Big-ticket weapons like aircraft carriers and the F-35 fighter jet have to be part of any conversation about cutting Pentagon spending to satisfy the mandatory budget reductions known as the sequester. But compensation for military personnel has to be on the table, too — even though no other defense issue is more politically volatile or emotionally fraught.
Yes they get food and housing benefits, but the salary of sergeant with 4 years expience is....$30,359. About equal to one of Tom Friedman's Asia trip expense reports I'd imagine.
The point of cutting the pay of military personnel is to ensure there's more money for the contractors, and more money for the post-military salaries of the generals.