It can be said without a doubt that federal government employees are very well compensated. The average pay for a civilian federal employee is $71,100 (comparatively, the average pay in the private sector is $44,000). The average benefit package for a federal employee – which includes health insurance, retirement benefits, and pensions – is another $35,500 per year, bringing the total value of average compensation to $106,600 per year.

This labor force is large and ever-growing, but it is almost entirely elitist in its membership. You see, there exists a distinct population of federal employees left out in the cold, unable to reap such a windfall and earn what they should. Compared to the bureaucratic elitists, they are far more deserving of such compensation, yet are treated like humanized tools: underpaid, used up and then forgotten. The folks in questions are by far the most important federal employees, yet our government chooses to reward them as the least important. These untended individuals are the very heart and soul of America and the key to our freedom and that of millions around the globe….our armed forces.

These amazing warriors have willingly taken it upon themselves to represent America with no motive other than patriotism and, typically, money is not on their radar. But, just because we have a volunteer military does not mean that we have to more or less reimburse them like they are volunteers. We must take better care of them now and then when they retire. Such stability should be paramount because it is the least that every American owes them.

Compared to the rest of the federal employment rolls, military compensation is pedestrian at best. The average salary for enlisted men is $42,000, some $29,100 less than the average civilian federal employee. At first glance, the total average military package (including wage) may appear high at $99,000 per year. But realize this number is errant by design because it includes food and housing allowances. One could legitimately argue that these items should be counted not as compensation but rather as the military’s overhead necessary to maintain and house the troops, almost like an investment in said personnel.

Paring away at this compensation package even further one also finds that the post-employment benefits are also suspect. Military pensions do not come close to the other federal employees’ retirement earnings because the average base wage is so low. Similarly, military health insurance is nowhere near as fancy as that the civilians receive and it can be quite confusing and selective. It requires regional VA hospitals for administration and care and, in many cases, military vets are denied participation in run-of-the-mill privatized health care services.

This disconnect between payment and actual value speaks volumes about how deeply entangled, self-serving and misguided our federal system is. Through these abuses it rewards its own bureaucracy but not acts of patriotism and heroism. We have young men and women sacrificing "normal", comfortable lifestyles - if not their minds and bodies - to protect us and our interests all in the name of the American Way. Our armed forces are selfless in their pursuits, but ultimately are at the mercy of a government that tells them who, when, and how to fight and protect. The government creates edicts and declarations of war and sends these valiant souls into battle in far-flung lands, away from home, away from family, and away from America, never fully recognizing the real worth of these soldiers. While this occurs, the government sits back in the comfort of their offices, their homes, and the arms of their families…all while collecting a fat paycheck.

It is time that we finally rectify this pitiful situation by properly compensating our armed forces and ultimately recognizing them for what they are: Priceless.