Posted on Jan 3, 2014
1SG Steven Stankovich
9.54K
92
50
2
2
0
<p>I read this article this afternoon.&nbsp; I have some pretty colorful opinions on the subject.&nbsp; What are yours?</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>http://www.defenseone.com/politics/2014/01/its-time-cut-military-health-and-pension-benefits/76154/#.Usa-zVvSg2k.facebook</p><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="http://cdn.defenseone.com/media/img/upload/2014/01/02/1144751_1/open-graph.jpg"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a href="http://www.defenseone.com/politics/2014/01/its-time-cut-military-health-and-pension-benefits/76154/" target="_blank">It's Time to Cut Military Health and Pension Benefits</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">In a new poll, a majority of defense and national security experts say it's time to cut military health and pension benefits. By Sara Sorcher</div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div>
Posted in these groups: Blog pension PensionMoney budget BudgetRetirement logo Retirement
Edited 12 y ago
Avatar feed
Responses: 23
1SG Michael Minton
3
3
0

After a trillion dollars in cuts to DOD, the waste of billions of tax dollars for administration cronies, corruption, waste and fraud. and dems want more of the military annd veterans pay and benefits. i cant even comment with everything i think about that!!!! Just leave us alone!

 

(3)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Stephen P.
3
3
0
I realize I'm not a trained bean counter, but I'm not terribly surprised that personnel costs increase when we plus up our forces in order to prosecute a war or two.

I am further not surprised that military health care costs increase during times of war.
(3)
Comment
(0)
SFC Clinops
SFC (Join to see)
12 y
SFC Pate, I wondered how "we" (Army) calculated and planned for everything else and never took this fact into consideration.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Clinops
3
3
0

When you get ready to create the box MSG Stankovich, I have a few "colors" to throw in as well.  Our Army has always taken a REACTIVE way to so many things, an yes, after numerous Operations and countless loss of life and War injuries-we now react as if we didn't think this could be a possibility?  We have enough Wounded Vets now seeking care (mentally, emotionally, and physically), cutting benefits in some areas will definitely, IMO, do more harm than good.

 

I recall a few months ago a discussion about healthcare cost cutting and some great points were brought up by the members.  One in particular-charging for missed appts-for sure here is where the Army could make its money back, hand over fist-daily!  We also need to push lifestyle changes (not just Army Healthcare).  Most young Soldiers PT bc they have to, we need to find more ways of getting them to see taking care of themselves in a proactive way is for their benefit moreseo, than the Army's.   

 

BTW, these "national security experts" get a thumbs down from me.

(3)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Joey Jimenez
3
3
0
Most pay evens out for all of us...those of us that took REDUX are losing out because we took less money, but then some of us were given huge bonuses to enlist or enlist. Some of us have used more than 100k in healthcare benefits and some of us are disabled. Either way money flows, some get over while others get cheated.
Changes do need to be made, but I am certain there is a better way to make cuts than from soldiers pay.
(3)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
CW3 Maintenance Test Pilot
3
3
0
I think everyone is hesitant to say "yes" to any idea of reductions in any pay or benefits. I don't think I've ever encountered a soldier who considered him/herself "wealthy" or "over compensated". There is a fact though that we simply cannot continue burning through fiscal resources like we have been for the past decade. Something has to change, and I do get the feeling that it will be the soldiers who will ultimately have to bear the burden. I don't like the idea anymore than the next person but its just simple math. My only hope is that if we are to sacrifice pay and benefits that the government will take a look around at its own organizations and find other areas to trim the fat and not just declare "good enough" at the savings it will receive from military cuts.
(3)
Comment
(0)
1SG Steven Stankovich
1SG Steven Stankovich
12 y
Great points Chief.
(0)
Reply
(0)
SFC Platoon Sergeant
SFC (Join to see)
12 y
Just a quick response.  The speech had something to the effect of "the military's retirement plan is very generous" which it is but, it is also earned.  If the retirement plan was so amazing then why do we need recruiters?  If staying in for 20+ years is easy and for everyone, why are there not lines around the block to sign up?
(3)
Reply
(0)
1SG Steven Stankovich
1SG Steven Stankovich
12 y
Good point SSG(P) Bearor... the military retirement plan is "generous" and "EARNED."
(0)
Reply
(0)
CW2 Geoff Lachance
CW2 Geoff Lachance
12 y
We need to take a look at the total dollar savings!  Very small and much deserved!  
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SGM Bill Frazer
2
2
0
WTF- we have changed the pension already- health benefits- blew the meniscus on my right knee- it has taken 6 months to get on Vet Choice to repair it. Private insurance took 3 pills a day- VA take 9 because they don't do tier 1 drugs. Let the flippin experts get our retirement/healthcare- I will gladly take theirs!
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Clinops
2
2
0

Hopefully MSG,  this will assist with not cutting the health and pension benefits since according to the article "In 2012, DOD spent approximately $500 million on IDP. This policy change will save DOD $108 million per year, officials said"

 

http://www.stripes.com/news/dod-announces-changes-to-imminent-danger-pay-1.260479

 

(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SGM Gerald Fife
1
1
0
This article is dated to 2014. Why are you questioning something in the
This article is dated back to 2014 why are you questioning something in the past?
(1)
Comment
(0)
1SG Steven Stankovich
1SG Steven Stankovich
>1 y
I posted this 6 years ago.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
MSgt Program Analyst   Joint Certification Program
1
1
0

Here's another thing that the news has been putting out:

 

http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/02/top-generals-admirals-can-make-more-retirement-active-duty-report-shows/41089/

 

http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140108/BENEFITS05/301080005/Military-brass-immune-pension-rate-cuts

 

The military’s top generals and admirals make more in retirement than they did on active duty, thanks to pension rules that were changed as part of the 2007 National Defense Authorization Act.

 

Why is they can have their retirement incomes increase (just like the senate and congress) when everyone else is getting less - if your going to make cuts - it should be accross the board.

(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Maj Walter Kilar
1
1
0
There have been some great points discussed here, but let me take only a slightly different spin. Yes, it is time to change the military health and pension benefits. We have to tighten our belts as well in order to help the nation, but I do not think it should be done at the cost of breaking existing promises--implied or explicit--to the veterans and currently serving members. There should be some point where the Government draws a line and says that anyone joining after some date is subject to some new health and pension program that costs less to operate and helps the bean counters find the money to balance the books. There should be a gray area where some people caught in between health and pension programs can opt for the old program or the new one. 

Under no circumstances should we continue the bad habit of changing just about everyone at once to one program just to save a huge swath of cash in one fell swoop of the pen. Just making up numbers, if changing the pension plan for all current active and retired members would save umpteen bazillion dollars, but changing it only for new accessions in FY15 would only save a notional $1B, then we have saved a large chunk of change and, more importantly, maintained the faith with our current and retired service members. Maybe the plan could extend into members on their first term of enlistment or initial service commitment after commission as well and add another (notional) $250M. 

Summary: there is a way to save money and maintain the faith with our deserving veterans.
(1)
Comment
(0)
1SG Steven Stankovich
1SG Steven Stankovich
12 y
Great points sir, thank you.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close