*This post was updated on 7/28 (see below)*
“Ten military years are equivalent to 20 civilian years.” That’s what one military spouse told me not too long ago. When I tell people that my husband would be eligible for retirement in his 40s, they can hardly believe it. It’s one of those things that sounds too good to be true, but actually IS true. People join the military for all sorts of reasons, but I’d venture to say that the 20-year “fixed” retirement is a huge, juicy carrot which many prospective service members find hard to resist. And who can blame them?
A sweeping new plan to overhaul the Pentagon’s retirement system would give some benefits to all troops and phase out the 20-year cliff vesting system that has defined military careers for generations, the Military Times newspapers reported.
The plan calls for a corporate-style benefits program that would contribute money to troops’ retirement savings account rather than the promise of a future monthly pension, according to a new proposal from an influential Pentagon advisory board.
The move would save the Pentagon money — at a time when it’s being asked to cut at least $400 billion — and benefit troops who leave with less than 20 years of service.
It’s important to point out that this is just a plan and has not been signed off on by lawmakers. So this is by no means a done deal, but the proposal is causing consternation among service members, and rightly so. Traditionally, when you hear of major changes to a system, there is a grandfather clause. Alarmingly, according to this article, that may not be the case here:
Unlike past changes to the military retirement plan, which shielded current service mem bers from the changes, the plan presented by the Defense Business Board would not grandfather current service members. The plan would go into effect immediately and includes current and future service members.
Under that plan, new recruits would start immediately earning TSP contributions, but, would have no incentive to stay in the military for 20 or more years since they would not get a fixed-benefit pension. Current service members would begin receiving TSP contributions immediately and would earn a grad u ated percent age of their pay if they stay in the military for 20 years or more years. Their fixed pension rate would be based on their years of service when the new plan kicks in. For example a service member who has 15 years of service would get 37.5 per cent of their base pay at 20 years in addition to the new TSP contributions.
While some may argue that this proposal helps service members who separate before the 20-year mark, there’s a major problem here:
It’s unclear whether troops would have immediate access to all the retirement money or whether it would be partially or completely withheld until a traditional retirement age, such as 65. Under the current TSP, troops cannot withdraw money until age 59½ without incurring a significant penalty, except in certain specified circumstances.
Richard Spencer of the Defense Business Board says:
“The current system is unfair, unaffordable and inflexible,” said Richard Spencer, a former finance executive and Marine Corps pilot who led the board’s eight-month retirement study.
As for the unfair part, I ask, unfair to whom? If someone chooses to stay 20 years, they will receive their pension immediately upon retirement (as of now). If they choose to leave early, they know what they’re leaving on the table. It’s a choice. Further, life’s not fair. And the sooner we all learn that lesson, the better off we will be. Unfortunately, “fair” has become a buzz word people toss around to skirt sensible reforms and play on the emotions of others.
I’ll be the first to say that times are tough and everyone needs to tighten their belts. I don’t think the DoD is, or should be, immune to “responsible” cuts (and I fully realize that “responsible” is in the eye of the beholder….). However, you don’t send your warriors to battle for over a decade and then pull the rug out from under them in this manner. You don’t tell the service member with 19 years in that everything he thought and planned for when he hit that 20-year mark has radically changed. Looking at changing future policy is one thing, and can certainly be considered and debated, but not grandfathering in those who signed on the dotted line with a clear understanding of what they could expect in 20 years is an entirely different matter.
Just yesterday, the DoD announced that all four branches met or exceeded their recruiting goals.
Good luck with retention if this plan ever sees the light of day!
UPDATE (7/28): Click here to see the slide deck of the DBB’s findings and their suggestions for overhauling the system. I would encourage everyone to read through the slide deck. This will answer some of the questions that have been tossed around in the comment section.
Semi-related news: Click here to read about a bill to protect military pay.
UPDATE (8/3): Admiral Mike Mullen addressed this issue saying, “[T]he service chiefs would recommend that if such a change were considered, troops with some years of military service would be grandfathered in, so they would not be affected. He did not specify how many years of service that would be.” Click here for the full article.
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Unacceptable. If this passes my husband will not be wasting any more time with the military. The only reason most servicemembers go career is because of that 20 year plan- who wants to deal with all the added hardship of military life when you could find some corporate job with the same benefits? I think the Dod needs to remember that you get what you pay for.
not true at all, we do this job for commitment to our country. you dont join the Army to get rich, you do it because you want to do it. nobody force nobody to do this job. if that was your husband only reason to join the service, you are right"" he need to get out
So sad that the only reason he joined was to retire early. Also sad that you think he is wasting time in the military.
To all the people that say “tough ****” – screw you. I’ve done several deployments in god forsaken parts of the world, leaving my family at home. I didn’t like it, but I did it. I’ve even been seriously wounded doing it. I was promised a certain retirement plan for when I was done doing this dangerous job, and I’ll be damn if I stand idly while it gets taken away fom me
I retired last year, Chief Petty Officer 21 years of service, 13 years of sea time, 13 deployments with one year in Iraq. Yes we do this job for the committment and for our country, however I can tell you that if not for my retirement pay now I would not be surviving on the outside. It is good to be patriotic, and love your job but if you keep getting a cut in benefits, pay and advancement then it makes it not so enjoyable. Cutting the 20 year retirement is going to cause nothing but trouble, with a military that is already downsizing, and advancments are getting tougher I believe we are going to have a hard time meeting our numbers and trying to recruit new personnel, especially knowing that now there are less benefits.
"You don't join the Army to get rich." Not to worry. You'll never ever get "rich" in the Army. Spend the prime of your life trying to make ends meet, risking your life, never-ending moves… If there wasn't some light at the end of the tunnel who in their right mind would ever stay for 20 years of torture? Now they want to take even that away. Patriotism is well and good but a deal is a deal. Now, you hold up your end but DoD wants to renege. Lovely!! …but not at all surprising.
Just think of all the wasted training time and money, not to mention the experience. This is just another attempt to downgrade the military
I'm Active Duty in the US Military and this article totally ruined my day when I got this email from Military.com. I have 13 years in service and my retirement plans are mostly centered around the pention I expect to receive when I reach 20 years. I will be 42 when I plan to retire. Too old to start fresh at a reputable company or being able to compete with the new generation of graduates coming out of college and entering the workforce. This is completely demoralizing for those Service Men and Women who are currently fighting for our country and taking the hardships that come along with the job as something that is necessary to reach that 20 year finish line. This is not how you "SUPPORT OUR TROOPS"!!! This plan will ruin the lives of veterans and career military members who already have their lives and career paths planned out.
I will be damned if I'm going to put my retirement in the hands of this economy's stock market and watch everything I've fought for slowly deminish into scraps. I have no faith in this economy getting better anytime soon. I'm starting my training in 2 weeks for my first tour to Afghanistan and it terrifies me more about what lawmakers, Congress, and the Obama administration are doing to our country, then getting my head shot off by some Taliban junky or getting blown up by an IED.
America
ain't this some Bullshit!
This deal is done there will be a cut off date and if your behind the cut off date you will no longer get retirement the old way it will be the new way. The plans are already in place. I saw them when I went to ask about my own retirement. (I am sure I was not supposed to see them but they are already in place.)
I don't know the cut off date but my guess is that if you are getting ready to sign up with the miltitary get it in writing that you are part of the old 20 year plan if you don't have it in writing you are not going to get it.
The old way was not fair for anyone that was the spouse of a military member. My ex did 17 plus years he started messing around on purpose because he wanted out of his contract (even told his commander this is why he was doing it) Took it to a court martial level slept with an enlisted members wife just so he could get out . I lost my retirement he went into civilian work and ran off with the young secretary and all of our cash. So yeah the old system sucked too.
Quite the mercenary wife, aren't you? Why not let your husband make the decision. after all – it is his asse on the line, not your's lady.
Good answer, you are soooo right. As an Air Force retiree myself and out of the best branch of the service, in my opinion. Out government wants our soldiers to lay their lives on the line for our country, as they constantly look for ways of cut pay and pensions. Just like when they cut back the E-6. E-7 and E-8 high year of tenure to stay in the military to save money and didn't grandfather that if you've been married to a military person for over 10 years and they have been on active duty, that the spouse is entitled to up to 50% of their pay when they retire and didn't grandfather that either. My point is that they promise you things then change them and make them immediately effective which is wrong for the active duty force at the time, cause when they signed the paperwork to enter the Armed Forces these laws that Congress arbitrarily pass were not in place. The word Grandfather means a loving person, but when Congress uses it, it's evil and not fare. But I don't think that really matters to them….It's all about money…like this proposal. They want us to lay down our lives, like for this ridiculous 11 year war we are still in, costing trillions of dollars….and want the fighting man to finance it.
" the best branch of the service, " That's what they all say. Your "branch of service" is no better or worse than any other.
I will encourage my husband to retire if this happens. I am ANGRY about this decision.
So far, it's just a recommendation. It has to be approved by congress before it would go into effect. Congress may table it, amend it, or approve it. I suspect the grandfather clause might be restored in any congressional revision, but who knows? There are fewer veterans serving in the legislature today than at any other time in our history.
good job, make sure he does
Way to be a jackass. People have a right to be upset. I "signed on the dotted line" and have done my duty well and faithfully for 17 years. Having the rules changed at this stage by a government that can't even straighten out social security (which has money going in as much as out) is outrageous. Gee, Nelson, if you really ARE a servicemember, maybe you should just be grateful to serve – if you're not in it for the paycheck on SOME level, why not just serve for free? It IS an honor to serve, but nobody can afford to risk their necks without being compensated. We're not asking for raises; just to have the government honor our service by keeping up their end of the deal.
I agree that my husband would walk immediately upon finding a replacement job if this plan were enacted. He has never been in it for the guns and adrenaline, and this would be taking away his primary incentive for doing the job. I think he would feel very cheated to not be grandfathered in, for he would have made very different life/career plans at age 22 if he hadn't been enticed by retirement at 42.
My vote for a way for the military to save money goes toward cutting the per diems across the board. I can rant on that topic for hours, if you'd like. I don't know how that would stack up to cutting retirements, but that's where I personally would start instead (in case anyone important is listening and wants my two cents!)
You're an idiot! Cut our per diems! We are earned those. It's bad enough already they cut the COLA. If your husband isn't in it for the guns and the adrenaline then I would suggest he find new employment elsewhere. That's their primary job. To go and kill the bad guys.
Name-calling is quite a way to make your point…And who is "we are earned those"…
Not being in it for the guns and adrenaline doesn't mean Sarah's husband isn't a great soldier. As a matter of fact, those who don't go in for the adrenaline often seem to be the better warriors because they engage rationally…And yes, I have met many of them, and most are "lifers".
this will determine when dh get out…we are in year 18 and a half…because that half counts!!! LOL
this only apply to new recruits, people that have 10ys or more dont apply to them
Where did you read that Nelson? The article above said it would not grandfather current service members.
