washingtonscene
COLA WATCH
this year, will cover military retirement, immediately to at least 75 percent of the
health care, and quality of life issues. “with dependents” rate, with additional
a73 The CPI for the month
of February jumped 0.3
The new fi rst volume claims the tradi- incremental increases over the course of
percentage points over
tional version of comparing military ver- several years until the single rate is 95 per-
January’s value. That puts sus civilian pay is outdated. The currently cent of the “with dependents” rate.
cumulative inflation at 1.8
used “Regular Military Compensation” It also recommends establishing “con-
percent for the first five
standard is an effort to construct a civil- structive service credit” for servicemem-
months of the fiscal year.
After the first five months
ian-equivalent “salary” for the military. bers who are promoted early or who are
of FY 2007, cumulative
It includes basic pay, the national average brought into the force in an unusual status
inflation for the year still
housing and subsistence allowances for (e.g., certain doctors who begin service
was negative. the applicable grade, and also includes the later in their careers). This would be a way
“tax advantage” realized because housing of ensuring a longer-term basic pay and
and subsistence allowances aren’t subject retired pay boost for “fast burners” or late
to federal income taxes. entrants with critically needed experience.
The QRMC report recommends adopt- Under the current pay system, those
ing a new “Military Annual Compensation” promoted early usually realize only a
(MAC) standard that also would include short-term pay advantage over slower-
state income tax and Social Security/Medi- promoted contemporaries.
care tax savings on the tax-free allowances,
plus the added value of military health
care and retirement benefi ts that are better Fee Plan
than what most civilians receive.
The MAC concept has been proposed Gets Chilly
many other times and has never gained
any real traction — for good reason. Reception
Col. Steve Strobridge, USAF-Ret.,
Key House panel isn’t happy.
MOAA’s director of Government Re-
lations observes, “The bottom line is
military health and retirement benefi ts
are provided mainly as an offset to the
unique and arduous conditions inherent O
n March 12, the House Armed
Services Military Personnel
Subcommittee held a hearing to
in a military career. receive recommendations from defense
“As any servicemember being deployed and civilian witnesses on the future of
today or in the past can confi rm, counting military health care.
only the value of the benefi ts, without sub- It didn’t take long for committee lead-
tracting a value for the sacrifi ces they’re ers to make it clear that, if up to them, the
provided to offset, is a one-sided exercise.” future won’t include Pentagon proposals
MOAA’s view is that such proposals for huge increases in TRICARE fees.
only seek to infl ate military compensa- Chair Susan Davis (D-Calif.) expressed
tion values. Compensation, after all, is concern that such increases would cause
value received divided by service and benefi ciaries to forgo necessary treatment,
sacrifi ce rendered. worsening underlying conditions or mak-
Nevertheless, the QRMC report offers ing them untreatable.
serious food for thought on other topics. “Now is not the time to exacerbate
First, its analysis indicates housing al- existing long-term problems or create
lowances for single servicemembers living new ones with programs that provide
in civilian housing are too low. The report only short-term relief,” said Davis. She
recommends raising single allowances was equally concerned with defense
3 2 M I L I T A R Y O F F I C E R M AY 2 0 0 8
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