What benefits/entitlements are you MOST concerned will change/be diminished for you/your family as DoD budgets become more constrained?

COL Edward Amato — Thu, 08 May 2014 22:32:24 -0400

As a Garrison Commander, my installation team had to make daily decisions what services we could afford to provide--and at what level--because we could not afford to sustain everything as it was. Now that even MORE seems to be open for negotiation by lawmakers--commissary, Tricare, pay, retiree access to services, even retirement pensions--what is no kidding MOST important to you and your family?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2014 11:19 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 May 2014 23:19:44 -0400

Sir,

One I think most of us that want to retire someday would worry about. I do not want to have my pension messed with.

After that would be commissary. That is where savings come in. While PX is nice due to distance wise it is rarely cheaper than off post Walmart. Commissary is where the savings are and as an AGR Soldier I go to West Point to shop for food when I am in the area.

Response by LTC Mark Beattie made May 9 at 2014 1:16 PM

LTC Mark Beattie — Fri, 09 May 2014 13:16:42 -0400

Medical benefits and the commissary.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made May 9 at 2014 2:07 PM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Fri, 09 May 2014 14:07:54 -0400

Sir, our concern is Tricare out of pocket expenses, retirement pension and the commissary going away. I can handle the latter being gone but don't want Tricare to increase to the point that we can hardly get by. As for retirement, I hope congress won't take it from us. We have worked hard after 20+ years to not receive it.

I honestly don't know what I would do to make up for it going away until I reached the proposed age to receive it. For sure my plans would be changed as I would like to spend more time with the family attending sport events and traveling to places to learn about US History. I don't want two jobs either.

Response by SSgt Gregory Guina made May 9 at 2014 2:11 PM

SSgt Gregory Guina — Fri, 09 May 2014 14:11:41 -0400

Tricare is one that I would not want to see go away. My daughter spent some time in the hospital when she was born and the Explanation of Benefits showed the hospital charged more than 2 million dollars for her stay. With all the other meds and Drs visits she has gone through Tricare has covered close to 4 million dollars worth of medical procedures for my daughter.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2014 3:24 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 May 2014 15:24:08 -0400

sir, my concerns are out of pocket tricare premiums, tuition assistance, and retirement pensions.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2014 3:35 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 May 2014 15:35:14 -0400

Agreed with Mister Rodriguez, Sir. Tricare premiums and pension cuts make me most nervous. An impact of those benefits would substantially reduce the compensation value that accompanies a 20-year or greater career plan. At that point it would be far more advantageous to part ways with Active Duty and begin my next career as soon as possible.

Response by MSgt Mark Reynolds made May 10 at 2014 9:43 PM

MSgt Mark Reynolds — Sat, 10 May 2014 21:43:49 -0400

Medical and Pension is my biggest concerns. I am expecting they are going to start charging us more for the medical/dental benefits and cut our pensions, or at a minimum stop any future raises.

I also agree with you CPT Brian Maurelli, the PX does not provide as much savings as the commissary. But I guess the one benefit is not having to pay the taxes.

Response by LTJG Charles Vroman made May 12 at 2014 1:22 PM

LTJG Charles Vroman — Mon, 12 May 2014 13:22:12 -0400

For those who have served 20+ years and retired from the military, it is understood that budgetary constraints, government and personal, dictate what can and cannot be done.

That being said, when an entity promises an individual certain things if a set length of employment/service is met under honorable conditions, these "things" (I will refer to them as "benefits") are not negotiable once an agreement is reached.

Many that have retired after 20+ years in the military were promised free health care for them and their families for life if they completed the 20 year obligation of honorable service. This promise has ALREADY been made null and void since the TRICARE system was instituted, requiring retirees to pay for their promised health care. To further exacerbate this by increasing cost to the retiree and/or reduction or removal of services would be an even greater travesty.

The Commissary "benefit" was and still is a vital portion of the "benefits" package. Having the availability of lower cost grocery items available has been a real blessing, especially for the lower ranked Enlisted personnel, due to the lower pay scales in the military versus a similar job in the civilian sector. Many retirees and most junior Enlisted personnel rely heavily on this benefit. There are probably many money-saving changes that could be made to this system, such as selling military excess groceries vice numerous name-brand items, but elimination of this "benefit" is not a measure that should even be considered.

The Military Retirement system is, by no means, a great system. Unless Medically retired, the retiree must be at least and E-6, by current evaluation and promotion standards. The current Base Pay level for an E-6 at 20 years is $3687.30 per month. Retirement Pay at 50% of that is $1840.15 per month, pre-tax. A Navy Captain or Army/Air Force/Marine Colonel Base Pay at 20 years is $9625.20, which would result in $4812.60 in Retirement Pay at 50% of that level. A 3 Star Flag Officer (Admiral/General) Base Pay at 20 years is $14056.80, which would result in $7028.40 in Retirement Pay at 50% of that level. No wonder the senior officers don't understand why the lower echelons see large problems with cutting/changing the retirement system. Any cuts that need to be made should start at the E-9/W-3/O-3 pay levels. Cutting at any lower levels in the Enlisted (E) or Officer (O,W) ranks would be criminal.

Last on the list is the Base Exchange privileges. The Base Exchanges are run as a profit making entity that supports the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation organizations on the bases. They recieve exactly $0.00 funding from appropriated funds, and should not be included in ANY budgetary discussion. Though the savings level to the patrons at the Base Exchanges is significantly less than at the Commissaries, this, too, is a staple of existence for junior Enlisted personnel and their families.

Stop taking away "benefits" and pay from the military, or this country will soon find that it has a military superior to none that will be unable to defend this country, let alone project American power throught the world.