"Unlike past changes to the military retirement plan, which shielded current service mem bers from the changes, the plan presented by the Defense Business Board would not grandfather current service members. The plan would go into effect immediately and includes current and future service members."
If this happens without Grandfather clause, our military will shrink really fast because people will leave left and right – which then would start another incentive program, which then would be unfair to those who don't get a bonus pay, and there we go again…
Sadly, I think that's what they want to happen. That way the medical and pension benefits coming out of the budget will sharply drop off over time. They want the "young blood" to keep rotating in, but not stick around to reap the benefits of the traditional military career.
It's those quick fixes to long-term problems that cause mess after mess…
I like one aspect of this plan, and that is how it can benefit those who get out before 20 years, especially for reasons they may not foresee in their early 20's (deployments too hard on children, marriage failing, PTSD, injury). I would like some kind of system where the government contributes to the TSP, similar to FERS (and many civilian jobs). At least this would benefit those who stay less than 20. I also like the idea of higher contributions for multiple deployments, hardship duty, etc.
However, I also have a huge problem with the lack of grandfather clause. Especially for those past the "hump" of 10 years, many have made career/life decisions based on the expectation of retiring with pension at 20 years. My husband has 4 years remaining and you can bet we would not still be here if it weren't for the guaranteed pension and healthcare benefits. The enticement of the GI Bill may work to get people in, but once those young soldiers get married and have kids, the risk and sacrifice of deployments and general military life may not be worth it, if the "light at the end of the tunnel" is when they're 60, rather than 40.
I did 3 years in the Army and another 8 in the Navy, when they decided to down size and forced many of us out. We walked away with nothing, yet the very same government forces business to hold true to a pension plan that is considered vested after 5 years. That isn't right by any fair standard. Our government does what they please and our right to vote can't change that.
if this goes into effect we will see more 3-4 year minimal enlistments just to receive college GI bills, and.technical training, then the soldier will not reenlist. The Military will then have to spend more dollars to retrain a new recruit to replace the already trained corporal or sergeant who did not reenlist and instead, sought out a better paying civilian job utilizing his expensive military training. eventually you will have plenty of "Indians" but no "Chiefs" to lead them, and huge bill for training a 4 year item instead of a 20 year investment. This is a BAD, BAD policy call.
The Army is not re-enlisting everyone anymore, only the one that qualified the Best. people that join the Army and they are not good enough, after 4 years they can get out and apply for a civilian job. By the way, it take courage to became an Indians and commitment to be Chief
You are totally correct in your statement!!!
you should refer to "slaves" and "masters" next time or "ho's" and "pimps"
I don't think this is fair to the service members who decided to stay in the military with the thought of their 20-year fixed retirement benefit in mind. I am willing to bet that if this goes into effect, a lot of the senior service members will begin to retire and our military will become a whole lot younger. What happens when people stop reenlisting? What is the benefit to staying in and risking additional deployments, when you can take the education the military has paid for and move on to another job that will offer better retirement options. It's a shame that some people have already committed their lives to the military and may not even recieve the retirement they have worked so hard for and surely deserve. I hope someone puts a stop to this. I understand that they are trying to cut down the force, but revoking the standard retirement plan, without grandfathering those who have already given several years of service is no the answer.
Yup, so much for all the "support the troops" slogans. The vast majority of the public perceives DoD as a cash cow to be harvested as soon as possible. I'm sure the public expects the toll to come out of procurement and other boondoggles, but sadly…it's going to come at the expense of the men and women who serve.
Richard Spencer should have given some thought to responsibility when American tax $$ were on the table. Did he give thought to the funding of the grandfather clause benefit for the thousands of active duty soldiers? When decisions were being made as to the distrbution of funds. His comment about life isn't fair is insensitive, cold hearted and unwarranted. His attitude seems to be that as a retired Marine his GFC benefit isn't affected by the change that he is so adamant about implementing. Be forewarned that if these changes take place there will be a mass exodus of servicemembers and it will be even harder to recruit, which will leave the country vulnerable. I believe that because of the DOD's mismanagement of billions of tax dollars in weaponry and other unnecessary ideas (or building up countries) for decades is inexcusable and servicemembers should not have to sacrifice their 20yr military service grandfather clause benefit because of fraud, waste and abuse by those that have been entrusted by servicemembers and the American public to make sound decisions.
Actually, Mr. Spencer didn't say life wasn't fair, I said that in response to his comment that the current retirement system is "unfair." I was simply making the point that service members make a choice whether to separate before the 20-year mark, and they do so knowing all the facts. I don't think it's unfair as it stands now and find that to be a poor reason to overhaul the system in this manner. But yes, I do agree that they should dig deep and eliminate the fraud, waste and abuse where it exists. This should be done whether we're in good economic times, or bad.
Wow, that is the stupidest idea for saving money I've ever heard. My husband is a CMSgt, if this happened he would be gone faster than you could say WHAT??. It would be much harder to recruit and even more to retain. The military spends over 1 million dollars to train many enlisted career fields and at least that to train pilots. Those folks would take that very expensive training and their security clearance and get the heck out of dodge. Air Traffic Controllers are going to be getting very scarce in the FAA here shortly due to retirements and if they think those military Controllers won't jump ship, they've got another thing coming. What about the Intelligence career fields and Computer fields? Those people, too, would be gone lickity split. Those career fields make a LOT more money on the civilian side than they do in the military, so what is to keep those folks in.
Don't active military folks only make up 1% of the US population? I would like to know what percentage of that 1% actually make it to retirement in the first place. Would this really save money, umm, I'm thinking not. I haven't been able to find a single person I was ever stationed with while on active duty that is still in the military or that made it to retirement. We only have a handful of friends that have followed my husband's career path and made it long enough to retire and that handful are actually already over 20 years. Somehow I don't think their "sense of duty" would have kept them in that long if not for the retirement each of them is counting on. You want to save money, how about getting rid of some of those "non-essential" jobs out there.
I agree with you 100%!
My brother and I were just talking about this possibility. I believe that those people currently in the military would be grandfathered in. I agree with some of the previous responses that it would cause some recruiting problems and other issues. Let me remind people that Guard and Reserve members who serve 20 years only get retirement upon turning, I think, 56. So even those who are serving in an active role(deployed in a war zone) will only receive retirement benefits when they turn that age. I know there is much waste in other ares of the DOD but we do need to be realistic about retirement . While I like the idea of getting immediate retirement after 20 years of service, we are living longer than when this policy was implemented. I don't know what the answer is, but what ever happens, I hope that calm and considerate minds prevail.
I agree that it's a LOT of money to keep people in pensions for the rest of their lives. Perhaps some changes in rates could be in order. But my outrage comes at the lack of grandfather clause. People who are already in made cost-benefit analyses of their life plans and factored in the retirement that they were offered when they joined. I don't think it's fair to change the rules of the game halfway through. But for new recruits, yes, they could change the system and see how it affects recruiting and retention. It may not continue to be a sustainable system, just like Social Security is proving to not be sustainable with an aging population, but I still think you can't change the rules halfway through the game for people…
This is a bad, bad policy idea. Retention would nearly go out the window. Training new personnel is very expensive, especially when they may only stay for a minimal stint. A career in the military is not like other careers, we're talking about the defense of our nation here. And to think of implementing such an idea with no grandfather clause is dishonorable to those who promised to defend us. It's not just unfair, it's WRONG!!
That is what happened in the late 60s with the "health bennies" we were SUPPOSED to get for life!
I can see how this would be a BAD decision on many levels, but I understand the costs of retirement. BUT to not grandfather in people would be awful. We have 10 years in and my husband could easily make 2 or 3 times as much in the civilian world, but we stay in for the retirement and because we haven't had a hard go of it like so many other families. But seriously whoever thought this was a good idea and then added that they wouldn't grandfather people in clearly doesn't have a clue what they are doing. I'm sure that won't pass as is.
ok, whinners……… if you dont like it, then get out. ggeee if I dont like my job I would look for another, funny how many of you now talk about leaving cause you dont get a retiement like you want, they are giving you some thing. always heard yea all whin how your in for your country, hhmm your in for the benfits only. good luck getting that 2 or 3 times more money on the out side…… drive on and deal with it, its not all that bad……….
Not whinning but with 17.5 years in I have more than earned my pension. I enlisted under a CONTRACT for retirement of 20 years. Doing this is the same as breaking a contract. When we get out of the military we know we will take a pay cut but to have to work 2 to 3 jobs because of not getting our retirement pay at 20 is BS. Go ahead and save money but grandfather those with over 12 so we have a chance to contribute enough for our retirement.
Whinners??? are you serious??? The federal government has a constitutional obligation to provide for defense of this country with a military force. AN OBLIGATION, unlike the unconstitutional spending on pet projects and faucet of money pouring INTO other countries from our tax dollars.
The service of soldiers is a strength we take for granted. If we lose our military strength, we all lose. Soft power and hard power are gone. The benefits of CAREER soldiers is the strength of our military. Take that experience away and you have a bunch of kids with guns applying the strategy of a video game. Retirements benefits are the carrot to any long-term career. One tries to maintain that passion, but on any given day may be discontent; it's even harder when idiots who don't know what they are doing are telling the Pentagon to cut billions of dollars AGAIN. Every year it's, "Do MORE with LESS money!"
If you honestly believe that your SILENCE is going to benefit you, you will become a victim; if you can't learn to speak up when you see ignorance in action, you should be the one running for a hiding place – you will be next. Open your eyes to the wrong-doings of politicans who will receive full medical and retirement benefits after ONE – yes one – year of service —- no matter how bad they perform their jobs!!!! Let's take that away to cut the budget and see who starts to cry.
Hmm…I guess you feel that serving is like taking a civilian job. Try telling my kids and my wife that. I choose to serve my country for the greater good. I knew nothing of entitlements when I joined 14 years ago. This new plan would screw many in my position. Did we screw the U.S. when we decided to serve? The funny part about all of this is where the money comes from. They are taking the diffrence from current servicemembers who are at retirment service and applying the new plan. The money is only changing hands. My info comes from AF times.
First of all, your grammar skills need some work. Sentences always begin with a capital letter. Also, please translate "whin" and "yea all". Additionally, a complete sentence must always contain both a subject and predicate, so you might want to look at that as well ("Google" it if you need to). The bottom line is as follows: If you want to be taken seriously, you must be able to communicate effectively. As for the retirement issue, I have no problem getting out, if that's what I wanted to do, but a promise is a promise. Not grandfathering current servicemembers is a slap in the face for those of us with 20 or more years of faithful service.
You're such an idiot!!! You can't be in the military for saying something as stupid as that. The federal government uses the military as bullet catchers for their personal agenda's and the first group they try to cut funds from is the military. They're in essence turning their back on us and asking you at the same time to grin and bear it. Well haven't we beared the brunt of their wars long enough. Luckily, I've already retired but even my monthly pension isn't safe anymore. If they passed any legislation that took away from Active Duty, Retired or Disabled Vets I would be the first person to stand outside a recruiting station with a picket sign. I love my county and my government but they don't love me or you or anyone that's serving or has served!!!
