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johnnyb, you make it sound like they are made of money.
Federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour and at 40 hours a week for 52 weeks makes $15,080 a year.
Poverty level in 2011 is $26,170 for a household income supporting five (two adults & three children).
Let us examine the likely averages soldier in the USA. This individual begins a 4 year tour as an E-2 (private) making $17,496/year, and ends his 4 year tour as an E-4 (coporal) making $25,476/year, assuming that everything goes perfectly. My personal experience that the average soldier works an average of 60hr/wk rather than the typical 40hr/wk.
When these increased work hours are included, the average pay over the four years is $6.85/hr, less than federal minimun wage. So basicly more than 75% of the US soldiers make a little more than the average Mcdonalds high school student.
Interesting, that a US soldier supporting a family, will typically fall right above or right below the poverty level in the US.
So yes it is a good thing for charities and other entities to donate and support our troops.
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