SCENE [CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38]
vesting would give servicemembers we need to stay for a career one more reason to leave. Most who make the “vesting fairness” argument know it’s a red herring to serve their real goal of civilianizing the military retirement system. And they’d fund the new exit payment by dramatically cut- ting retirement benefits for people who serve a multi-decade career. There’s only one argument on this issue that makes any sense. That’s the concern raised by Rep.
Austin Scott (R-Ga.) at a House Armed Services Military Personnel subcommittee hearing in October 2011 — that we owe more to those who would have pursued a career but who will be denied that oppor- tunity for budgetary reasons. But the fix isn’t to change the
retirement system to undermine ca- reer retention incentives. During the drawdown of the
1990s, Congress authorized early re- tirement for people in excess skills who had 15 to 19 years’ service. Ca- reer servicemembers with less than 15 years were offered substantial voluntary-separation incentives. Congress isn’t considering those things now because they cost extra money. If the concern is to provide fair
treatment to overstressed career servicemembers who have to be forced out in a drawdown, MOAA is fully on board. But it’s Congress’ job to pony up
extra money to do that — not whack retirement for those who serve and sacrifice longest.
MO
— Contributors are Col. Steve Strobridge, USAF-Ret., direc tor; Col. Mike Hayden, USAF-Ret.; Col. Bob Norton, USA-Ret.; Cmdr. René Campos, USN-Ret.; Capt. Kathy Beasley, USN-Ret.; Col. Phil Odom, USAF-Ret.; Karen Gold- en; Bret Shea; and Matt Murphy, MOAA’s Government Relations Department.
84 MILITARY OFFICER JANUARY 2012
moaacalendar
Log on to the MOAA Web Base at
www.moaa.org/locator/eventsearch.asp to find out when an MOAA represen- tative is coming to your area. Double-check time and location before attending.
January
Alabama, Auburn, East-Central Alabama Chapter, Jan. 17, Col. Richard Erickson, USAF-Ret., MOAA board of directors (BoD)
Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona Chapter, Jan. 26, Col. Lee Lange II, USMC-Ret., Council and Chapter Affairs (CCA)
California, Vandenberg AFB, bldg. 8290, training group auditorium, Jan. 9, 8 a.m., Col. Dan Koslov, USAF-Ret., MOAA’s Transition Services (TOPS)
California, Edwards AFB, AFFTC confer- ence center, Looking Glass room, Jan. 10, 8 a.m., Col. Dan Koslov, USAF-Ret., TOPS
California, Los Angeles AFB, bldg. 270, Gordon Conference Center, Jan. 11, 8 a.m., Col. Dan Koslov, USAF-Ret., TOPS
California, Marysville, Alta California Chapter, Jan. 26, Col. Gary Fredricks, USAF-Ret., MOAA BoD
California, San Diego Convention Center, Jan. 26, spouse symposium and career fair
Florida, Patrick AFB, Cape Canaveral Chapter, Jan. 7, Adm. Steve Abbot, USN- Ret., MOAA BoD chair
Florida, Palm Beach, Florida Council of Chapters, Jan. 13-14, Col. Lee Lange II, USMC-Ret., and Col. Barry Wright, USA- Ret., CCA
Florida, Patrick AFB, bldg. 722, airman and family readiness center (A&FRC), Jan. 31, 8:30 a.m., Col. Dan Koslov, USAF-Ret., TOPS
Georgia, Fort Stewart, bldg. 100, education center, room 247, Jan. 11, 9 a.m., Col. Brian Anderson, USAF-Ret., TOPS
Georgia, Dahlonega, Georgia Mountain Chapter, Jan. 19, Col. Barry Wright, USA- Ret., CCA
Georgia, Savannah Area Chapter, Jan. 20, Col. Barry Wright, USA-Ret., CCA
Georgia, Atlanta Chapter, Jan. 21, Col. Barry Wright, USA-Ret., CCA
Maryland, Fort Meade, Club Meade, Jan. 19, 11:30 a.m., Capt. Bud Schneeweis,
USCG-Ret., Benefits Information and Fi- nancial Education (BIFE)
Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota Chapter, Jan. 10, Lt. Gen. Randall Rigby, USA-Ret., MOAA BoD
North Carolina, Salisbury, Central Caro- lina Chapter, Jan. 9, Col. Mike Hayden, USAF-Ret., MOAA Government Relations
Pennsylvania, Willow Grove Chapter, Jan. 17, 11:30 a.m., Capt. Bud Schneeweis, USCG-Ret., BIFE
South Carolina, Joint Base Charleston, Jan. 9, 9 a.m., Col. Brian Anderson, USAF- Ret., TOPS
South Carolina, MCRD Parris Island, Jan. 10, 8:30 a.m., Col. Brian Anderson, USAF-Ret., TOPS
South Carolina, Fort Jackson, Jan. 31, 8:30 a.m., Col. Brian Anderson, USAF-Ret., TOPS
Tennessee, Lebanon, Tennessee Council of Chapters, Jan. 18, Col. Barry Wright, USA-Ret., CCA
Virginia, Fort Belvoir, Jan. 11, 10 a.m., BIFE
Virginia, Fredericksburg, Heritage Chapter, Jan. 11, Col. Lee Lange II, USMC-Ret., CCA
Virginia, Fort Belvoir, Jan. 18, 9 a.m., BIFE
Virginia, Henderson Hall, Jan. 24, 8 a.m., BIFE
Virginia, Henderson Hall, Jan. 31, 8 a.m., BIFE
February Florida, MacDill AFB, officers’ club, Feb. 1, 8 a.m., Col. Dan Koslov, USAF-Ret., TOPS
South Carolina, Shaw AFB, bldg. 1127, A&FRC, Feb. 1, 8:30 a.m., Col. Brian Anderson, USAF-Ret., TOPS
Virginia, NAS Norfolk, bldg. U-93, Feb. 2, 11 a.m., Col. Brian Anderson, USAF- Ret., TOPS
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