Billy,
You were obviously dropped on the head as a child,… multiple times and I suspect on purpose. For you to frame a way of life as a "job" is unfounded and shows you could not have been previously in the military. Question Billy, were you denied entry and have some seething, underlying agenda because the military stated you weren't what we were looking for? Additinally sir, you are a moron with syntax and grammar. Of course you support a plan that buthers the contractual compensation promised upon enlistment, becuase of your apparent inability to master the typewriter, speech, sentence organization and rhetoric.
Serving because you can't or won't,
John
It's great to get some input from the left wing. If we treated our military members as well as we do Unions it would triple their salaries, benefits and retirements. That means that the guy who spends his lunch time drinking beer and smoking dope at the GM plant, makes triple the salary of our military. His job is using a massive drill to put lug nuts on a wheel and makes $70 an hour, plus benefits to do this demanding job. Cut the Unions and get rid of the democrats that keep feeding them massive benefits.
It's not the unions or the democrats. The way I see it is that it is this so-called leadership everyone runs to and thinks they actually give a u know what about them. Republicans are right there, too. They all use the military as pawns, unions, too. Any working class man is just a pawn for their political gain. If you think repubs give a darn, they've got you fooled. It's coming down to everyman/woman for themselves. I'll tell you exactly what I see. I see everyone coming after the working man. Gov. Walker and repubs in Wisconsin…they went after unions first. Now, others are thinking, "hey, let's go after the military next!". I wonder what group will be after unions and military? It isn't about left and right anymore, it's about rich and poor, because they're working on getting rid of the middle class!
Tell me why these folks in office left, right, and center are getting better than $70 per hour and leaving their benefits in tact?! To do the demanding job of putting our benefits and retirement on the line!
Billy needs to spend a couple of weeks in Afghanistan or Iraq, His left wing ideology won't make him many friends.
I don't think Billy is left wing. He's just wrong. That could be left, right, or center! Better start looking out for number one, because the right is coming after the working class, too! If you don't think so, just sit back and watch!
Really man, your going to be like that. The majority of us do like our jobs and did sign up so we could get the great retirement. You obviously got yours already or just dont care about anyone else.
It seems like they are always trying to take away from the military pay. I jsut dont understand it. I have been researcing this topic all over the internet but cannot seem to find one article about they way they are handling people that are over 20 years already. I see that instead of getting the full retirement check, they have divided the people already active duty into groups that will earn an annuity of the "old plan" as well as eceive the TSP account when they are old enough. My husband has a little over 21 years in as we speak so has anyone read how that will work for him? He is already being told to drop his retirement papers this week in the event the plan does pass because he wouldnt fall under the new plan then, but I want him to finish his 24 years if possible.
My apologies for all the typos. I should have proofed it before commenting, but I am at work so I typed this in a hurry.
once you have 20 you get the 50%, but the 21 to 24 years is TSP.
I don't like it but I'm not in the least surprised by it. I agree with everyone who said, you will see more and more people join to get certificates, job skills and a GI Bill and then get out. What incentive would they have to stay. Tying up their retirement in a 401K, even suggesting it while we are on the brink of possibly another economic melt down is laughable.
I love those who say they would tell their husbands to get out and find a corporate job. Has anyone seen how many enlisted soldiers, who have completed their first contracts and ETS'd, are now collecting unemployment and are unable to find jobs? If youre an officer, you have options. Senior NCO's in technical fields, they're in a good spot, but most would be screwed if they simply get out. I agree that the lack of a "grandfather clause" won't fly and, if passed, will be initiated with the new recruits. No way could they get away with just blanketing everyone with this. As much as I'm looking forward to my retirement pay in 10 years, i'm not ignorant to the fact that it costs the government a lot of money to pay a soldier for the rest of his life. If anything, why not raise it from 20 to 25 years in conjuction with 10 year, 15 year TSP benefits? The world is a changin'…
You are 1,000% right. I hear people all the time say – well why doesn't your husband just get out and get a civilian job? I think those people live under the rock of naivete. He's a pilot and who would want to leave what they're currently doing to take a massive pay cut in the civilian world. Civilian pilots are starting at 40-50K for the airlines. He makes over double that now. Five years ago, I would've said – definitely get out. Get paid more on the civilian side. Those jobs no longer exist, and the salaries that do have diminished.
I agree, I am an officer in a technical engineering field w/ degree. Options on the outside are amazing, I went to a job fair last month, interviewed with 40+ companies, salary base 85-130k…wow, I'm so scared of the big bad economy. I have been in 8 years, full GI bill eligible for master's degree. The retirement change will make easy decisions easier.
I do feel sorry for junior enlisted soldiers as they surely will not be as fortunate, and I feel the army is leaving them behind. Best advice is to stay in long enough to get a full GI bill, go to a state school, and get an engineering degree. You will never have a problem finding a job with one.
Something does have to be done…let other countries take care of their own country. And here's a novel idea. Let Americans come home to America and close down the daycares overseas! Those grown people who have their own countries aren't over here trying to protect the USA…they've been able to keep their programs going, because we're taking care of financing the "policing". No one talks about that giant "welfare system" we provide them. Meanwhile, back on the farm…they're talking about slashing our own soldiers retirement to you know where. It's not going to happen. I'm all for helping people, but we can't help anyone if we can't help ourselves. Take care of home first.
When is this being voted on?
THE GRAVY TRAINED JUST DERAILED……………….
I agree with Billy. We do need to be thankfull for what we have.
I'm guessing you have no experience with military or military families. You can't spell either. Go away, Billy. You have no idea what it's like for soldiers and their families. The hardships are many and at the end of the road, for those of us who make it intact, a promise of a certain pension and certain benefits has always been the payback for a job done well and honorably, often at the risk of life and limb. There are many differences, Billy, there is no gravy train. That was stupid and mean spirited of you to say. Go after someone else, you idiot.
Billy is probably a Union guy making a Colonels pay for wiping the dust of headlights in a Car Plant. The average military 20 year retirement is just enough to make you ineligible for food stamps.
This afternoon, should got in effect in a week
I haven't seen any information that this has even been presented to Congress, let alone debated or readied for a vote. The stories simply say that the DBB unveiled this plan on the 21st. We have no way yet of knowing whether or not this plan will be adopted. As I understand it, there's a long way to go before it would be implemented. IF it's ever implemented.
Thank you. I was confused because I try to keep up with the news, saw this on Facebook and I was shocked to not have heard about it. My husband has 14 years… I hope this doesn't pass!
As a lot of people on here have stated, my husband would get out, or my wife would get out, or I would leave immdediately. Where you going to go. The job market is in the tubes and it's not getting any better anytime soon. Think about it before you jump out of the ship for another one.
why whould we risk our lives if we are not paid for it or out family is taken care of?
people get out of the military every day and go to new jobs. Yes the economy is in the tubes, but it is not a complete loss. If you have skills, and an education something will come along and honestly most people dont get out without a plan in place. It may not happen tomorrow, but in less then 1 year there would be a mass exodus, and then all kinds of retention gimmicks. Maybe the smart thing is to hold on and get the massive bonuses they will offer to keep people, because that is what they do.
Forgot to mention that I "retired" in 2000 after 25 years of service at the tender young age of 43 as a CW4 aviator.
Be honest with yourself, would you stay in 25 yrs if you did not have that guaranteed retirement? Probably not. I don't think you have much room to cynical on this issue.
My apology to Mr. Spencer….You know Andi they also make a choice to volunteer to defend the United States of America….a choice that every America has…but few choose. Every soul is precious and to volunteer to sacrifice one's life for freedom/democracy… not only for his family, his fellow Americans ,but foreigners as well (Afghan/Iraq/Korean wars etc)is a very unselfish act and in my opinion no amount of monetary compensation or benefits could ever replace a young precious soul that has laid down his life for men (known/unknown) I believe what pennies/benefits that our government pays to soldiers is unsatisfactory because they have EARNED that and then some. My opinion they are not compensated enough. If it wasn't for those bravehearts we wouldn't have a free society,democracy,and the right to live, love and the American Dream…..what say you?
Well said!
I don't think you could have said it any better, then what you did!
Just as another viewpoint…my husband will hit 20 years at the age of 37 this year. But since he is in the Air National Guard, he still won't get his retirement pay until 55 or 60 (not entirely what the latest is). It would be interesting to know what the overall cost of this benefit is (how many people retire from the military, enlisted vs. officers, etc.) and I agree with the poster who noted that perhaps the 20 year minimum needs to be extended somewhat or consider a reduction in benefits paid out. Yes, a Grandfather Clause (or some kind of prorating) is necessary if they are going to make such a sweeping change.
you joined cause you needed a job and some where for you to have some one take care of your family. this is why you joined. iam for all the soldiers, 100 percent, its the soldier baggage which you brought with you…. we should not have to take care of spouse and kids. a PVT with 5 kids, no wonder they on food stamps, we should not let them in if they are in that case, just a burden to tax payer….
So you know, if you are trying to enlist in active duty and have more than 3 dependants, you are automatically disquallified.
I agree with you on the PVT with 5 kids point, but technically, its better that this person at least serve in the military than be a total drain on society. However, the reason the military attempts to take care of spouses, is because it still runs an antiquated Cold-War system, where service members move every 2-3 years, making it very difficult for the spouse to find long term employment, or maintain a career. My husband has been in for 10 years, we have no kids, and this is the first time we've lived in a location where I haven't been able to work, and it's a horrible feeling. I would definitely have a job if there were anything to apply for here in the countryside of Germany. I can't even work on the base, because they just cut all the GS positions on the civilian side, so there isn't even anything to apply for. Tough times out there.
Most people don't have that. But here's an idea…maybe they should start with cutting their own retirements!?! And cut welfare, too. I'm talking about folks who make a lifelong lifestyle out of welfare, not the the legit folks who actually need it. Stop messing with people who get up with the chickens to do more than most people do all day. Also, shut down as many overseas bases as possible and let those countries step up to the plate and take care of their own defense. We need to get our house in order. Start taking care of home first and stop policing the world. Here's a concept. If you're an American soldier, you should primarily spend most of your time in America! There's your big cost cutter right there. We have people with the wrong ideas trying to be overbearing on working people. Oh, we're in debt, let's take away this serviceman/woman's retirement. Let's start there. Give me a break. There isn't even a discussion here. Take care of home first!
Kim
it has pasted and every one with 14 years or below will be effective
MS CAMO
reason we are in this mess if like your CSM, raking in all the dough and bennie and do nothing, we all no what CSM do. NOTHING.. good luck finding him a job.
Does anyone have a link to the passing of this bill? I got 13 years and half years in, so if this is going in effect…I am out.
And what will you do out?
As I understand it, it's not even in the form of a bill at this point. It's simply a recommendation by the DBB. I'm not sure most lawmakers have even been informed of this proposal yet. And truthfully, I find it hard to believe it would be implemented as offered.
