May I remind the author of the Jan. 29 letter “Alternative to denying R & R” that all members of the military and Department of Defense civilians willingly signed an agreement regarding their jobs? I rather resent being included with members of Congress (“the lavish benefits and lengthy vacations of Congress and civilian DOD members should have been trimmed before deployed soldiers were asked to spend nine months in a war zone with only a four-day pass as a respite”), as they were voted into office by the people of the United States of America.

I consider my job a privilege along with the benefits. I am not sure why we allow the government to receive so much more than the people doing the real work but, let’s not beat up too much on the DOD civilian contractors. I feel I am here to serve the military.