I was in the Army for more than twenty years, and I can say that joining the military was the best decision I have ever made. There are many differences between military and civilian pay and benefits. The Military gets pay base on your pay grade and time in service, based on a pay scale issued by defense finance and accounting services (DFAS). According to the fiscal year 2014, military pay scale the average enlisted service member E-1 with two years of service in the military is paid $1,532.00 per month and an E-9 with 10 years of service in the military is paid $4,837.00. Civilians get paid either hourly or on a salary. When I join the Military was because, of job security, pay, good education benefits and an excellent retirement system, this are just a few of the top reasons I seek federal employment. Others consider government careers because of desirable travel opportunities, training availability, different occupations and the ability to locate jobs nationwide and overseas. One of the benefits Military service member receive is free housing or Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is an allowance to offset the cost of housing when you do not received government provided housing.Your BAH depend upon your location, pay grade, and if you are married or single, based on a pay scale issued by defense finance and accounting services (DFAS) military pay scale the average enlisted soldier E-1 and E-2 with dependents get paid $2,607.00 per month, without dependents they get paid $1,956.00 per month and an E-9 with dependents get paid $3,696.00 per month, without dependents he gets paid $2,832.00 per month. This benefits service are for members leaving off post. Single soldiers E-4 and below have to leave in the barracks, they have their own rooms but they have to share kitchen and bathrooms. In the civilian sector most jobs will not offer any additional pay for housing. The second benefit that Military service member receive is Basic Al