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The Pentagon Is Building a Team of Tech-Savvy Soldiers

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Re: The Pentagon Is Building a Team of Tech-Savvy Soldiers

#61

Post by withdavidli »

tdhz77 wrote: post #32
solidsnack9000 wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They add $4500 per month to live in DC?

You ready to join the force?

Force as in military or combat jobs? Any list that provides jobs or departments that offer this type of subsidy?

Quick Google search brings deferred loan programs. I'm not aware of subsidized housing programs except for stationed military. If this is widely available, it would change the math for many people. 4,500/month stipend pays the mortgage. Friends in other govt departments never had that, is it DC specific?

Re: The Pentagon Is Building a Team of Tech-Savvy Soldiers

#62

Post by tdhz77 »

withdavidli wrote: post #61
tdhz77 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You ready to join the force?

Force as in military or combat jobs? Any list that provides jobs or departments that offer this type of subsidy? Quick Google search brings deferred loan programs. I'm not aware of subsidized housing programs except for stationed military. If this is widely available, it would change the math for many people. 4,500/month stipend pays the mortgage. Friends in other govt departments never had that, is it DC specific?

This is D.C. specific. $4500 is for one year. It’s what I receive under my TDY. (Temp Duty Station Change).

Re: The Pentagon Is Building a Team of Tech-Savvy Soldiers

#63

Post by navbaker »

Merad wrote: post #53
gbhn wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps a better analogy: let's say you're hiring people with the offer that you'll pay them $2M the first year, then nothing for 20 years. The danger is that the person will quit. So it is more conservative to offer a deal where you pay them nothing for 20 years, then $2M. Then you're pretty sure they'll stay, especially if they're 15 years in. I think that's probably the best way to understand the salary/pension tr…

Do civilian government employees even get a pension plan anymore? I got an offer a few years back from a three letter agency in DC and I'm pretty sure they just had a 401k.

Yes, 1.1 percent of the average of the highest three years you were paid during your service for each year you worked. So if you did 30 years, you’d make 33 percent pension. That’s on top of the employer match that the government does if you contribute to the Thrift Savings Plan, an ultra low expenses IRA plan for military and federal civilians.

Re: The Pentagon Is Building a Team of Tech-Savvy Soldiers

#64

Post by withdavidli »

tdhz77 wrote: post #62
withdavidli wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Force as in military or combat jobs? Any list that provides jobs or departments that offer this type of subsidy? Quick Google search brings deferred loan programs. I'm not aware of subsidized housing programs except for stationed military. If this is widely available, it would change the math for many people. 4,500/month stipend pays the mortgage. Friends in other govt departments never had that, is it DC specific?

This is D.C. specific. $4500 is for one year. It’s what I receive under my TDY. (Temp Duty Station Change).

Yearly makes much more sense. At the same time, nowhere near enough to make up for the pay cut. I’m non tech, and my peer who was being recruited for US Digital Service would had to take about a 50k pay cut to sub 100k level.

Re: The Pentagon Is Building a Team of Tech-Savvy Soldiers

#65

Post by withdavidli »

kamaal wrote: post #41
withdavidli wrote: post #8

Never understood the underpaying of highly qualified people in the govt. Making a sacrifice for your country in a high powered / representative position is one thing, but the rank and file? Billions are spent on defense contracts and old software, but when bringing on teams of people to revamp the system, they want these people to take more than a 50% pay cut. D.C. is an expensive place to live as well. If you think…

>>don't be cheap about it. Throw in Pension, Health Benefits, Over time pay and other benefits and it won't be cheap any more. Not all forms of pay come in a monthly pay check.

This is true. Though the perks and benefits that the govt provides for office workers are not going to be able to compete with top tech companies. Pension is delayed payment of decades while tenure at companies are dropping. I bet quantifying these forms of pay would make the comparison even worse.

There are a few things that I’m comparing it to that makes me say they are cheap (since it is a relative term).

1. How much money the govt has spent in other endeavors whether policy or contractors.

2. How much private sector (market) values top talent that the govt is trying to attract and retain. Value prop for private companies is high, but the impact these people can have on the US govt should be a lot larger.

Re: The Pentagon Is Building a Team of Tech-Savvy Soldiers

#66

Post by yardie »

martzcodes wrote: post #59
yardie wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe so. Federal employees don’t pay social security so their only fixed income will come from their government pension.

Yes they do. In the old system they didn't, but everyone since ~1984 does (and most of the old-system folks are retired or near retirement now. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/post/federa...

Right I was talking to a retired, lifelong federal employee who mentioned he didn’t pay SS. Since ‘84 was over 30 years ago I expect the number to flip for those on the new pension scheme, soon.
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