Here is the site that I submitted my humble opinions to regarding to the proposed legislative plan to overhaul military retirement:
http://vote.military.com/military/dbq/officials/
Lenore well there is some things you give up for the bennie, noww that you made your choice you want to complain about it. if you so unhappy, have ur hubby get out, or do ur time and get out. asking for hand out is not working no more, sorry about your luck, but do the gov owe u a job cause ur hubby is in army ????
I think we should begin writing and letting our concerns know the Mr. Spencer, who want to speak of "fairness" http://dbb.defense.gov/board_members/richard_spen…
oops hit the reply botton without doing some major wordsmithing…
Think clearly here. No amount of name calling and insulting one another on this board will help the situation. Also, there is NO WAY that they can get away without grandfathering at least the ones at !5 years and up. The military members who are at that number did not join because of the economy… most of them anyway. Further, there is no possible way this could have been approved by Congress today. It is not a done deal. I understand the financial issues on all sides, but don't think this particular proposal is ready to go before our lawmakers. We need to work together and stop being rude to each other. We need to do exactly what Kris suggested, contact the members of this board… and it would be wise to be proactive and begin calling, emailing, writing all of our representatives in D.C.
EXCELLENT comment Julia! I would hasten to add this "CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSPERSON" I called mine at 6PM and got an Aide. He was most helpful, downloaded the report from militarytimes.com and talked the issue with me.
Politicians have told me that when someone calls the office, it is like 100 people calling; that is how few people actually do anything. Call your Congressperson and if a half dozen calls get through, it's like 600 people telling him to do something. Even if he or she doesn't care about the military, they will notice the phone calls.
They don't read blogsites, their staffers do pick up the phones and especially notice when they start getting calls on an issue.
As an Air Force recruiter, i can definitely see this having an affect on recruiting but as someone that serves their country I can understand the need to make cuts. I signed on the dotted line to defend my country, no matter the circumstances. If I have to make sacrifices that are in the best interests of my nation and i accept those sacrifices. Right now the military offers 100% tuition assistance. What do you think this is for? So you can go to school and win an award for bettering yourself? This BENEFIT is in place to help set you up for success when you leave the service. If you decided to be content with your life and didn't have the motivation to do the things necessary to make you successful on the outside then thats no ones fault but your own. Yeah, i understand its harder to go to school but if you retire after 20 years and still don't have a degree, thats your fault!!!!! What other job can you get where you can retire at 38 and know that you are going to get some sort of compensation, not have any student loans, and have had the opportunity to travel the world? If you know of one please let me know so i can make sure that my kids look into it! Im so tired of people complaining about having to make sacrifices. ITS WHAT WE DO! If you don't like it then go work at Walmart and complain about the $7.50 an hour you're getting paid. Oh, and while you're there ask them if they would be willing to give you $4500 a year for 20 years to go to school plus the same benefits as the GI Bill. After that ask them to pay for your health care!!!
Do you really believe the B.S. you are spraying? You obviously joined for the free college or reasons other than patriotism. I joined at the age of 17 with my parents signature. I joined because of God's grace having me born into a free country and repaying Him back for giving me life in this nation. The first golf war was in progress when I came in. The pay was about 250-300 every 1st and 15th. TA did not exist when I joined. The GI bill was garbage and it was nothing like it was today. I simply joined to do what I felt is right for my country. If Congress is going to vote this to be our retirement, then should have the same retirement followed by the same paycheck, basic pay plus housing allowance. If they are so quick to even entertain these ideas with complete disregard to those who joined it with at first believing that our country would take care of us, while we take care of her. If you have enough time to get your college done before you get out, then good for you. I couldn't stomach taking a desk job while good soldiers and sailors were risking their lives where the action is.
This is why I am just now barely finishing my degree at nearly 20 years, And that is only because now in my down time I don't have a family to come home to. They left me after spending most of my time fighting for my country in places far from home. Did I waste my time while off duty by not going to college and spending that time with my family because it came so seldom? Hell no I didn't. Those are memories I will have for the rest of my life. But if the Navy is going to take them away. I will be damned if they take my retirement away on top of it. After all I have lost giving my life for this country, I will be damned if they take away the benefits that I have earned not because of time served, but because of the actions I performed.
HA HA, Airforce recruiter!!!
You have never served in my military! The one that is a swift kick in the junk with multiple 12 month trips to badguy land (not on some AC'd FOB), has you on patrol for days (continuous ops), living off MRE's, crapping in wag bags, getting blown up and returned to duty (prior to the TBI spotlight), having to hand off your buddy to a medevac crew chief in a plastic biohazard sandwich bag because thats all you could find of him, then getting reintegrated to your family and forced to deal with any PTSD issues on your own so you dont get labled. All while trying to keep your family together. TA and school is for non-combat folks who deploy and knock out college at the ed centers of the FOBs, the rest of us fight for a year then come home, and start training for the next trip. It takes a pogue to say something like "if you retire after 20 years and still dont have a degree…." I have 15years in with no breaks, no degree, I am the norm in my profession. But, I HAVE had the opportunity to travel the world, and wish that I could forget so many of the sights that I have seen and have been able to return with ALL of my soldiers that traveled there with me. You sir, are a piece of office furniture, thanks for your sacrifice
My husband has to drop classes again and again because of his ever-changing schedule. He doesn't get to do desk work, he's out there. He has been for 14+ years, and he sure enough has earned his privileges! "It's what we do!" is a phrase of yours that I call BS.
Unionize the Armed Forces
As usual, a committee thinks the military should have a retirement system similar to corporate/business when the military is nothing like a corporation or business. And, it shouldn't be looked at in the same light as business. Most corporations do not have to put up with the s*** that military members put up with. When was the last time the mailroom employee of a Forbes 500 company had to deploy to Afghanistan as a requirement of their employment? Military members are put in harms way regularly; regardless of whether it is a training exercise or actual combat.
A lot of lip service is paid to the military and how much they are appreciated, but as usual, it is insincere. These young women and men put service before self and, with this proposal, end up being unappreciated.
If anything, any change that comes about should "grandfather" those currently serving or give them the choice of the retirement they prefer. My own idea of change would be to include a 10 year retirement benefit (25%) payable to the retiree at age 60, keep the current 20 year and over retirement. These young airmen, soldiers, sailors, and Marines earn it, more so than the civilian sector.
As a side note, should retention suffer and an outflow of experienced personnel occur because this change is implemented. The loss of combat experienced members will result in a hollow force, something the President has said time and time again would not happen. Keeping a viable fighting force takes more than just counting beans.
This is not a "new" 'idea, this has been around for a very long time. I think it is getting so much press because of the state of our economy. Regardless of whether this does eventually go through, those serving now will most likely not have anything to worry about, it would most certainly begin with new recruits coming in.
http://dbb.defense.gov/pdf/DBB_Military_Retiremen…
Here is the link to the brief from the Defense Business Board so you can see the details and not just what the reporters decide to print.
Thanks for the link. I've updated the post with the link so that people can actually go to the presentation and take a look at the DBB's findings. Answers some questions, leaves some unanswered. I encourage everyone to look at the slide deck themselves.
It always amazes me how the people that propose the new plan sugar coat it so much and make it sound like it's such a better deal that what we all have now. Personally, cut the spending somewhere else but NOT with the soldiers. Especially when they're there to lay their lives down for this country of ours. So after a lifetime of service, 20 years or more, the soldier is entitled to receive retirement pay and benefits IMMEDIATELY! Under this new plan – good luck.. you won't see benefits until you turn 59-1/2. It's a 401k plan by any other name. How does this benefit our soldiers and their family? When they get out, they look forward to that extra income as not all soldiers get that great paying job after retirement.
Personally, I believe this new program's benefits are one-sided. The government benefits – our politicians benefit – but not us – not the soldiers. If this passes, a majority of the soldiers that's in now will get out – and I'm talking about soldiers who have developed and honed in on their skills… soldiers with fighting experience… leaders… NCO's and Officers. Those are the ones that will leave. What's going to happen to the new recruits? Who's going to show them the ropes? Who's going to be able to tell them what it's like out there and how to keep themselves and their buddies safe? Recruiters are going to have to bust their buns again trying to keep soldiers IN and trying to get soldiers to join. This country is great and strong and keeps the world peace because of the strength of our military. Heaven help us all if this is implemented.
This should not even be a discussion. Leave soldier's retirement, pay, and benefits alone. Stop policing the world for a while. Let other countries step up and take care of their own country. The American soldier should come home for a while, get our own house in order, because we won't be able to help ourselves or anyone else if we keep going like this.
If they want to cut something, shut down American bases overseas. There's BIG money immediately in that! And then if they still want to cut retirements, they should cut their own. Leave hard working people who get up with the chicken's money alone!
I guess they don't wont to have anyone in the military. I would have not stayed in, and don't believe anyone else would of either. Just remind you what happen when tri care came in. Our contracts were voided then also. 2nd amendment will be our army.
Opine
As a retired USN 23 year vet, a retired Aerospace Worker, I have experienced both set of proposals, in action.
I would offer. SAVE daily, SPEND Wisely, NONE of the payer entities will honor thier debts unless mandated by law.
LAWS change, life is NOT fair. Cover your own six, as well as you can. Gold, Silver, Platinum, always works.
end
Semper fi
I am amazed how someone, who walk inwto their building, that is protected by members of the armed forces, can possibly say that thewould want to take the benefits of our service members away. It is amazing that congress never look at their own salaries or benefits. How often are they away rom their families. They complain when they have to work long hours. What about the people who are away from their families for months at a time. The ones who never see their kids because they were out defending someone else's freedom. They are talking abo,ut going corporate, but I don't see CEO's, or members of Congress, for that matter sacrificing their lives outside of their cushy offices, sleeping in bunkers, with bullets fyling over their heads.
Thois has to be a joke.
You are right!
This so-called bill should not even be discussed. I see that this is the new thing. Sure, this is with the military…it's target group #2, wonder who's next? What I mean is, I see people like Gov. Scott Walker in Wisconsin, some repubs trying to strip people of rights and benefits all the time. They are trying it with unions, too. Now, it's the military's turn. Anyone but their nice cushy jobs, fat retirements, etc. It's ok if as long as it is not them! How one man or woman can just wake up and say "Hey, I've got a great idea! Let's slash some working people's benefits and retirements and that'll save a ton of money." Looks like these "leaders" are trying to lead by putting their feet on the necks and backs of the middle class. Creating an even greater gap between the wealthy and soon to be poor…there won't be a middle class anymore if they keep it up!
war is over, come home and deal with what the gov is offering you… or just get out.
we will be ok with out all you whinners that sacifice so much, gee you being paid for all that. all I hear is give me give me give me…… we gave and you gave. game over.
lot of you posting saying bullets flying and all this so bad stuff you went through, some Iam sure did but most did not, you just want to hang on to the coat tails of the ones that did…..
Maybe we should get rid of the volunteer military… pay them worse, take away their benefits and require every 18 year old to serve 4 years before they may enroll in college. This way all of the sons and daughters of America can understand and be apart of the sacrifice. Recruitment issues solved.
