Off-Topic: Military Pensions after 20 years service
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Name:
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MrHodja
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Subject:
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Military Pensions after 20 years service
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Date:
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9/8/2011 5:13:39 PM (updated 9/8/2011 5:41:20 PM)
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I faintly remember the series of posts on this subject, and at the time there was a lot of pushback from us because it appeared you didn't acknowledge the special reasons contributing to military retirement.
In the interest of full disclosure I am receiving an Air Force retirement check every month. I would consider it "about right", considering it was a significant reason for me to invest in a military career and I and my family endured an awful lot more inconveniences and hardships than our civilian counterparts.
I can't really speak for the other services, but at least for the Air Force things are very different now than when I was first commissioned. Pay and other benefits are much improved over 1967 when I, as a second lieutenant, made a whopping $331 per month in base pay, and precious little in housing allowance. Maybe because of those improvements the retirement carrot isn't as much the reason folks decide to stay in for a career.
On the other hand, a military person basically gives up positive control over his or her life. That hasn't changed. You go where the service needs for you to go and/or live. Many times that place or those places aren't where you'd choose to be. And then there's the issue of the ultimate sacrifice. The military person must be willing to give his or her life while defending our country. That's a pretty hefty potential cost.
Maybe there can be changes to the cost of military retirement, or different options that would still retain quality personnel. But you are right - it must start with those not yet a member of our uniformed services.
MartiniMan brings up an interesting statistic with regard to the ratio of military and civil service workers. I hadn't thought about it that way, and don't know enough about civil service retirement plans to comment. At one time I think they contributed a percentage of their pay toward retirement, but at the time i THINK they didn't pay the social security tax. We have forum member who are recent civil service retirees and I encourage them to weigh in on the subject.
Bottom line is that military retirement should not be off the table when it comes to determining who shares in the necessary reduction in pension expenditures. But like police and firefighters, there are special considerations that must not get lost in the mix. Extra care should be taken to ensure we aren't penny wise and pound foolish.
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