I'm currently stationed in Iraq (near Tikrit) and the Army is offering a pretty tempting re-enlistment bonus for my MOS (specific job). My question to you is,

HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD IT TAKE FOR YOU TO GIVE UP A YEAR OF YOUR LIFE TO FIGHT IN IRAQ?

I'll tell you how much they offered me later. I don't want a bunch of "well hell I'd do it for that much" replies.
Just curious.

First let me say, it is an honor to communicate with anyone who is serving our country.

This is a volunteer Army and no one can claim more dedication than you or any of your fellow service men/women. Serving the country for one year or ten is something you do because you wanted to join and I am forever grateful for your sacrifice and time.

You must do it from the heart and from a desire and confidence you are doing the right thing. If so then there is no price to put on your mission. However if you do not believe and struggle through your task then no amount of money is worth your pain.

I know that is a non answer for you but I just cannot put a dollar value on something so critical to you, Iraq, the Middle East and our country.

My prayers are with you!

SilverEIGHT,

I certainly appreciate your support and prayers. I did sign up because I wanted to serve my country and I have and will continue to serve proudly, however, very few people can work for free and so money is a big factor in enlisting/re-enlisting. I myself probably won't re-enlist because I have served my country for 7 years and have completely lost one whole year of my civilian life by protecting my country and improving theirs. I just feel that I have served my time and that it's time for me to move on with my life. The reason I asked this question is because those who are not in the Army obviously did not want to volunteer (I understand everyone has their reason and that's fine), so how much would it take for them to do what I'm doing? The Army has offered a price for my time, how much would it take to buy a year of your time?

You ask an interesting question, Whitey. To me it has nothing to do with money at all and instead depends on what you would do with your life if you don't re-enlist. Do you have a good job waiting for you back in the states? A pretty wife or girlfriend? Loving family? If so, all the money in the world couldn't get me to re-enlist, particularly if my life was routinely in danger over there. On the other hand, if you have nothing going for you back here is the states and you might end up hanging out on the street corner each night, then maybe another year would look attractive to you.
Either way, I wish you the best of luck and I'll keep you in my prayers.

Markus,

I completely understand what you're saying and that has all gone into my decision. I have a great job, a great girlfriend, a super supportive family and lots of friends that are waiting on me to come home. I hate that I've missed out on my friends and family having kids, getting married, and buying houses all while I'm gone. Had I been someone without a wife or g/f and no real commitments in life, I would gladly re-enlist. That's what I was asking though, how much is a year of your life/time worth? To answer this question you would have to consider many things.....even the possibility of being KIA.

Whitey, have you been offered an amount? I'm clueless what the military pays. I only know what I make as a civilian. If you put it in terms of what you would make in the US, for a comparison, I have to know what your skills are. I will try to give you a number if this is what you want. A good paying job in the states can be from $50K to $100K depending on where you live. I'd say for Knoxville, that should be a good number. But with your life at risk... well... the numbers just don't work.

I really wish you would not put it in terms of what your life is worth. Your "life/time" are two completely differently things. One is eternity the other is negotiable.

If you want "what is your life worth".... forget it... $1,000,000 would not keep me in. Not after 7 years. Unless I wanted to become a lifer. Come home to your family! You have already dedicated enough time to your country. I'd like to see you spend time with loved ones and talk trash about driving an RX-8 here in the states. Hell, your close enough from Knoxville, you could join us at Road Atlanta sometime.

I know you are wanting numbers but you have asked a VERY tuff question and as a civilian I can only respond with my feelings and not numbers.

Ok so maybe I posted a question that no one feels comfortable answering. I must apologize. Since my Unit's deployment is almost over, there's big talk about who's re-enlisting and who's getting out when we get home. It's a simple question over here, but to those at home I can see how it wouldn't be the easiest to answer.