My husband has always been a die hard lifer type person. However, he has said over and over that if this goes through he is DONE. Millions spent on his pilot training will go to waste. I dont know how they cant grandfather current active duty people in since I am pretty sure their contract says something about retirement benefits. The DOD can hold you to their terms of that contract but we cant hold them?
aviatorwife
we made a promise an now we can not deliver. sorry
we paid you for you sewrvice abd hate 2 see you leave but you have to do what you have to do.
The annual defense budget is $700 billion a year on average. Military retirements make up $25 Billion annually, about 3.5% of the total budget. We all know how much waste that could be cut out of the budget and still be able to take care of the retiree's. Sad. This was proposed before, DOD panels came up with their conclusions on the same issues in 2001, 2004, & 2006 and nothing changed. This has to be approved by the House & Senate and signed into law. Also, next year is an election year, no congressman or Senator is going to touch this with a 10 foot pole. If you read the article they used the word "could" a lot. Stay calm, people will be grandfathered. I believe changes will be made in the future (5 -10 years) but not immediately. Veterans groups are going to be all over this and they have a lot of influence on the Hill. If you are that concerned, start calling your Congressman or Senator in your district right now. Chill people!
The military makes up only about 1 percent of the total population of the US. Only about 10-15 percent of us choose to or actually make it to 20 years to get the retirement. I don't see how this is a drain. Gradfathering can't be the answer either because it only adresses current service members. Retention will be affected in the future even if you include a gradfather clause. This whole plan is a joke and the problem is being looked at only from a business perspective. While the military looks like a business from the outside it doesn't actually work that way from the inside. There are numerous other options to look at such as increase the time between PCS from 3 to five years and ruce the costs associated with moving. Use technology to your advantage and reduce TAD/TDY costs. since most of us go and get second careers anyways change the retired medical benefits. Stop allowing people to retire one day and then take a higher paying GS position doing the same job in the same office the next. There are numerous other angles in which to attack the problem.
This message is for Billy! I am currently working as a Safety inspector in the military. My job is equivalent to an OSHA inspector and CSI depending on the job of the day. I have numerous certifications under my belt that has made me a very valuable asset to the military. If I decide to get out of the military and join the corporate world, I can easily triple, if not quadruple my current E-5 pay in the military. As of right now, if I retire from the military, I will probably retire as an E-7 which will equate to approximately $2000 a month. If you say I am not going to receive my full retirement benefits (which is the only reason I will continue to stay in the military) simply because I am not grandfathered in, then you area dumb jackass who has OBVIOUSLY never served your country. I am so tired of defending your rights to freedom of speech when you clearly are not grateful for what we do for you and the rest of this country. If you don't like what we do for you, get out of our country. What a idiot!!!
This is also for billy….. I am an E-6 in the military with 6 years of service and i do plan on retiring with the 20 year retirement plan. If you think i can't find a job….. you are wrong. With my SOF(special operation Forces/operator) specialties and Security clearance, i can find a lot of jobs in the civilian sector that require my experiences. The Us army already invested millions of dollars in to my training and many of my friends training who would leave the military and work for private contracting.
Actually many of us do go over the call of duty and selfless service to protect the constitution of the country, but we do not do it for the stupid idiots like you. After deployments after deployments and training other countries….. you think i didn't fulfill my patriotism for the United States after my 1st contract…….. I did my part….. What have you done…….?
Joined the military and experience any combat related units and then speak. What a Donkey.
I think everybody is forgetting something: military retirement was is not/was not guaranteed in any contract signed by anyone who has ever entered the military. It is based solely on statutory requirements (i.e., Federal law) and is subject to change at any time. Contrary to many of the comments, the retirement system has changed at various times during the past 30 years, along with other changes to benefits that were previously "sacred cows." These changes affected me, but instead of crying over spilled milk, I served 20 years and then some (26 years total).
Remember: It's a privilege to serve in the military; not a right. And the key word in the last sentence is "serve." There are no guarantees–whether in the military or corporate America.
The very people putting this idea out there are being protected by the very people they are stabbing in the back!
HEY BUN
i STAY IN THE USA AND PAY TAXES TO DO SO. AS FOR YOU MY FRIEND. DEAL WITH WHAT IS HANDED YOU OR GET OUT, WE DONT OWE YOU FOR LIFE CAUSE YOU CHOSE TO STAY IN THE MILITARY. WE TAX PAYERS PAY YOU WELL ENOUGH IN PAY AND BENIFITS FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE HAVE MILLIONS WHO SERVED AND DID IT PROUDLY AND THEN MOVED ON, NOT EVERY ONE WANTED TO STAY IN FOR 20 YEARS. YOU DID… SO WHAT. 5 YEARS OR 20 YEARS, THE PROBLEM IS YOU STAY IN FOR JOB SECURTY, THATS ALL. THE MORE YOU STAYED THE MORE YOU THINK WE OWE YOU. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. WITH THE WARS COMMING TO A END, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO WHINE ABOUT NEXT, HAVING TO DO PT EVERY DAY LIKE THE CILIVANS DONT, YOU WILL COME UP WITH SOME THING THAT WILL MAKE EVERY ONE FEEL YOU ARE A HERO, YOUR NOT. YOUR A SOLDIER AND ALL WE ASK IS THAT YOU DO AS YOUR BEING PAID TOO DO. AS FOR THE NAME CALLING…. GO FIGURE, CONSITER THE SOURCE.
I pay for your medicare, social security, welfare, medicaid, government pension…guess who is paying more for who. Please get back to work Pops. Im getting out anyway and doubling my salary, I love the civilian world. I have no debt, and live within my means…oh yeah I can spell too.
I agree with the part that the people not serving 20 or more would have something. But I dont agree with the no grandfather in part as i am at 20 and will be fifty this year, where does that leave me and the others at this point.
I gave up my pension to follow my husband around with the military. He has 13 years in, and we crunched the numbers and are counting on his pension after 20 to support our family. The system SHOULD be overhauled, but start it with recruits and those on their first enlistment so that they have the facts BEFORE wasting their life.
I think it interesting that only two of seven executives on the task force ever served in the military. Both left before 20 years and without any retirement benefit. How about getting a balanced "task force" to examine the issue??
Interesting comment from “Jim, USN Ret.” concerning military benefits compared to the contract a military member signs when they join.
So the question is whether our benefits are implied only by existing regulations at the time of joining as well as their changes (bad or good) at the time of your completed 20 years; or are they guaranteed “freeze frame” benefits owed you at the end of your 20 yrs service based on when you joined?!
I would like a military legal expert to chime in on this topic since no one here seems to be able to reference any law specifically! We are just saying what we think and what we have seen happen over the years!
I personally don’t remember all my retirement benefits being spelled out on my official contract that I signed back in 1991 and I doubt many do? I would actually have to go through all my boxes to find those initial service documents and see.
My mind drifts back to the legality of Jim’s statement “It is based solely on statutory requirements (i.e., Federal law) and is subject to change at any time.”
Currently I have a federal/DoD/military regulation (USAF AFI36-2303 Service Retirements; 8 Sep 06 with updates in Mar 2010) that states that “ It prescribes procedures for carrying out laws, policies, and Department of Defense (DoD) directives that govern retirements for service.”
Within this document, my military retirement pay plan is spelled out legally. To me that’s a contract/law based on my service dates of enlistment and retirement and should be counted on beginning to end. The unique thing is that it explains the changes made in past years to the retirement plan but incorporates the grandfathering process for the year period that took effect. I fall under the High-3 plan.
A EXTRAORDINARILY BAD IDEA submitted by DBB. How about we get our heads out of our butts and boost the manpower instead,! THE writings on the wall America, we're going to need every healthy war fighting American we can muster to protect and defend this great country. How do you expect us to fight 4 wars with reduced manpower and Stop paying us or slash our benefits? Come on really! DOD is an unique organization made up of the finest Americans the country has to offer, we build, we fight and we go where no one else would dare go, and face death daily! Leave our Sailors and Soldiers the hell alone so we can focus.
The single worst idea DBB can think up! Who is the team of experts that is actually dreaming this junk up? How about instead of removing the one retention item that countless DOD warriors sign up for in the hopes of getting one following 20 years of being directly in harms way and giving the ultimate sacrifice, our lives, you leave the 20 year retirement alone. The writings on the wall America, we need to boost our manpower in order to meet the global demands placed on our Sailors and Soldiers , how do you expect us to fight 4 wars and then stop paying us, really?
And another thing, we build, we fight and we die defending this country and the citizens of this great land. During this time of uncertainty, we should be certain of this, leave our Sailors and Soldiers alone so we can focus on fighting the wars! This is stinking ridiculous!
I know in our fast paced world our attention spans for reading long articles is VERY low, but I would seriously read through the "mrgrg-ms.org" site. This EXACTLY mirrors what the military member experiences with the double speak of the military and goverment (legislative and judicial) and scarely it most likely will be repeated in Congress to deal with our current Govt debt and military benifits that apparently were never PROMISED to you in writing anyay!!!!! I wish my supervisors would have pointed me in this direction long ago. Maybe they were just as unlearned on the topic as I was. Blind leading the blind I guess.
If they want to make the military more civilian-like than I have a suggestion. Pay us overtime for more than 8 hours per day plus extra for working holidays. Physical fitness will be done on your own, no pt test. I could keep going on this. The wear and tear on your body from military service is uncompairable to any civilian work force. Plus civilians do not voluntarily leave their families behind to go to face death in the unknown. Why would anyone want to serve in the military if they are going to destroy the benifits that keep people in. Suggestion to fix the debt problem. Congress gets paid for the rest of their lives after serving as little as 4 years. Send them all to battle and determine if they deserve the lifetime payments that they recieve.
The military is a uniquely separate component of American society that is authorized by the Constitution and common sense. It is not a civilian workforce and carries a much bigger burden in the DOD than its civilian counterparts and it seems we're more intent on sustaining a bloated bureaucracy and "supporting" activities than the actual warfighter. These "supporting" elements are definitely intent on slitting our throats to support their careers and paychecks. Now I’m gonna slam the DOD civilian side as I just finished a year in Afghanistan where the average contractor was being paid double or triple what we are paid (and there were lots!) only to return to my current job which is 75% civilian. I keep being denigrated by these GS/contractor folks who according to a federal ranking scale technically outrank me (E7/16 years active)…..however in my dealings with them which I have done everyday for the last 2 years all I see are what would be considered equivalent to an E-4 mentality with them both responsibility and performance-wise. They don’t move unless they want to, deploy for long periods of time unless there is big money in it, are free to quit or look for employment elsewhere anytime, are able to go home EVERY NIGHT to their family, can focus solely on one job or task while having little professional requirements/standards other than their job description, have high tolerance for incompetence and aren’t required to DIE as part of their deal. All this while being slowly sidled up more and more to the military in all the “nice” spots so they can be jealous of a 20-year retirement pension which is subject to individual service stipulations and possible recall to duty. Not Fair??? The service takes a toll on its members that it seems some people just aren’t understanding so I say to all civilians who see fit to examine the military from their cubicle: GET YOUR A*& TO THE FRONT, DO IT FOR 20 YEARS AND THEN TELL ME YOUR OPINION OR PROPOSED PLAN
If you're really convinced that this is the average service member's daily schedule, I suggest you lay off the colored pills for a while and go check with a combat unit. Or a MEDEVAC unit. Work with the guys for a month and enjoy all your time off. Also, the "you get more vacation" is getting an old one. If an office worker takes 14 days off, with good planning those 14 days can turn into 3 weeks. A servicemember takes 14 days off, and 2 weeks is exactly what he or she gets. That much about free weekends…
You, sir, seem to absolutely hate anything military related, which is your prerogative. But to come to a support website for military spouses and spout this nonsense is more than just baiting, it's respectless and uncalled for.
