Posted on 02/16/2015 9:57:58 PM PST by DakotaGator
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), new chairman of the Senate armed services’ subcommittee on military personnel, has signaled he will defend retirement reforms proposed for a new generation of service members by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission.
(Excerpt) Read more at militaryadvantage.military.com ...
I saw the different proposals. They want to give a person who retires after 24 years a 300K buyout. They must be crazy to think that is going to last the rest of the military personnel’s life. Or another idea is to give like 50K at retirement and wait for benefits until 62 or something like that....again 50K will be gone within 18 months.....maybe. Horrible proposals.
One proposal I saw included cancelling GI Bill transfers if they weren’t used by a certain date.
Back in 1980, Congress cancelled our GI Bill benefits as applied to Flight Schools. I had just started a Helicopter Certified Flight Instructor course when the ruling came down. When I called my senator to ask why, I was told that many veterans were using the benefits “for joy riding”.
“So? How many veterans go to college to party? I NEED this certification for my work!”
“How can Congress do this? This is a contract we signed in 1967 - I go fight your war, you pay a stipend for my education, including vocational training, including Flight Training. I fulfilled my half of the contract. How can Congress renege now?”
The Senator’s staffer said, “We know it is a dirty deal, but basically, Congress can do whatever it wants to do.”
The worst part is, that this is chump change. While Congress dithers over destroying our Armed Forces, it refuses to address the huge problem of unearned entitlements which are bankrupting the country. The entire DOD can be eliminated today and the country will still go broke.
This ought to remind people of the state of our Armed Forces between WWI and WWII. Then also Congress virtually destroyed the services as effective forces. And we came very close to getting our butts handed to us.
Now we are facing likely war with Red China and other players in 2025. And right on cue, Congress is destroying our Armed Forces. But this time we won't have the time, manufacturing capacity, or political will to rearm, fight, and win.
Bread and circuses rule the day. And the biggest three rings are the three branches of the federal government!
Obviously he doesn’t understand the word RE TIRE MENT.
You don’t collect retirement unless you’ve done the freaking time. Wounded warriors who are forced out due to injuries get medical and a stipend.
Those who are kicked out for busting tape or DUI’s shouldn’t get a damn thing.
And another thing seldom mentioned, members of the Armed Forces don't retire as civilians do. They are retained at partial pay on the retirement lists.
Those so retained are subject to immediate recall until a certain age. This is necessary for immediate force expansion during national crisis. That is why our so called retirement pay is actually retention pay.
But Senator Graham can't be bothered to know about reality.
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