First off, let me say that for what they do, most of the troops are underpaid. I don't have time right now to read the article, so if what I say, or ask has been addressed in it, sorry. Now, I pose this question: With two wars, or conflicts going on right now, what are the numbers like of people actually in the military? Are they higher than normal? I could AMLOST see this as valid reasoning. Ok, I just did a quick read of the article, and if an additional .5% increase is only going to be $350 Million, that's a mere drop in the bucket, let themn have it.