Ok, we are talking about this 20 year plan. So uhh, how many federal and state and city jobs ALSO have a plan like that? Answer, all of them. Now they also have a 401 plan (we used to have the US savings bound plan, (which was useless) and now we too have something like the 401 too. Here is another point. Some State employees employees do not pay into SS because they have a retirement plan that is comparable (so is ours). Why do we also pay into SS if we had this retirement plan (20 years)? Me? I was offered early retirement at 16 and a half years, and i took it, then i found out when i worked for the government again that THEY get 2 1/2 times what i got for the same job, plus overtime and leave/ sick time in excess of 60 days. And if I didn't like the place i could put in for another job somewhere else. Of course in the end I had to take another disability retirement (or a constructive discharge) but the pay for civil service is better. With the retirement at 20 well it's hard to overlook that.
I have been in for 16 years and been deployed 5 times. I have over 80 days in vacation because I havent had the time to take it. Do you really think I have had more days off than the normal joe. Do the math. By the breakdown of your times there I see a former military member. No doubt wishing he would have stayed in, or maybe forced out because he did something he wasnt supposed to be doing. Come try my boots on for a little while then run your mouth. I am an American Soldier and have spent a third of my carrer in a different country, and still not done yet. Go grab a latte from starbucks, have a seat in a nice air conditioned room and come up with something better to write about. VR, the guy still slinging and dodging bullets for you.
Billy, Billy, Billy! If you have made life plans based on the fact that you would be earning a pension in twenty years instead of trying to establish a career in the civilian market during that time.Then to have the rug swept from under your feet:(
"Gravy train" really! You should be ashamed. I encourage you to share these feelings with a service member in person and see how that works out for you.
My husband plans to stay the 20 + years. The main reason he enlisted was for the GI Bill and retirement benefits. Granted he enjoys the idea of working for a greater cause but still the insentives where the enticement.. He will graduate nursing school long before his enlistment is up so if they do change the benefits he will not re-enlist as he will make more more in the private sector vs. the military. The military is not just about men and women on the battlefield trained in combat. There are thousands of positions in healthcare, technology, intelligence, etc. that required special education and university degrees. If the military takes away retirement benefits they potentially lose the talent of doctors, lawyers, nurses, computer techs, and all the other high paying jobs I don't even know about that the military pay pennys for. The military would spend for civilian contrators to do this work. Do they honestly think a civilian doctor for example is going to work for the military on military pay???? NO…They will want civilian doctor pay…so where does that leave the government saving money? Thanks!
James, I don't know what military you are familiar with. Here is mine: Formation at 0530. PT until 0700. Report at duty station and begin work at 0800. Lunch from 1200-1300. Work from 1300-1730. Take work home and work from 1900-2100. That's a 60 hour work week and doesn't even include the times I also have to work on the weekends or include deployments.
AFTER SPENDING 26 YEARS IN THE REGULAR ARMY I CAN SAY MY SERVICE WAS WORTH IT. MY WIFE AND I HAVE LIVED WITHIN OUR MEANS, NEVER IN DEBT, DURING OUR MARRIED LIFE. WE NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT SERVICE LIFE. IT WAS MY SERVICE, NOT MY WIFE’S, AS A DEPENDENT, THAT COUNTED. I SPENT A TOTAL OF 16.5 YEARS OIVERSEAS. NEVER DURING THOSE YEARS DID MY WIFE COMPLAIN, SHE WAS A TROOPER.
My husband has been serving for 11 years has 5 tours under his belt, while he is army, this is still a one team one fight battle. I started a petition on change.org to gain support and momentum for those of us who disagree with this. I am trying to fight this on my own which is fine I will, but battles are won with armies… Please, help me in this fight, go and sign this petition… I have contacted congressman, senators, I have done a lot of footwork against this and will continue to do so. SOMETHING has GOT to give in this situation. http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-the-radical-…
If I could do this unitl my bones become brittle I will. I’m here for the long haul regardless of where my military career takes me. I didn’t join for all the “glorious” benefits, I joined to contribute something to my country. I’m not even from the United States but I’d rather do this then to leech off of government aid. THAT’S THE TRUTH!!!
I, J.O., do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.
James, whoever you are, you are obviously a very sad person who has never served a day in uniform. Unfortunately our service and sacrifice make it possible for you to spout your hate for miliary personnel. I have some advice for you. MOVE TO CHINA!!!
First of all every branch made of exceeded recruiting goals because of sharp cuts in personnel.
I really don't know of any military member that would stay for any period of time with out the 20 year pension. My husband wouldn't stay in. He could get paid the same for a much safer job that would allow him to spend holidays and birthdays with me and our children. Oh and he wouldn't have to work sometimes for 48 hours or more straight. My husband and I have talked about this and we honestly believe our government is working on phasing out the military all together and making it a fully civilian force. I do think this is leading to more degradation of our nations patriotism.
You are an embarrassment for the US education system. Oh and those caps? There's a button for that…
Great comments all. If you only want to vent great. Better is to google your senator and congressman for contact information, cut and paste these same comment (be polite) in an email to them.
Make your voices heard – this change to retirement benefits will likely happen since most of America sees it as a ridiculous benefit. And its true. Without these enlightening comments for context, the 20 year retirement looks "gold plated".
This crazy idea will not grab hold, don't worry. The 20 year pension is the holiest of holies
I just picked up the new Marine Corps Times and could not believe what I have seen. I’ve been in the Marines now for 18 ½ years striving to retire at twenty. The biggest incentive for me was the 20 year fixed retirement. There is no way in bloody hell I would have gone through all of the deployments, the time away from my three kids and wife for the same old civilian retirement plan. The Defense Business Board can sock rocks! Don’t compare apples to oranges……the civilian sector is not the military, and we don’t want your proposed retirement plan. My wife is just as unhappy about this new “proposed” plan as I am. The sacrifices that my wife has made, my kids have made, and I have made mean nothing to these people. What a slap in the face to us all.
I retired from the Air Force in 1995 and I was told that when I retire after 20 yrs I get free MEDICAL and VA Benifits. Bull they lied – I have to pay for medical, no schooling, and I expect by the time they finish cutting – when I die I’ll get a wood box and boombox playing TAPS (No Honor Guard). Yes – we joined to die and support our country. It is a hard life for 20 yrs if you are mentally able to take it. I vote for no change to the current system, our military members deserve it.
Great post!! Lets hope you get your boombox…gee, by the way it's going that might be too much to expend for someone giving their blood sweat and YEARS of sacrifice. Thank you for defending our country!! I am with you on this!!!!!
Why don't they mess with pensions in the government? We have to do 20 yrs, they have to do one term! Not to mention their medical benefits and such!!!!
We have a voluntary military force at the present time. Make the proposed changes and lets see how quickly this changes?? One word…can you say "draft!"
I've served 10 years so far. I was willing to go 20 as long as I recieve my pension. If my pension isn't immediate after retirement then I just wasted my time. The rank I am at now is management. I can't just walk in somewhere and expect to receive that position with comparable pay, maintaining my lifestyle. If my benefits are not going to be present after 20 I don't know how I can manage my life while I am starting somewhere at the bottom at the age of 40. I have been specially trained to suit a military function that honestly doesn't translate to the civlian sector. Many jobs in the service are like that. I devoted my time to military for the same reasons people devote their time to a coporation or company; job security, advancement, and loyalty. It just sucks that our top execs are running us like ENRON.
don't care if someone has been in combat or not. The operation tempo is demanding. Deployments steal time from an indivdual. I can't believe that I have been married for 9 years when I have only been with my wife for 4 of them. When th time comes to retire we have to start over and lose a complete way of life. Without the pension from 20 years of service, we are basically getting fired and told "good luck starting over somewhere else, even though your are 40 and broken".
I really hope this passes! Now all the shit bags with tenure will get out and leave only the dedicated.
I have talked to many Soldiers, NCO's and fellow Officers and one of the big concerns is our contract. Every Soldier today signed a contract with the US Army with an agreement for a retirement at 20 years. If the government can make this change and turn around and tell the Soldiers to just deal with it, then what is next. What else will they change in our contract and then turn around and say we are the government deal with it, what's the point of the contract.
The proposal mentions several times a comparison between the Military and the Civilian work force. Well, show me a Civilian job in which the worker is gone training for up to 3 to 6 months total throughout the year and then when complete with training deploys for up to a year, not to mention during that year deployment there is a large group of people trying as hard as they can to kill you. Then God willing the member makes it home after the deployment, and 70% of the time must pack up his/her family and move them somewhere else. The constant PCS moves every two to three years for a Soldier is extremely hard on the family, the children must move schools and make new friends, the spouse must attempt to find a new job which in itself is difficult due to the employer knowing he or she will be leaving within two to three years. This type of constant movement for the Service member makes it almost impossible for a spouse to generate any type of retirement.
A Service member after 20 years of service is most of the time completely broken, they have bad knees, backs, ankles and hearing loss to mention a few. All of these problems are due to 20 years of dealing with Combat, explosions, shooting weapons, foot marches, jumping out of airplanes, and daily running and other physical activities. After a 20 year Service obligation the average 40 year old Soldiers body is worn down and more closely related to a 65 year old Civilian.
The proposal makes a statement that a Soldier E-1 thru E-4 under the new plan can make up to $20,000 if they invest 16.5% of their pay for four years. I have been a Company Commander for 33 months and I do not know one E-1 thru E-4 who can afford to deposit 16.5% of their pay and still be able to survive financially. The proposal also states that the old plan is unfair to all who do not retire because they receive nothing. Like I said earlier all Soldiers voluntarily sign a contract and understand what they are getting into. But, when it comes down to it, a Soldier receives many things, the Soldier receives to mention a few, discipline, an understanding of self worth, team work, equal opportunity training, sexual harassment training, job experience, respect from the community, credibility from civilian companies, and the military GI Bill for future education. Any person who joins the military and leaves under honorable conditions, leaves as a better person and will be a great contributor to the Civilian community and work force.