To give you an idea, they're offering a $40,000 re-enlistment bonus for my MOS. For most it's more around $15K or less. That $40K does not necessarily mean that I"ll be back over here for another year......but the way it looks now, most all units will be back over here.......especially if they shorten the deployments. Anyway, that $40K bonus plus the $45K I would make in Iraq is not enough to get me to do this again. I am proud of the time I have served and I am extremely proud of my country, but my time here is done.......it's someone elses turn. $85,000 is just not enough for me.

I agree! :D

Keep us informed.

I'll go and fight as long as Bush and Dick lead the sqaud themselves.

I'll go and fight as long as Bush and Dick lead the sqaud themselves.

if they did that i would sign up today.

I got back from Baltimore a little while ago. I was visiting my baby sister who was in the states from Japan for a short layover before she begins a six month deployment in Iraq. This deployment comes on the heels of the end of ten years for her in the Air Force. After this tour she's got until September '06, and she's done. There isn't enough money that could make her want to stay.

Both my father and my cousin were in the Army. My father served in Vietnam, and my cousin in the first Gulf War. They both make fun of her because she joined the "easy branch." Whether that's true or not, I don't know and I don't care. She's a soldier and she's serving her country. I'm proud of her for her service, and I don't think poorly of her for deciding to move on with her life.

I just want her to come home safely.

You do what's best for you Whitey.

Well Whitey, I too serve and look at it this way ask yourself these questions, 1) is my family suffering from what I'm doing. 2) if you have kids do they know or remember their dad and do you remember them. And finally, 3) what else could you be doing? these questions are yours alone because if it was me I would re-up because I don't have any kids or a wife and I do plan on making the military my career. if you don't mind me asking what your MOS is I myself am EOD I'm sure I don't need to explane that to you :)

I admire the men in the military and have several friends who are in the Army, but I wouldn't do it for any amount of money. I would not be able to subject myself to letting someone have that sort of authority and control over me, and not being able to act as I feel I should if I joined the military. I don't even know about the drill instructors, but I don't even trust the crooked politicians of this country (I'm talking about both sides) who would have final say over where I was to go and what I was to do.

As for what you should do, there are more important things out there than money, like spending time with your family that you won't get back, but you'll pretty much always have a chance to make money. Welcome home, and thanks for your service and time.

Ok so maybe I posted a question that no one feels comfortable answering. I must apologize. Since my Unit's deployment is almost over, there's big talk about who's re-enlisting and who's getting out when we get home. It's a simple question over here, but to those at home I can see how it wouldn't be the easiest to answer.

To give you an idea, they're offering a $40,000 re-enlistment bonus for my MOS. For most it's more around $15K or less. That $40K does not necessarily mean that I"ll be back over here for another year......but the way it looks now, most all units will be back over here.......especially if they shorten the deployments. Anyway, that $40K bonus plus the $45K I would make in Iraq is not enough to get me to do this again. I am proud of the time I have served and I am extremely proud of my country, but my time here is done.......it's someone elses turn. $85,000 is just not enough for me.


That is a lot of money. but I am not sure it is enough to put your life at risk anymore. You have done your share. COme home

I don't think any of us can answer your question, because only you know your situation well enough. I guess foremost would be your assessment of how dangerous your duty has been and how dangerous it would likely be during your reenlistment term. And then weigh it against the benefit to yourself and your family and your desire to keep serving. You might also want to think in terms of "opportunity cost" -- that is, how much could you possibly earn outside the military, and how much would another tour affect your ability to earn afterwards and in the future (positively or negatively). I have relatives who went the whole 20 years (and beyond) because they continued to have opportunities for advancement, to learn new skills and realize their potential and were able to find a way to raise a family too (they were both enlisted). I do NOT believe in the idea of serving your country without regard to the financial or personal consequences except under the most extreme circumstances. I hope they do well by you if you decide to stay. If our country wants a dedicated armed services they (we) need to reciprocate. Good luck either way.

And, Thanks.

Personally I would probably do it for less.

Then again I'm single, I have no obligations of any sort. (Besides being tied to the job I'm at for another 2 1/2 years).

