National Guard lauds panel’s pay recommendations

A group representing members of the National Guard on Monday hailed recommendations on reforming military pay and benefits.

“National Guardsmen nationwide applaud the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission for providing some innovative ideas and a real starting point to deliberate reform of the military’s retirement and health-care systems,” said retired Maj. Gen. Gus Hargett, National Guard Association of the United States president.

{mosads}His statement came after the Pentagon released its 2016 budget request on Monday morning, which calls for $1.7 billion in cuts to troop pay and benefits.

The commission last week recommended reforming the military retirement pay system from an all-or-nothing system of 50 percent of base pay annually after 20 years of service, in favor of more options, including a 401(k)-style system that would allow troops to walk away with benefits before 20 years.

It also recommended changes to the military healthcare system, with care for active duty troops remaining the same, but providing family members, reservists and retirees the same plan as federal workers.

Hargett said the changes would provide users, including reservists, “more choices and greater flexibility,” reduce user costs and provide more access to more providers.  

“And they also took a long, hard look at the way military pays the Guard and Reserve for weekend drill pay and determined that the traditional methodology still works. We agree,” Hargett said.  

Reforming military pay and compensation has become a thorny issue between Pentagon leaders, who say troop costs are too expensive, and veteran and military family organizations seeking to protect earned benefits.

Hargett said reform was “imperative” due to the pressure “spiraling personnel costs” puts on troop readiness, but also because the current system creates “divisive inequalities.”

“We thank the MCRMC for its hard work. We believe its final report is a great way forward to reducing personnel costs while preserving the viability of the all-volunteer force. It’s time now for all of us associated with the military to work with Congress to finish the job,” he said.