To say that anyone leaving the military before 20 years gets nothing is not only wrong but an uneducated statement. The US Service member is a Professional and the 20 year retirement is not just deserved but owed due to the contract we signed. A professional athlete provides entertainment to the public and they make millions, a Service member is a professional and provides protection and freedom to the public and we make pennies but we do not complain. If they take away our retirement they take away any incentive for the career Soldier to stay and they take away what all Service members have worked for, planned for, fought for, and many others have died for. Why would anyone join the Military as a Career when they can join a safer Civilian job with the same benefits? The US Armed Forces is 1% of the US population, I'm sure we can find, and save, several Trillion dollars if we tap into the other 99% who earned their freedom thru the Military's sacrifice.
Your words mirror exactly how I feel!!!! I have been active duty for 12 years and reserve for over 5yrs. I have paid into social security for over 30 years and will probably not see a dime of it. Now after my years of service I won't have a retirement from that system either. I joined the Army as a nurse so I could deploy and take care of our wounded soldiers. I have not deployed yet, but have taken care of many critically injured soldiers that were returned stateside. I know an ICU nurse that was killed recently and I was still ready to deploy and put myself in harms way in order to take care of our deployed soldiers. I wonder how many civilian nurses would do that? I will stay in as long as I can and when I am kicked to the curb without benefits at least I will feel good about myself because… I kept up my end of the contract, unlike our government you went back on their word. We currently have a strong voluntary US military force. If they change the current system, I foresee them having to reinforce the draft in order to maintain any kind of military force.
One thing that many forget is that the current 20 year retirement was established when life expectancy was many years younger, and when military pay was not on par with civilian pay. When the military went all volunteer, pay had to be adjusted to be competitive with with the US job market. The DoD is now faced with servicemen retiring in their early 40's and living another 40 years. Where do you think the dollars come from to cover this and the family medical?
Are you jealous of someone that put thier life on the line for your freedoms?? You could've joined!!
our government is finding the easy way out too cut costs and those who serve for the freedom of this country….the freedoms of this country relies on our soldiers the few the proud the women and men who serve think twice of what costs this country will be in the end God Bless
The military should be compensated for being being forced to work 24/7 with no opportunity to object to the length of their workday or place of assignment. They should be compensated for high risk assignments in combat areas. That should triple their salary and then we can talk about retirement and 60 year old Infantrymen fighting in the field. The Thrift Savings Plan Federal Retirement System is a ripoff. Military members barely make enough to make it to the next payday and deployments always wipe out their savings. The average TSP recipient makes less than $900 per month after 20 years, far less than the average military retiree. And Federal employees on average have more income to inves tt in the TSP and do are not subject to deployments. This is a terrible scam being run on our military members.
For those who retire at E-7 and below your military retirement is just enough to make you ineligible for State and Federal assistance programs. In other words, if you were a normal guy on the street and lost your job, State and Federal compensation programs would pay you over $2500 a month. As a retiree you make about $14-1800 a month. Thank you for your Service.
The military should be compensated for being being forced to work 24/7 with no opportunity to object to the length of their workday or place of assignment. They should be compensated for high risk assignments in combat areas. That should triple their salary and then we can talk about retirement and 60 year old Infantrymen fighting in the field. The Thrift Savings Plan Federal Retirement System is a ripoff. Military members barely make enough to make it to the next payday and deployments always wipe out their savings. The average TSP recipient makes less than $900 per month after 20 years, far less than the average military retiree. And Federal employees on average have more income to inves tt in the TSP and do are not subject to deployments. This is a terrible scam being run on our military members.
So, what you are saying is that a E-6 with 16 years should be making $145,000 a year?
If you added in overtime, which for combat troops would be 8 hours regular pay plus 16 hours overtime (base pay plus 1/2 per hour) in a combat zone it would easily come to $145,000 per year. The soldiers life is at risk 24 hours a day in the combat zone.
Last year the Federal Government spent 50 Billion on military retirements. In the same year the Federal Government spent 155 Billion on benefits for Illegals. Now where should the cuts be made?
This is Fair?
Is it fair that the military soldier must move several times in their career while the private sector works to pay for their family home and have it paid off in 30 years. We move a lot and spend more money everytime we do move to reestablish residence enroll our children in schools to serve this nation. Funny though when you think about the whole thing a congress man only has to serve one term and yet they get a check the rest of their lives. A soldier who serves only 20 without a grandfather clause will get nothing. These are the people making the descisions on behalf of the people who provide the very freedoms in which they enjoy. What is fair. Who are these people anyway? Oh I get it they must be all Y generation everyone gets a trophy even if they lose. Is that really fair to promote everyone is a winner when they don’t give a Gold Medal in the Olympics for last place. If you are reading this contact your congress person and notify them of what you think. Don’t allow your voice to be heard venting amongst friends and family allow them to hear your voice, demand it. Our families and our sacrafice are worth it. The four most honorable professions as spoken in all halls is Doctor, Lawyer, Politician, and Military service. Only two of them today hold more weight than the others. (Doctor and Milititary Service) if you did not catch my innuendo. I guess the Lawyers and the Polititians don’t like having us on their list anymore almost like Teachers. Lets face it if we did not have the teachers none of us would have obtained the position of the Four “most honorable professions”
Sincerely,
Steven Laick
soon to be retired and without a retirement for 23 years of service.
Well !! Most of us old Guys ,Have been Saying !, BHO wants this country to Fail , so the Muslims can walk in to Take over all ,of what we have Worked for ,Freedom !!! Hitting the Military in the Stomach,Will get the Youngens ,to hang it up ,Others will have a Hard time, keeping the Tempo as it is !!. We are Streached as it is ,You Cant run a Conue Club ,without good people, that will get crapped on every five minutes . Is there Waste !? . Sure Is ! 432 Congressman,100 Senators, And a useless piece of crap at the Top ! They keep getting Raises ,plus Perks ,and you all get the Sludge .What makes this country great!, is its Military Securing the Freedoms ,they enjoy . Its Discusting ,to see these people go around the Country ,Begging for your Votes, Then Kick you under the Bus like Road Kill!. And THE TEA PARTY IS WRONG ??,Terriosts ,they call them .No ! Warriors !, It is these Professional Politicians .are the Enemy of this Country, Notice ! none will chop their Salries !!! You do their Dirty work and then take it in the Shorts !! I love My Country ! But They cant be part of It. A 41 yr Navy Veteran
Leave military benefits alone. It should not even be discussed. If they want to cut retirements, start with their own. Stop taking from hard working people who make sacrifices. You don't hear them trying to cut welfare. I'm not talking about the people who need welfare, but the folks who make it a lifetime lifestyle. You work, you get paid. Stop trying to mess with another man or woman's money. You should not even be talking about it. They'll have our military reduced in size dramatically in no time if they try to pull this poo on people! I don't think we have anything to worry about. It will NOT fly! They'll have to cut something else. Shut down some bases overseas and let Europe, Korea, etc. step up and take care of their own countries. That isn't being mean, but that's what we have to do. No other country is here taking care of the USA. We are over-extended. We are Americans and we have to take care of home first. Stop hurting our own people. We can't help anyone if we can't help ourselves.
The fact remains that military members are not compensated for overtime, which would triple their salary. By keeping military salaries low, the government ends up paying less in retirement benefits than is owed to the military member. DOD, Union employees, State and Federal Workers are all paid for overtime, and their retirements are usually based on their 'high three' compensation years which includes overtime. But military retirement is based on 'base' salary without any adjustments. The sad truth is that reducing military retirements is like the government stealing from someone that they have already mugged on several other occasions. 'No good deed shall go unpunished!'
Lets talk money, the average Teacher in Wisconsin makes $56,000 per year in salary and a total of $100,000 in benefits per year. Keep in mind that the average Teacher works 9 months of the year. That equates to a Major in the Armed Forces if you adjust for the 9 months of duty. The teachers also get 1 1/2 per hour additional overtime pay, not afforded military members. Not bad for a stable job, no deployments, no risk t life, and the ability to create personal wealth in real estate, etc. Are our combat troops due more in compensation than teachers? Yes.
This is a slap in the face to the military, I have 19 years of service and now they change our benefits for there benefit…
Good, and if it changes I'll make sure to take my college degree and find a job with it instead of the Army. And if you're going to have to wait till 60 years old on the new system what's going to make you stay active duty and not just go reserves/national guard since their retirement doesn't start till 60 anyway? That way you can get the military retirement and civilian retirement. They're going to lose a lot of officers, medical personnel (which they have a hard time getting already) and NCOs if they change it.
They want to axe our retirement plan that we serve 20 years for and yet I hear no mention of changes to the fact that one term served in Congress gets you benefits for life. These people need to get their reality checked.
Please do not do this. This is why allot of families stay in the military. Our family is one of them for the benefits we would get after he retires from the military. Why would you guys do this to people are fighting for your freedom. Isn't there some where else like say maybe your paycheck they can cut budgets from? I can think of a few big wigs that could use a little less money. Our men and women fight for the freedom of our country and if you cut them off there are going to be allot of pissed off people and they are going to be leaving left and right. You think our country is in a hurt now wait till you pass this it is going to get even worse. What is wrong with our gov. Please listen to the people of your country and we voice our opinions.
I retired as a CMSGT in 1997 with a total of 39 1/2 yrs and a total of 24 1/2 yrs of active duty. I had active army, army reserve, air national guard time and then went back on active duty in the Air Force at 41 and retired at almost 58. I had continuous service from Apr 1958 to Oct 1997. If anyone thinks they can retire on their military pay when they do retire, I would sure as hell like to know how you do it when you are married, they take out SBP, Fed an State taxes. I received 61 1/2% of my pay, worked an additional 6 yrs after retirement so that my previous Fed Gov retirement would not be off set by my SS. I had 31 plus yrs paid into the SS system. I worked up until I was 63 3/4 yrs and started drawing my SS just past 63 yrs. I am 100% VA compensated and unemployable from injuries and medical problems while on active duty. Believe me, it is not easy out here, I eat hamburgers, hot dogs, hamburger helper just like anyone else. No, I do not play golf as it is too expensive. I do still hunt and fish when I can. If someone can tell me how to live comfortable on just my military retirement, I will be more than thankful to them.
One has to remember that TSP is already available to all soldiers and has been for years. I served 6 years active army and have now been in the full-time National Guard for 9 years. I have seen so much waste it is unbelievable. $14,000.00 worth of lawn mowing equipment at an armory that has about 200 square feet of lawn, making jobs where they are not needed, and paying soldiers to stay in hotels were other accomodations are available. I can understand starting a new type of retirment system with new troops as long as it is clearly explained to them. Bonuses for deployments and things of that nature. My problem is changing the lives of those whom have made plans already and have committed so much time to their service. The government needs to shrink, not it's military!
We are not civilians. You could not hire a civilian for what we work for. We put are lives on the line. If we are going to be treated like civilians the cost to keep us will sky rocket. There will have to be a draft again just to keep are military full and the quality of our forces will no longer be there. Everyone in the service can find a job making more money on the outside. Our retirement is why most of us stay around. We want that security we have fought for. Yes we get it after 20 years but it is still only a fraction of what it will cost if it is taken away. Some pencil pusher looks at the upfront cost with out looking at what the real cost will be without it. I have been in 16 years and I would leave in a heartbeat and I would have never reenlisted.
