What does active duty personnel have to worry about in the National Defense Authorization Act?

There is sufficient money available for reasonable pay increases and the cut in housing is not warranted. We have nearly $2B to fight Zika in countries that a small minority is effected and is here because it was transported here. We have billions for refugees that won't stay home and fight for their country. And the list goes on. Screwing over the military usually takes place when there is peace. But, rest assured you will be thanked for your service, that is free.

You can bet though that the Defense Contractors will get their Cut. Now the ones that have to operate those weapons systems are a whole nother matter.

"Cost offsets could be found". That's political speak for "no because I'm not going to look hard". That's a typical virtual hope pill. I'm retired but see some interesting dynamics here. Housing should have been going down starting about 7 years ago, bottomed out, and then should be starting to go back up at a moderate rate this year. This stuff is always "lagging", hence is a good deal some years and pucker factor other years. 1.3% is still close to flat but it's been typical for the past 12 years and overall is a bit better than the really flat in the commercial sector service industries.

Mandatory TSP is what I'd call tough love that reduces future liabilities. Forcing investment for age 60+ benefits will help keep people off the dole later on. I've posted before that people need 4-5 income streams for which your annuity and TSP (401) are two of them. You do a mixture of the two following your MIL life. You then do Social Security at the right time and probably throw some VA disability in there somewhere. You want to be in the position where the financial advisor says "do it this way otherwise you'll be in the really high tax bracket". I didn't get on the TSP bandwagon early because it didn't exist. But when I did in '86 (10%) on the Civil Service side, it turned out to be worth high six digits when I punched out in '13.

BTW if you're considering Civil Service while you finish off MIL on the reserve side, take a hard look at buying FERS retirement credit. I bought 10 years for $10K in '86 and it is paying me $13K a year now. Turned out to be a no brainer. The longer I live the more no brainer it is and the survivor benefit is larger too.