What benefits/entitlements are you MOST concerned will change/be diminished for you/your family as DoD budgets become more constrained?

For those who have served 20+ years and retired from the military, it is understood that budgetary constraints, government and personal, dictate what can and cannot be done.

That being said, when an entity promises an individual certain things if a set length of employment/service is met under honorable conditions, these "things" (I will refer to them as "benefits") are not negotiable once an agreement is reached.

Many that have retired after 20+ years in the military were promised free health care for them and their families for life if they completed the 20 year obligation of honorable service. This promise has ALREADY been made null and void since the TRICARE system was instituted, requiring retirees to pay for their promised health care. To further exacerbate this by increasing cost to the retiree and/or reduction or removal of services would be an even greater travesty.

The Commissary "benefit" was and still is a vital portion of the "benefits" package. Having the availability of lower cost grocery items available has been a real blessing, especially for the lower ranked Enlisted personnel, due to the lower pay scales in the military versus a similar job in the civilian sector. Many retirees and most junior Enlisted personnel rely heavily on this benefit. There are probably many money-saving changes that could be made to this system, such as selling military excess groceries vice numerous name-brand items, but elimination of this "benefit" is not a measure that should even be considered.

The Military Retirement system is, by no means, a great system. Unless Medically retired, the retiree must be at least and E-6, by current evaluation and promotion standards. The current Base Pay level for an E-6 at 20 years is $3687.30 per month. Retirement Pay at 50% of that is $1840.15 per month, pre-tax. A Navy Captain or Army/Air Force/Marine Colonel Base Pay at 20 years is $9625.20, which would result in $4812.60 in Retirement Pay at 50% of that level. A 3 Star Flag Officer (Admiral/General) Base Pay at 20 years is $14056.80, which would result in $7028.40 in Retirement Pay at 50% of that level. No wonder the senior officers don't understand why the lower echelons see large problems with cutting/changing the retirement system. Any cuts that need to be made should start at the E-9/W-3/O-3 pay levels. Cutting at any lower levels in the Enlisted (E) or Officer (O,W) ranks would be criminal.

Last on the list is the Base Exchange privileges. The Base Exchanges are run as a profit making entity that supports the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation organizations on the bases. They recieve exactly $0.00 funding from appropriated funds, and should not be included in ANY budgetary discussion. Though the savings level to the patrons at the Base Exchanges is significantly less than at the Commissaries, this, too, is a staple of existence for junior Enlisted personnel and their families.

Stop taking away "benefits" and pay from the military, or this country will soon find that it has a military superior to none that will be unable to defend this country, let alone project American power throught the world.

Agreed with Mister Rodriguez, Sir. Tricare premiums and pension cuts make me most nervous. An impact of those benefits would substantially reduce the compensation value that accompanies a 20-year or greater career plan. At that point it would be far more advantageous to part ways with Active Duty and begin my next career as soon as possible.

sir, my concerns are out of pocket tricare premiums, tuition assistance, and retirement pensions.