Enough with the 'life on the line'. My wife is a bank manager. She puts her life on the line everyday. The difference is she manages a bank & you go to war. Its expected of you to 'put your life on the line'. It's not expected for my wife. You may be armed. She isn't. Some of the branches of her bank have been robbed by gunpoint. One of her girlfriends had a revolver stuck to her head. Thing is, YOU get more benefits than she'll ever see. My grandfather put his life on the line everyday he went into the coal mine. One day the mine exploded; he didn't come home from work. YOU will see more benefits than he or his children ever saw.
Military FAMILIES factor the retirement benefits into future planning – as a spouse, I have made concessions in my career, knowing that my Navy husband is going to be eligible for a good retirement at 20 years. If this wasn't the case, we may have made different choices as a family allowing ME to build a secure retirement for our future through my work.
When I was in, I only intended to learn a skill, & get out. My eight years of experience in the military translated to 'entry level' in the civilian sector. My working 7 days a week, 14 to 18 hours a day in the military meant nothing. I never intended being a 'lifer' when I was in. The 'lifers' in the service were the 'institutionalized' people many of us considered to be those who were afraid to face the real world. In the real world, people work until they are old, then collect a pension if they're lucky. My father, for example, worked over 40 years in the same factory, was forced out at the age of 62, then a few years later, lost the pension that was promised to him when the factory went bankrupt. He didn't complain. He just survived. Life is survival. Its just a little sour to hear that today's military 'serves to preserve everyone's freedom', but as soon as a benefit is set to get cut, all the 'patriots' & 'defenders-of-freedom' head for the door.
The only reason this kind of BS is being contemplated is the fact there are so few of us who have volunteered for military service(fours years infantry, 3 years station in Panama) and understand the military mindset and unique life style that exist. In my opinion anyone who is willing to do 20 years more than deserves retirement benefits and a huge round of applause for their sacrifice. Because so few who make these critical decisions are veterans they have no empathy for what it really means to serve your country in the military.
So the same people who decide this, will get their retirement after ONE term! They work in a airconditioned office and don't risk their life.
They want to take away from the very people who spend holidays, birthdays and years away from their loved ones. Not living in the same place, so they have to start all over with a home after 20 years. Military put their life on the line for the same Government who now may want to take what they have worked so long for.
If they pass this, be ready for a draft! Lots of military will be hitting the eject button. So if you aren't in the military and you are of age, or have children of age, you better hope it doesn't pass.
Corporations, municipal and state governments are pulling the rugs out from workers all over the country. Welcome to the 99%, folks!
401K or TSP style plan for retirement. Long term affect……can you say draft?
Let's start the cut at the top with Congress/Pentagon not at the bottom. A three 4 years, consecutive or nonconsecutive, not to exceed 12 years of office with 1/2 the current retirement. Retirement pay starts at age 59 1/2 effected immediately. Also effected immediately all spouses and family members will no longer have free medical, there will be a cost effective co-pay till age 59 1/2, there after you must invest in a family plan or utilize the federal care system at age cost. Unlike past changes to the retirement plan, which shielded Congress/Pentagon current serving members from the changes, the plan presented by the Governing Board would no longer grandfather current serving members. The plan would go into effect immediately and includes current and future Congress/Pentagon servicing members. Under this plan, new congress members would start immediately earning TSP contributions, but, would have no incentive to stay in or hold their positions for terms mentioned or more years since they would not get a fixed-benefit pension. Current servicing members would begin receiving TSP contributions immediately and would earn a grad u ated percent age of their pay if they stay in the appointed position for term appointed.
Lastdays2020
Their fixed pension rate would be based on their years of service when the new plan kicks in. For example a current servicing congress member who has 15 years of service would get 37.5 per cent of their base pay at 59 1/2 years in addition to the new TSP contributions. It’s important to point out that this is just a plan and has not been signed off on by lawmakers. So this is by no means a done deal, but the proposal is causing consternation among current serving Pentagon and Congress members. Please don't ask why…
Lastdays2020
This is actually a great idea! The President and Congress want to downsize the government, why don't they start with their own salaries and benefits? They are our LEADERS, they need to lead. Lead by example!
I also agree with brnskin2012 comment: my opinion no amount of monetary compensation or benefits could ever replace a young precious soul that has laid down his life for men (known/unknown) I believe what pennies/benefits that our government pays to soldiers is unsatisfactory because they have EARNED that and then some. My opinion they are not compensated enough. If it wasn't for those bravehearts we wouldn't have a free society,democracy,and the right to live, love and the American Dream…..what say you?
Last days2020
This is not a fiscal issue, the current President does not care for the military.
It has been said that now the Army is involuntarily retiring soldiers in MOS that are overstaffed. However, this process will also make them ineligible for there due retirement. My wife is due to retire in 3 years and her MOS is on this said list making all the promises worthless. Now we love our country and we too understand that as you said belts have to be tighten. But this route is unfair. I mean we have lived on many post and have seen many overwieght, PT failing, heavy drinker, just down right unsoldier like character. Why not start with these guys also stop all the enlisting bonuses. Some jobs are still offering 90,000 dollars of bonuses. Wow.
I once read somewhere that "Grandfathering" is the method used to prevent a situation of Detramental Reliance. It seems to make sense if you read the definition below. I wish I can remember where I read that.
detrimental reliance
The relying by one party on the representations of another to the detriment of the first party’s position.
As one vet to another, the current powers in D.C are no friends of the military, no matter what spews from their lips. The reason they want to make benefits more 'corporate like'(as described in the article) is that they intend to contract out the military to a corporation just as they want the whole world to be run by corporations(reference film Robocop and Omni Consumer Products) and the only real use they will have is to keep the U.S. population under control. What? You thought the constitution shredding laws passed the last ten years were to stop Al-Qaeda?
I am not in the military. If this president does this to our military they should have the same benefits! No more 4 years and retire at 100% ! Let them wait till 65 years old to get there retirement and pay for there own medical benefits just like. Everyone else! They should pay there own flights back home and pay for there food at a resonible rate, not $2.99 for steak and eggs!
I was dicharge from the army in 1982. I was told that my records show that I had completer my 20 years and that my 20 year letter would be forth coming. When I applied for my retirement in 1960 I was told that I was one year short. As I remeber there was at that time a regulation that guareenteed that a service man within two years of retirement cab=nnot be forced out of the service. Is there anyone that can telll me how to go about obtaing that regulation
you dont make enough just to retire in your 40's you still have to work another job to make ends meet
Career Military have been screwed by those in Congress for years. I served from 1953 until 1979 with 3 tours in Vietnam, all the while being promised free health and dental care for me and my spouse for as long as we lived. The day I retired I lost dental care. When I turned 65 the DOD informed me I was no longer eligible for medical care on military facilities and that I had better enroll in Medicare. I did and had to buy USAA supplementary insurance, While we now have TRICARE for life we still have to pay for Medicare. My advice to any youngster is find another career. The government, most of whom have never served in the military and have no clue on the hardships, not only the member but what the families suffer, will screw you at the drop of a hat.
Those taxpayers who choose to let others do the job of protecting our country and freedom should pay more to preserve the present military retirement system. I propose that anyone who does not choose to spend at least some time in the military should be assessed an extra tax to support the retirement of those who do. I've always thought that the draft should be reinstated then all the money spent on recruiting and retention bonuses would be lessened . We would be less likely to be entered into an unnecessary war. That would save billions of taxpayer dollars and leave more money in the military budget to go towards new developments in future unmanned weaponry . You won't have to pay a machine a retirement check. I retired from the Army but didn't draw it till age 60. I had 2years Active and 20 years in the INARNG. My son is a Warrant Officer with about 18 years and looking forward to a retirement income as well. He was deployed in Iraq in the past and currently on a year deployment at his home armory. with INARNG If this policy were enacted when I was still active I probably would not have stayed in to 20 years and I'm not sure my son would either. You probably will loose a lot of career personnel if you don't grandfather them in.
Do not mess with the current system. You will destroy the VOLUNTEER MILTARY FORCE. Todays soldier is committed to making unbelievable sacrifices in the name of Duty Honor Country. The current president has done maybe irreparable damage steadily emasculating the force with social engineering. Do not takeaway the last thing that is worthy of achieving.
Each person who enters the military signs a contract. If the contract says you can retire in 20 years with a certain amount of retirement and benefits, it can't be changed legally unless both parties sign. I don't think the military person would be willing to sign unless it was going to benefit him/her in some way or the other. If the government tries to do this across the board I see a class action suite against the government. You say, "military people can't sue the government."? The government can't change the contract in the middle of the deal eaithe.
They keep saying that our retirement is so great and costs too much. The politicians in Washington can do 1 or 2 terms and get full pay the rest of their lifes along with medical forever. That should be stopped before they even look at the military. The nerve of those jerks! The kids of those jerks don`t even have to pay back student loans and they say we have it too good.
the person who goes into the military first is putting their life on the spot. they can be kill in action.
It is becoming more and more clear that if you work hard in America you will be punished, but if yoy are on welfare you will be rewarded. I can see why people sell drugs at times, or are on welfare, when you see so many good people getting taking advantage of. Some of the people that run this country are more of a threat to the average American than Osama Bin Laden ever was, just in a different way.
Military wives, don't count on any benefits no matter how much you served too, in your capacity. After 35 years of marriage to a military man……zip…………nothing. That is unless you can afford an attorney to fight him for it, and if you didn't work (pretty hard to do, considering how much he is gone and how you have to do double duty at home), doubtful you will have that kind of money of your OWN. Nowdays there has been a huge push to make it next to impossible….to get ANYTHING out of a pension/retirement plan without spending a fortune you don't have on an attorney. Just a caution. I didn't listen either. You know the old MY husband wouldn't do that to me. Yes, he would, could and can. If you can get any educational benefits as the spouse of now….take it, otherwise you will be me. Thirty five years serving along side him on the homefront……and nothing but attorney bills and still not your due or even half. Most attorneys are in it for them, and have NO clue how tightly these "benefits" are locked away from the wiife and kid….The will lie till your retainer is gone….that they can get you anything, all of them.
by the way I have an attorney…as I was forced to file after husband pulled 10,000.00 out of his police pension and "disappeared". He has more money to fight ME, and sadly I helped him be so successful…in keeping any of it from me. Ironic, you bet. He is now offering to give me all the bills, (had to be incurred in my name mostly and now I know why.) our home (va financed of course, low rate but I won't quality to refinance) and our last child at home to deal with. This is NOT community property UNTIL you divorice…and good luck with that. YOu will be out moneyed and on the street with your kids. Even if you do hire an attorney, husband will still have total control making your life a living nightmare…as NO way can you get any without a divorice and some of these men take lessons in how to "out money" their former wives in a divorice. Just sayin