An Overview of Past Proposals for Military Retirement Reform
An Overview of Past Proposals for Military Retirement Reform

Author: John Christian

Publisher: Rand Corporation

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 41

ISBN-13: 0833039873

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By one estimate, between fiscal years 1995 and 2005, total compensation costs for current and former military personnel increased by almost 60 percent. The military retirement benefit remains a significant portion of these costs, and every change to accessions, retention, and basic pay today will have a future effect on pension expenditures. This technical report provides an overview of the history of U.S. military retirement studies and associated legislation, with a particular focus on the past 60 years of proposed reforms. It is organized around the following five major issues that have driven attempts at retirement system reform: cost, equity, selective retention, civilian comparability, and force management flexibility. The author finds that cost alone is reason to analyze the current retirement system, and reform proposals of the past have focused carefully on cost. However, he also finds that, as the military's mission evolves over time, it is also important to consider the sometimes subtle incentive effects that the retirement system has on service member behavior. Beyond considerations of cost, reform of the military retirement system necessarily involves ramifications for force structure and operational readiness.

Military Retirement, Concurrent Receipt, and Related Major Legislative Issues
Military Retirement, Concurrent Receipt, and Related Major Legislative Issues

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 16

ISBN-13:

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Ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have caused serious injuries to some military personnel. These severe and traumatic injuries - including amputations, burns, blindness, brain injury, and paralysis - often create significant hardships for the affected individuals that make independent living difficult or impossible. For example, an injured service member may need extensive physical therapy, transportation assistance, and job retraining in order to make the transition back to civilian life. In 2003 and 2004, some pointed out inadequacies in the military's ability to provide these services to it's seriously injured personnel. Members of Congress have frequently expressed concern about the level of care for these severely injured soldiers and their family members. The Department of Defense (DOD) and each of the military services have established new programs to care for the severely disabled, ensuring rehabilitative assistance and easing the transition back to civilian life. Congress has followed these initiatives with interest and recently directed DOD to develop policies and procedures to standardize these programs. 1 This report examines the background for the new initiatives and provides a status of each program, including contact information. This report will be updated as these programs continue to evolve and mature.