The Pentagon says US troops' pay is 'strongly competitive' compared to the private sector

The US military says its total compensation is "strongly competitive" compared to the private sector.

Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

• A new Pentagon report said its troops earn more than most of their full-time civilian counterparts.
• It said that after one year of service, the top 70th percentile of enlisted earners get about $1,000 a week.
• But that figure includes far more than base pay, which Congress recently voted to raise significantly.

A Pentagon...