Originally Posted By: Jerry Garcia
a private in the army ... works out to about $8.50 an hour.
...plus free housing, free healthcare, free food, free work clothes, free camping gear, 30 days paid vacation per year, free travel opportunities, free job training, etc.

Actually, in 2013 a brand new shiny E-1 made about $11/hr when considering actual hours worked, vacation, etc. When factoring in Federal holidays, Days Of No Scheduled Activity (DONSA), it's even higher.

Life working for the Fed is good, but I'm always in favor of giving DoD a raise.
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Tent makers for Christie, 2016.