Do Not Mess with My Gunny’s Retirement Benefits
August 9, 2011Social media gives us access to information that a decade ago we couldn’t have received; the personalization of the stories of sacrifice within the military community has really overwhelmed me. I have to tell you I feel inadequate, I feel like I need to be doing a better job of showing my gratitude for what our troops do. And then I realized the perfect way, those of us safe on American soil need to become the first line of defense for those men and women who should be concentrating on their mission rather than the political mess that is occurring.
Republicans and Democrats can’t agree, so what happens, the politicians continue to be paid and military pay is threatened twice over the last few months. Our economy is a mess, where should we cut spending- oh, but the National defense of course. Hmmm, do you think what happens back at ‘home’ could slightly be stressing out our forces? Should we ever put additional stress of the same people we ordered to combat zones? Not on my watch.
I want to share with you what is happening with military retirement, the proposed changes and the people who are responsible so that you can make an educated decision on if it is something you want to fight. My husband has served proudly for the last 13 years with the belief in mind that he rated certain retirement benefits at the 20 year mark. Now, do not be mistaken, this man would wear that uniform for free, he would fly on that CH-53 E even if it means no pay, no benefits, nothing because being a United States Marine has so much value to him over and above monetary. But, we promise men and women like my husband certain ‘entitlements’ for doing over the course of twenty years what some will never see over a lifetime.
Today, three proposals exist that place military benefits on the chopping block, two more serious than the third. The proposals will be researched over the next 6-12 months and then legislation will be introduced. This is where we come in. I want us to all join forces, do our own research, and protect the benefits of our military heroes. Here is the preliminary information I have gathered:
1) Defense Business Board Task Force: Reports to DOD, http://dbb.defense.gov/reports_sec.shtml
- Their initial report; you will find their findings absurd (in my opinion). http://dbb.defense.gov/pdf/DBB_Military_Retirement_Final_Presentationpdf.pdf
2) Deficit Commission appointed by President: http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/
- P. 45 provides their beliefs that military retirement should be more in line with the civilian sector: http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/sites/fiscalcommission.gov/files/documents/TheMomentofTruth12_1_2010.pdf
3) Senator Tom Coburn from OK (R), has a proposed plan called Bring Back Black that wants to get rid of DOD schools & commissaries: http://coburn.senate.gov/public/?p=deficit-reduction
I would like to believe I am an open minded person; I do not identify with any one side rather I am just a proud American woman. However, in reviewing what these three entities are proposing, I absolutely 100% think our troops who are serving, whether it is year 1 or year 10 should be grandfathered into any changes that occur, if any changes have to occur. I do not believe the work of our troops is even slightly comparable to anything anyone in the civilian sector does.
So what can we do? Because the legislation hasn’t even been formed and introduced yet, I believe in being proactive rather than reactive. Our government has great transparency, you can find the phone number and email address to every Senator that serves your state, to include Senator Coburn who doesn’t believe we rate our commissaries. Don’t let others do the work for you, make the calls, pen the letters, request meetings. Stand up for our troops so they can do what they are called to do: focus on their mission and come home to their loved ones. Share your thoughts.
Comments
Retirement Pay
Have you noticed a trend for many years of the same politicians who don't have the balls to serve, or in most cases make sure their children don't serve, make decisions that put our country in harms way, they want the military people to have no incentive to stay in to retirement, cut pay, and benifits, these men are fighting for them, let them have a way to take care of their families now, and in retirement. They have given all our jobs up to china, now they want a military with no experience to assume leadership, like the current president, But in the end I would say their agenda is clear, China, and Japan, have control of our economy, they want to hand all of our country to them. In the days of my enlistment they made threats of disbanding the Corps because the Government feared us but they realize when needed we are there, so now one enlistment, or two, they want you gone so they don't have to pay anything to keep our country safe, then in the same motion make very sure China's army is funded. Semper Fi Marine Warriors.
Politicians
I agree, it has become clear we are not the priority. I feel that both sides are letting us down, we do not have one strong supporter screaming out for us which is why I am working feverishly to get a face to face with those people. I have been emailing and making calls to members of every Caucus and Committee to meet with them in September over this issue. People have always had freedom which is why I think those outside of 'this' community are complacent. We have to speak up louder, there is a false impression that they are so supportive, I want to see actions not words. -Bianca
Response to the DBB proposal for Military retirement changes
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.
Thank You-We Need More Like You!
This is the exact specifics we will need for this fight! And you are correct in the facts you used to combat that report. My husband serves as an Enlisted helicopter crewchief, has been in 13 years, and I know his pay is not comparable to what he would make doing a similiar job for Sikorsky who makes his aircraft. Additionally, when he enlisted in 1998, whether he cared at that age or not, he was told he rated a certain retirement at 20 years. How is it possibly legal on that contract that he signs to go back on that? I am working on a survey that we will publish next week and I hope more people will anonymously give your kind of insight because it is fact that will help get this point across. Obviously good ol' fashion patriotism and gratitude to the troops doesn't matter to Washington. I have never in my life been so disappointed in the things I see. I firmly believe social reform and cutting elected officials' pay/benefits should always come before touching anything defense. -Bianca
DBB proposal
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.
SaveMyTricare
IMPORTANT NOTICE: We are Veterans who are building a new web site to protect and fight for Earned Military Benefits. The site will be OPERATIONAL in several weeks. You will have access to US CONGRESS MEMBERS via email and you will have the ability to print letters also. Please have other Friends LIKE and sign on. We will keep you informed and provide ACTION ALERTS. We Thank All Americans who Support Our Veterans. OPERATIONAL on 01/17/2012
http://www.facebook.com/savemy.tricare#!/
http://www.SaveMyTricare.net OPERATIONAL Week of 01/18/2012
Tricare
First post here. Read this about Tricare today, thought I'd pass it along. Got a headline on Drudge.
http://freebeacon.com/trashing-tricare/
"Trashing Tricare
Obama to cut healthcare benefits for active duty and retired US military."
I'm sure everyone is aware of the attack on Tricare and the military in general, but this is the first time I've seen it mentioned in any major media. Obama is gutting us in more ways than one.
END FOREIGN AID! AMERICA 'FIRST!'
The next time a politician tells you that
there is not enough money or, they have
to make drastic cuts in veterans benefits,
military retiree benefits or our elderly or,
our military programs or, America's domestic
needs....
TELL THEM THEY NEED TO STOP ALL THE
FOREIGN AID HANDOUTS TO THE WORLD
(that our taxpayers will NEVER see paid back
to them ever) with NO EXCUSES! FOREIGN AID
seems to be NEVER mentioned or, even listed
as a spending program to be CUT! WHY is that?
Because, it is a "sacred cow" for BOTH the
LEADERSHIP of the republicans & democrats!
If these cowardly politicians continue to
support and throw away the taxpayers money
on foreign aid (in the billions of dollars),
regardless of whatever lame excuse they use,
then they are NOT putting our troops & veterans
or, even America's domestic needs FIRST!
Much of foreign aid goes to our sworn
enemies like Red China, Vietnam, Cuba,
and regime dictatorships unfriendly to
the USA. If Americans want to help out
the starving masses worldwide, simply
give to the many reliable world health
organizations like the International. Red
Cross etc. -America First Vet, National
Veterans Coalition. www.nvets.org
"Veterans for America FIRST!"
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