Delaying full retirement pay for the active component could fund earlier retirement pay for members of the reserve component, who do not receive the pay until reaching age 60.
Active-component members receive retirement pay immediately after serving 20 years, which can come before the age of 40.
To offset the early pay for National Guard and reserve members, active-component retirement could be delayed. The retirement pay system for active-component retirees is the killer expense in military compensation that must be addressed.
The commission had met earlier with retired Maj. Gen. Gus Hargett, the NGAUS president, and briefed him on the commission’s work, which will focus on three areas: pay and benefits, quality of life and health care.
“Everything is on the table,” for review by the Congressional mandated panel.
A priority relayed to the panel was that drill pay should not be reduced. Earlier studies have suggested that pay for a Guardsman’s weekend drill could be reduced to more accurately reflect the time spent at drill. However, the Guard is already a bargain to the country and should not have this compensation reduced.
This story was taken in part from an article written by NGAUS.
