Does the enlisted soldier make good money?

The salary alone isn't great, but with bonuses and allowances etc. Included, does it all even out to be a comftorable living? Since housing allowances take a chunk out of their housing payments doesn't that leave money for nice cars and stuff like that? I live in Fayetteville, NC which is very close to Fort Bragg and it seems like most of the soldiers I see on the road have nice vehicles like the Ford F-150, mustang, camaro and a lot of them drive really nice motorcycles. Is it me or do soldiers typically own pretty nice cars? Would this occupation provide comfortable support for a wife and a couple kids?

First: there aren't any bonuses anymore. Very few exist these days. But yeah after you take into the fact that you get a free room, free meals and many posts you don't need a car plus the education and health benefits, yeah it is comfortable. People like you though make the mistake of buying that nice car and buying those useless items and end up broke and/ or homeless after serving. I've been to Bragg too and must say that I must wonder where you see all these camaros? Mustangs are actually cheaper than you think and the models from 5 years ago look like the news ones so you don't really know what they are driving. The one with the camaro is either higher rank or the type that will end up broke after enlistment. A wife and a couple kids? Not on E1 or E2 pay, you don't get extra money with extra kids and kids cost a lot but if you are E3+ with 2 kids max and are frugal then yeah you would be ok

I do know lower enlisted who have a spouse and children that received food stamps, so the "money" is not really "good". Although housing or a housing subsidy are available, just like the rest of us you need to live within your means. I'd imagine that many younger enlisted, just like other young professionals, would choose to invest their disposable income in a nicer vehicle.

Not if he gets killed.

Not really but, just like any job, you start out on the bottom and things usually get better from there.

You'll do just fine

When compared to someone in private sector with similar experience and education, yes.

What other job pays extra when you're married? What other job gives unskilled workers good health benefits?

I didn't make a whole lot of money, but I was rarely broke. I lived in the barracks, so I had no housing expenses, didn't pay for utilities or groceries. And medical/dental is free for all soldiers.

If I did run out of money before pay day, I always knew that I had a roof over my head and food in my stomach.

This page should give you an idea how much soldiers earn, http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Soldier/Salary.