Do you feel that military gets enough for retirment compared to other public service jobs?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 19:32:47 -0400

In California Fire and Police get 3% a year for retirement, Average salary is $100,000 so that means after 30 years they get 90,000. Also California National Guard and State Military Reserve members on State active duty work at the same compensation as active duty (including BAH) They get state retirement-- 2.5% percent a year x no of years worked (minimum 6 years to be vested) The calculation includes their BAH (which is quite high in California). After 20 years, they get 50% of their entire compensation including BAH) whereas federal military retirement gets only 50% of basic pay only (in reality maybe 35-40% of total compensation) And the Congress voted to reduce that for the hybrid 401K plan!)

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2016 7:35 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 19:35:17 -0400

Continuation of my original discussion of the question.--yet federal military retirement is calculated only on base pay (meaning 20 years gets only about 35% of total compensation BEFORE the new retirement laws kick in.) Clearly something is unfair and I don't believe that our elected officials totally understand this.

Response by MAJ Rene De La Rosa made Jun 22 at 2016 7:37 PM

MAJ Rene De La Rosa — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 19:37:14 -0400

Compared to some of the state compensation programs listed above, the federal government pension may seem inadequate. However, it is what it is, and I will willfully take the retirement pay that has been allotted for the time served. It seems fair and equitable.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2016 7:53 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 19:53:38 -0400

Wait, what? Average salary of a cop in ca is six figures? I'm thinking that's about twice as much as Tx.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Jun 22 at 2016 8:03 PM

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 20:03:24 -0400

I make close to $4000 a month in military retirement for 20 years. I wont complain about that fact.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 22 at 2016 8:34 PM

PO1 John Miller — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 20:34:04 -0400

But do those retirements let one shop on base and get almost free (I think I pay $40 a month for Tricare) health insurance?

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Jun 22 at 2016 9:33 PM

Capt Tom Brown — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 21:33:57 -0400

I feel that the military retirement program is fair if compared to private industry across the board where a majority of workers get absolutely no retirement benefits, no 401k no medical or dental supplements, etc. Of course we would like to see more retirement but have to face the realities of financial constraints. The gve is already 17 trillion in debt and we can't afford to print money. Many point out that a SM is well served to figure a way to complete a 2d career after military retirement. By working in private industry job which has a retirement program, or at a state or local government job which also has a retirement program, a person can work for another 25 yrs and still retire fairly young. Go for it while you can.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2016 10:11 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 22:11:54 -0400

I personally feel that retirement pay in itself is unnecessary. Retirement pay is literally someone paying you continuously for something you no longer do. I disagree with retirement compensation at all honestly. I'd much rather be paid like a human being that plans to retire, build my retirement myself with the adequate paycheck I receive, and retire off my earnings. I look at things in a different viewpoint though. I feel the same way about Social Security. The government holding onto your money for retirement...

Response by 1SG Brian Adams made Jun 22 at 2016 10:44 PM

1SG Brian Adams — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 22:44:33 -0400

No, our pensions are way below the power curb for enlisted Soldiers.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Jun 23 at 2016 12:59 AM

SSG Trevor S. — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 00:59:04 -0400

Of course not, but I am way biased.

Response by SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT made Jun 23 at 2016 1:55 AM

SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 01:55:59 -0400

If you took into account all the many hours you actually had to work. You will find that our per hour. Rate is below minimum wage. Living in the Barracks I can't count the number of time I was called out of bed as a NY State certified Breathalyzer Test Operator. I was earning more as an 18 year old unskilled union Brotherhood of Meat Cutters for the summer than I did 5 years later for a whole year as an Army SGT MP. We were working rotating shifts with about 5 days off provided there were not too many Honor Guard functions or additional MP commitments. There was no such thing as 4 day weekends when your unit worked 24/7 everyday.

During many of my deployments you worked at least 12 hour shifts 7 days a week with a short break for religious services if desired or available on Sunday morning

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Jun 23 at 2016 9:00 AM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 09:00:47 -0400

Personally, I believe retirement pay is way below what is deserved especially on the Enlisted side. However, that being said.... I knew what the pay/benefits were when I chose to stay for 21 years. I'm content with the path I've chosen. I've gathered some lifelong friends and memories that civilians just don't understand nor can they compete with. Fair trade if you ask me.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2016 10:12 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 10:12:18 -0400

Yes, Sir. I think we do get fair compensation.
If you work 30 years in CA as Fire and Police you can get 90k, hopefully you will get another job or move somewhere else as that will not be enough. In the military, you can work only 20 years and you get 50% base pay no matter where you live (or had lived) and still be young enough to work for another retirement option as potentially, you could be only 38 years old.
We have other opportunities for money during those 20 years as well that are not extended to most public servants.
The opportunity to get bonuses and extra pays. We also get tax free money (BAH, BAS, clothing allowance for enlisted), 30 days paid vacation annually and when we deploy, it is all tax free. We got compensated pretty well for travel and when we move, it is not at our expense and we get this wonderful DLA to offset some of the unavoidable expenses as well as 10 days in a hotel for free while we look for another house. We also get free healthcare while we are in and lifetime healthcare upon retirement.
And finally, pension plans have and can fail leaving the beneficiaries without that retirement pay. That has not been allowed to happen with the federal government, even during sequestration.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2016 7:48 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 07:48:36 -0400

You get what you agreed to when you served. If you want to play let's compare then include all of the benefits you receive.

When I was on active duty I often heard how little we were paid. But, people comapred their base pay to the pay of those in the civilian sector. They did not include housing and food allowances nor tax factors.

Of course they reached the conclusion that they were underpaid. I spoke with a few after they were discharged and then they realized that all of the extra pay the civilian received was really a myth and that their disposable income was actually equal to or better than that they were now getting.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2016 1:53 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 13:53:24 -0400

The DOD has been able to match TSP contributions for over 15 years and is now finally implementing get it after congressional input. If we had been able to receive matching contributions with our retirement, it would be a different story.