[Lance]

IMO firemen, police, military, etc. are grossly underpaid compared to many other government paid employees. These people put their lives on the line for the safety of others. I don't know what any of the above are paid but I'd guess less than say any municipal inspector, school principal, etc. And another thing: a welder for example in the military working for the army in Afghanistan I think would earn far less than if our government had to send civilian welders over to do the same job. Is this right? I applaud these people for the risk they take to make our country safer.