[Leaning Right]

Many private pension plans (and also many government ones) vest after 10 or even 5 years. There is no reason why the military can't do the same. In fact, it would be a matter of fairness.

But here's the thing. Most private/government pension plans also require at least 25 years of service. The military should require the same. That would seem like a reasonable trade-off.

[GreyHoundSailor]

One can’t compare 25 years of service in either a private firm or a non-deploying government job (where the worker gets to go home every night) and the same amount of time on active duty deploying constantly. Everyone I know who served around 25 years had at least 15 PCS moves, 10 years sea duty and 6-7 full deployments.

[Bruce Kurtz]

“Most private/government pension plans also require at least 25 years of service. The military should require the same. That would seem like a reasonable trade-off.”

Only about 17% of the people that enter active duty get to 20 years. They have to go through High Year of Tenure (get passed over 2 times for promotion, you are gone). Reduction in Forces (RIF), then if you do get to 20 you will probably face one these: Selective Early Retirement Board (SERB). If you are one of the 17%, you have probably moved 7 or more times. Some of those assignments would be unaccompanied tours. So the beatings on military benefits will continue until morale improves.

[xzins]

What your’re overlooking is that the military WANTS its lower ranking people to be young. Its higher ranking people, enlisted, warrant, and commissioned, are the older ones. There are far fewer slots for higher ranking people, so they WANT people gone by the 20th year. That’s why they kick out those who don’t get promoted at certain cutoff point. They don’t want but a tiny fraction to make it to 25 years.

After 25 years service that person would be about 45 years old if they entered at the normal age when men join the military. Except for rare individuals, most 45 year olds can’t keep up with 20 year olds.

[usurper]

But here's the thing. Most private/government pension plans also require at least 25 years of service.

I think the 20 year vesting requirement for the military is a good thing.

But that is not what they are talking about. Currently if someone puts in 19 years and leaves they get nothing. This would provide them with a portable 401K that they would take with them.

[Shimmer1]

You can always tell the comments by the civilians that know NOTHING about the military.