Guard/Rsrv Retire benefits - MUST READ!

[active_herk]

I just heard that there is legislation being proposed that would allow guard and reserve members the ability to collect retirement once they hit 20 years rather than waiting until age 60. Has anyone else seen or heard anything? It is H.R. 331 and would amend title 10 of the United States Code. Here is a link to the text.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.331:

As an added bonus, if you want to write your congressperson about this, I've included a link to a sample letter put together by the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States. Just make sure to change the first reference in the letter from HR 311 to HR 331.

http://www.eangus.org/call03-02.htm

Let's hope this thing goes through!

 

[shootr]

No offense, but...not gonna happen. They couldn't even get the age 55 thing through. Equal retirement with a 20 year AD member? I am a reservist and that doesn't even sound fair and equitable to me.

Good Luck,
shootr

 

[Checks]

It is fair. A reserve retirement is based on the number of days you actually serve in uniform. A reservist will not get the same amount of money after 20yrs as an Active duty member since a reservist generally only serves part-time.
As a reservist I am required to uphold the same standards(flt times, knowledge, medical, fitness, ect) and be eligible for deployment just like an active duty member.

 

[active_herk]

I agree with you checks, I think it is fair, especially concerning the fact that a reservist only gets a prorated share of an active duty member's retirement. With that said, I would be surprised if this passed, especially with the present state of the economy. This would definitely add to the deficit. I wonder what rationale the resolution's proposer's are giving to introducing this resolution at this time. Is it to make the system more fair to the reservists/guardsmen, or is it to try and increase retention in the guard and reserve, or a combination of both? With the economic situation the way it is, I can't imagine they are having a hard time retaining individuals in the guard and reserve. What this legislation may do in the future though, is entice active duty members to leave active duty and go to the guard and reserve knowing they will collect retirement much earlier. Like I said, that would be a future effect as I doubt many active duty individuals (especially pilots) are leaving the active duty right now to get a job in the guard/reserve - of course I could be wrong. We'll see what happens.

 

[Slim]

According to an article in the NGAUS (National Guard Association of the United States), this is being reintroduced, in part, due to increased, and longer duration deployments.

It is also being considered as a recruiting/retention incentive. Some looking at the National Guard/Reserve as a second career might think twice if they believe they will be deployed several times over a 20 year period, up to two years at a time. If they were to receive pay immediately upon retirement, they may be swayed to enlist.

I am a retired reservist. I don't see this being approved any time soon, if at all. However, if it's approved this time, those retirement payments would go a long way toward paying for my daughters' education. I'm prepared for those costs assuming the rules remain as they are.