I am a Dual Status Technician and I make $800 more a month bring home on military orders than I do as a WG employee... I am not currently on orders and I am also in a light duty status that involves me spending 15 dollars a day in gas to come to work and hold a chair down.
I hear a lot of people with the "just be patient" advice but these people haven't gone three years without a raise, they haven't been furloughed twice, and they also will not be furloughed again in January 2014 if the Government can't come to a budget deal once again.
Everyones situation is different and if I were sitting here collecting full pay and allowances then I would be a little more financially secure, never have to worry about a furlough, and also want the IDES process to take as long as it possibly could. Oh yeah I also don't get tuition assistance so going to school for free isn't an option either.