How many sacrifices would you make for $30,000 a year?
You are also overestimating the salary of a fresh enlistee. Everyone below E-3 makes less than 30k
($30k/year is ~$15-16/hr)
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/article/36...
It cites a variety of reasons why they are having issues, but pay isn’t one of them.
> A strong economy, which has resulted in many more options for young people.
Additional citation:
https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/mcdonalds-or-th...
> McDonald’s or the Army? A California Case Study
> On measures that often matter most to military recruits, such as cash compensation, the military is falling behind civilian wages.
> The need for a large increase in junior enlisted wages becomes apparent when one considers two issues: the looming demographic cliff for America’s youth and competition from the labor market. According to the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources, it is projected that between 2025 and 2029, the US will see its population of 18-year-olds drop from 9.4 million to roughly 8 million, a 15 percent decrease.
And yes, I expect “oh gosh we might not have internet” to be something the military can handle.
Yeah, sounds good until you see in practice how so many veterans are forgotten, let alone the millions without any healthcare at all. Healthcare should be a human right for everyone.
How much is this actually worth? If you have a full time job, you'll get insurance through the job. If not, you'll likely qualify for Medicaid. Here in California half the residents get free health insurance via Medicaid