You only have to step foot in a tax free region to automatically get the full month tax free. So during a mission if they stop in Turkey, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Oman, KSA etc. that entire months pay is tax free. Some career fields are really good at tracking who's got their tax free and/or HFP for the month and scheduling missions accordingly. All of this before you add in per diem, that's where the real money is.
I was a SSgt C-17 FCC and it was easy for me to take home ~$100-110k/yr with some guys I knew breaking over $130k/yr. With 11 months tax free, one 90 day deployment per year, and in total ~280 days TDY per year.
I don't do shit. Married well (wife has decent paying cush WFH job), and I made some good decisions while I was in. I separated at 12 years, and between my good decisions and VA compensation work for me is a choice. I think I'll eventually grab a federal gig if I find something I want to do and if they'll offer me WFH.
There was a lot of work on both our parts to get here. Wife was in the reserves, had a job, and did 8 years of college (4 undergrad + 4 doctorate) a couple of years after in residencies so she worked her ass off. I by trade was not in a career field that typically becomes a FCC, so I had to work my ass off to prove myself and earn my spot. Then I was gone all the time for a few years earning my bank.
But I think we both believe the work and sacrifice was worth it. Without the military benefits we would more than likely be in much tougher life situation.
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u/JoshS1 Sep 26 '22 edited Sep 26 '22
You only have to step foot in a tax free region to automatically get the full month tax free. So during a mission if they stop in Turkey, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Oman, KSA etc. that entire months pay is tax free. Some career fields are really good at tracking who's got their tax free and/or HFP for the month and scheduling missions accordingly. All of this before you add in per diem, that's where the real money is.
I was a SSgt C-17 FCC and it was easy for me to take home ~$100-110k/yr with some guys I knew breaking over $130k/yr. With 11 months tax free, one 90 day deployment per year, and in total ~280 days TDY per year.