In short I don't have anything to lose.
I would probably have to sell my 8 and some of my other material posessions or keep them in storage. Possessions don't mean anything to me though. I like having nice things, but if I lose them.. oh well.

I had been thinking of joining up for a while now and if I'm still the same situation in 2.5 years then I just might.

To Speed-ER doc,
I can't blame you at all for not joining at this point, you have great things going for you....but just to let you know....the Army has great benefits for those who do sign up.....such as free health insurance while deployed, 250,000 in life insurance for a very low price, low interest rates on all outstanding loans, and housing allowances for rent/mortgage as well. Though these benefits are great for me, they do not always add up to what some people make in the civilian world. As for taking orders.....well with the hours of college that you have put in, you would enter as an Officer I'm sure.....so you wouldn't have to take orders from too many people......just make lots of decisions.

To MadRonin,
Although it is fun to give the men/women in blue a hard time (chAir Force, etc.)....I admire what they do and we (Army/Marines/Navy) certainly couldn't make it without them, just as they need us as well. As for your sister, I wish her the best of luck and hope she returns home safely. I'm with her though, there's no amount of money that could get me to stay in.

To WantedTwo,
I have considered all those things and the military just isn't for me. I would much rather be home with my friends and family where I'm most happy. My dad spent 34 years in and retired the day I got the call that I was being deployed (irony at it's best huh)......but this stuff just isn't for me. You asked what my MOS was.....I'm a 13D......computer operator for 3 155mm Howitzers. I tell them what to shoot and they shoot it. As for you EOD guys........you don't get paid near enough. I certainly appreciate all you do for us guys on the ground.

And to everyone else who has posted here and throughout this Forum.....I appreciate all your support. It's great to see an online community so supportive of our troops. As many have said before......you don't have to support the war, but atleast support the troops.

Thank you.

As a Vietnam vet, I saw the same thing going on during those times. I would meet guys who were on their 2nd or 3rd tour and for me that was totally nuts but when I questioned them more, it revolved around not being able to find adequate work and so with the Army waving that cash in front of that sort of won them over. To me, no one can put a dollar amount on your life but yourself. That's a decision left to you only. To me, I would not want anyone over there in those situations including those who work there with defense contractors. Its just nuts what happens with the road side bombs, and the pesky enemy sniper from time to time. If you have the choice then, I would stay state side. There is no amount of money to help you with this decision. The decision to go or stay here is beyond money and is up to your analysis of the situation, the country, the state of affairs there and certainly the security or lack there of. I ignore those who want to see everyone home now without finishing the job. That's what happened in Vietnam. We turned and left them all alone and they had thousands willing to fight the NVA. I would not want to see us treat this war the same way.

I don't think this can be easily put in absolute dollar terms--multiples of annual salary might be a better indicator. At least for myself taking $85k for a year would represent a pay cut. Also keep in mind this is an apples to oranges comparison because Joe Average works 40-60 hours per week and goes home afterwards. Overseas deployment is more comparable to working on an oil rig or other full-time job where you don't go home for months on end.

Usually fill-time jobs like that are at least 2x base pay for a similar job at home. Factor in another 1-2x multiplier for hazard duty and you're looking at 3-4x base pay. Even then chances are you'll only get unattached single people to go for it since for most married people that much time away from family is an undue hardship they're not willing to face. Personally speaking if I was single I'd consider 3-4x base pay, but married with kid means it isn't an option.
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A couple things to keep in mind Whitey, if you want to re-enlist, do it there as your bonus will be tax free, that is a significant chunk of change. I also think most re-enlistments with those high bonuses are indefinate re-enilstments. And for those that have not been there, the decision to stay or not has alot to do with money. After spending a year in Iraq it just becomes normal and routine. I certainly understand missing family and friends for you, it was tuff. Another thing you may consider, if it is a money thing, talk to the KBR guys there, working for KBR is alot better pay and a whole lot easier. One last thing, are you at FOB Speicher? That is where I was stationed during my tour with the army there.