washingtonscene
DoD has expressed support for the new ability to transfer the benefi t to fam-
initiative, noting that a typical new ily members might ease that risk.
member of the armed forces enrolled Active duty and reserve personnel
in a Roth TSP could have supplemental chiefs acknowledged tension among re-
retirement income worth two or three cruiters. Competition is keen, and they
times the amount they would realize often are competing for the same people.
from the same level of deposit in the Committee leaders asked the reserve
current TSP. chiefs where they stood on proposals to
Initially, the bill called for automatic reduce the reserve retirement age and au-
enrollment of all new military and federal thorize TRICARE eligibility for “gray-area”
civilian entrants in the TSP, but that provi- reservists (those who have completed 20 or
sion was amended to leave automatic en- more years of service but aren’t yet age 60).
rollment to the discretion of the military All supported awarding reduced-
services for uniformed personnel. retirement-age credit for all active duty
service since Sept. 11, 2001 (under cur-
Reserve
rent law, the retirement age is reduced
three months for each 90 days of active
Leaders Push
duty after January 2008). For the longer
term, they support reducing the retire-
Upgrades
ment age for servicemembers who serve
beyond 20 years. They also expressed
Recruiting and retention
support for providing TRICARE eligibil-
continue as concerns.
ity for gray-area reservists.
MOAA applauds Guard and Reserve
leaders’ support for these much-needed
A
ctive and reserve-component initiatives, which DoD has resisted strong-
leaders and defense offi cials ly in the past.
briefi ng Congress in March voiced
cautious optimism on recruiting. But they
said the services are in uncharted waters, Military Kids
and retention is a concern.
While the economic downturn has Getting Help
helped recruiting and retention rates,
States are working on
lower interest in service and a declining
pool of eligible youth are hurting the
education compact.
services’ efforts.
Curt Gilroy, Ph.D., director of DoD ac-
cession policy, urged caution in consider-
ing recruiting budget cuts. He said the V
irginia legislators sent a mes-
sage of support for military
children’s education needs in
services experienced serious recruiting early March, voting to join the Interstate
problems after making “careless cuts” in Compact on Educational Opportunity for
the 1970s, ’80s, and late ’90s. Military Children. In Mississippi, the gov-
“If we don’t pay attention to these les- ernor signed his state on to the compact in
sons, we will repeat our sins,” he said. mid-March.
The witnesses said they think the new Participating states become part of an
GI Bill will enhance recruiting signifi - interstate commission that works coopera-
cantly but expressed concerns about its tively to ease administrative impediments
effect on retention. They said troops’ to enrollment, placement, and graduation
3 2 M I L I T A R Y O F F I C E R M AY 2 0 0 9
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