in the military" don't get these perks.

I would hope this won't happen, as I am sure the military member or their family wouldn't want it to happen either, but unfortunately it's the nature of the beast. It may be a possibility, but I don't see it being put in stone cause there will be just too much outrage from the military community.

It's like you tell the cops, firefighters, private investigators, corrections officers, etc that we're going to cut your pay, and it's done---it's fought, but in the end it is done; but you say to the military we're going to freeze your pay; and it's suppose to be some big travesty, like it's illegal or something to even consider "doing something that looks like you're not rewarding the service members" .

Maybe I think this way, which I know is NOT popular amongst a lot of spouses, but to them I say, I don't think I am entitled to anything as a military member, especially a pay increase. I am no better then someone who isn't in the service, and to act as such makes me upset. I hope this 'idea' to freeze military pay, amongst other things, does not happen, but I will not stand on my high horse saying "my husband serves this country (and myself), how dare them do this to US"....it would make me sound entitled, which is what a lot of civilians think of military people ---gosh, I wonder why?