No more retiring at 20 years

[Sean88gt]

To me it reads like they get a shitty percentage-based 401K and no mention of medical benefits. Not exactly an incentive to stick around.

Or join in the first place...

[Hobie]

We all want to get rid of entitlement programs except for the ones that benefit us.

[big_tiger]

Shoot, my Uncle just retired from the Army this year. Immediately got a job with a railroad company coordinating shipments.

What a disgrace.

[big_tiger]

We all want to get rid of entitlement programs except for the ones that benefit us.

While they reform the military and people that serve 20 years in it, and we wont see shit change to entitlements for the 20 year old with a bum knee and gets disability/welfare/social security/food stamps that lives in a section 8 apartment (nice ones in GP). Getting pell grants to go to school, and with no plans of finishing pays for his car. I am sure I am missing some entitlements a poor 20yo could get.

[Forever_frost]

We all want to get rid of entitlement programs except for the ones that benefit us.

Yes because retirement for those who serve their country and fight the wars that keep us safe is an entitlement.

[68RR]

While they reform the military and people that serve 20 years in it, and we wont see shit change to entitlements for the 20 year old with a bum knee and gets disability/welfare/social security/food stamps that lives in a section 8 apartment (nice ones in GP). Getting pell grants to go to school, and with no plans of finishing pays for his car. I am sure I am missing some entitlements a poor 20yo could get.

Guess you've seen this video???

http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=J7XA2UUpXRk

[Denny]

Military retirement is not an entitlement... it's earned.

Social Security isn't an entitlement... it's repaid.

Medicare isn't an entitlement... it's pre-paid.

Now, let's talk welfare and medicaid. Who is ready for real cuts?!

[SMEGMA STENCH]

They'll just steal money out of those pensions just like corporations do.

[kingjason]

You know before I became a LEO officer I worked retail for 12 years and sales for 2. I guess you can say I have a pretty good rounded career history and understand both sides of the issue. I am almost at 10 years on the job and fully understand why military and law enforcement have decent retirement plans. I know I know you guys think well if you dont like it get out of it. I am not saying that at all as I do enjoy what I do most of the time. I do work in a hot little town and have been exposed to everything you can think of from one end of the scale all the way up to deadly force incidents. We had 25 and out as we call it for retirement and it was changed a few years back to 20 and out. Now what you guys need to realize is if I left at 20 straight up it would probably be way less then a social security check monthly, most guys work 25-30 years if they can. Another thing is that we contribute 14 percent of our gross to retirement and the city matches it. Most places I worked maxed you out at 7 percent and that was even optional. So really we put in a hell of a lot of money over 20 something years. Anyways now back to my point. Military and Law Enforcement are tough ass jobs and very dangerous. I can not tell you the amount of times my life has been endangered in the interest of protecting and serving. This job is hard mentally and physically in everyway. As crazy as I am and all the stupid shit I have done in my life I had never broken a bone till I got into LE. This job cost me 7 percent of movement in my right arm and hand, a busted knee, a sliced up arm, etc etc and I am sure the military is 20 times worse. Not only that but the pay is fair at best for what I do. I can garantee you that you probably dont want to many 30 year veterans on the street or out in the trenches. You need a lot of hand eye coordination and reflexes to do the job eveyday. I think the appeal of these jobs is the benefits more then the pay thats for sure. Just my two cents of course.

[ceyko]

I don't know, I understand why they'd want to do that, but I certainly do not agree.

I was not even combat arms, but I was in the field non-stop. Sleeping on rocks, using logs as pillows and such wears on you. Only after 5 or so years I was in shape but had minor/medium level back problems.

A lot of these guys are airborne...etc...etc...etc if they manage to do 20 and are still somewhat healthy, I'm okay with the lifetime pay.

Hell, I have a buddy that is/was (can't remember if he is current) airborne and was not in an combat arms MOS and has two knees in very rough shape.

At least in the Army (I assume the same for Marines), you can be a cook or quartermaster and put your body through hell if you're deployed/in the field a lot. That's the main reason I support the current retirement plan.

Not to mention what forever_frost mentioned, we fucking cater to illegals - why screw the military? Fix the illegal problem and then look elsewhere.

[YALE]

Ehh. If that 16.5% is the government's contribution, I think that's pretty generous. I'm all for everyone contributing to their own retirement, but you should have to pass a pretty tough test to be able to manage your own retirement account.

[mustangguy289]

Why can't this be instituted for government officials first? How much longer are we going to take this shit?

[Denny]

Why can't this be instituted for government officials first? How much longer are we going to take this shit?

Forever. The people of the US will not revolt.

[Moose242]

I say that for everyone currently in the military, honor the 20 year retirement program as that is only fair; the government should honor their agreement with these folks.

However, I think it would be okay to implement a 25 year retirement requirement for new recruits. After all, they can make the decision to or to not join.

[The King]

I say that for everyone currently in the military, honor the 20 year retirement program as that is only fair; the government should honor their agreement with these folks.

However, I think it would be okay to implement a 25 year retirement requirement for new recruits. After all, they can make the decision to or to not join.

That would be a sensible way to do something like this, although I am personally in favor of leaving things as they are with respect to the military.

Our servicemembers deserve it.