[Old Teufel Hunden]

"replacing the current retirement system, under which active-duty members qualify for immediate benefits after 20 years of service, with a defined benefit system that partially vests earlier in a service member’s career;"

They've been talking about this one for a couple of years now. I can see this one happening at some point. This may sound unpopular, but one way to cut down on costs would be to not allow service members to marry until they hit a certain rank, either E-4 or E-5. This may sound draconian, but when I was in, most of the off duty problems we had were with poor married PFCs and L/Cpls. Besides, this was the case (as I understand) back in the 50's.

[xzins]

Not allow someone to marry?

It might not be popular to say this, but those are still US citizens.

[Hulka]

With you.

During my time I saw many a young man get his life off the rails because of a marriage before he was ready.

Many times it was the local gal that did the trapping (’get me outta here’), and poor Sammy Soldier was homesick, thinking he is all manly (’tough soldier’) and he got laid (possibly for the first time and then thinks he is in love).