What do you think about the new military retirement system?

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS - It is down to 40% at 20 years and many are grandfathered in. I think they should drop it further personally, but you are going to have retention issues.

CPT Mark Gonzalez - Why should it be dropped at all?

Here's the question. Is it Sustainable or not. That's what it really boils down to. Pension is a Total COMPENSATION issue. Dropping it, without raising base pay is a cut to total compensation. I'm not sure I can advocate for that, especially if the 2nd order effect is a loss of retention.

I have yet to see one study that shows Direct Retirement Compensation (As opposed to Medical and Other Benefits) are "Unsustainable." I hear the Secretaries talking about these issues... but 40% base pay for an E7 or O5 is not that much.

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS - Yes and part of the inducement for military service as a career was adequate post-career benefits. Military service at its best taxes the body and after decades of service the average retiree is modified adversely for further work. I know many men who retired in their late thirties or low forties and quite fit but other men were hobbled with bad knees and/or backs.

Concur, LTC Paul Labrador. The new system is asking young men and women to be financially savvy in their first four years within the military. I teach the finance class to the patients who will be quickly returning to "Fort Living Room." I start with buying a house; buying a car, retirement (forget about Social Security, because it won't be there), job opportunities such as mortician, nurse, avionics, plumber, welder. Amazed how many of them come and tell me that "no one has ever taken the time to do that for them." FINANCE 101 will have to become an MOS for these youngsters.