Problem is we really can’t afford to pay someone a 50% of base pay retirement after only 20 years of service. What they really need to do is go to a 30 years before retirement or delay the pay out until after they reach 60. Either way, Congress is looking for costs to cut and military retirement is an easy one.
I would agree with this for government employees but not military. 20 years in the military is a lot different than 20 years as a civilian. Putting your life on the line for 20 years, for the American people, seems to me to be worth the money, and more, for their service.
You can pretty much forget about good people staying a long time. The reason a lot of military folks stay and accept the conditions and pay is because of the 20 year retirement. The only reason I stayed 20 is because my wife would not agree ot my getting out at 14, because of the retirement. If I had had a portable 401K, I probably would have been out much earlier. I think this will greatly reduce the quality of senior personnel.
Sure we can afford it. Lets get our economy back on track, increase revenues, and cut benefits for illegal immigrants. Of course we can afford it. Don’t believe the lies.