| For military personnel who had served the United | | | | This may not sound like a disadvantage at all |
| States with utmost dedication and service, it would | | | | considering the fact that the military personnel are |
| be very difficult for them to recognize the issues | | | | the ones who will benefit from such action. |
| that are more serious to the "national security" than | | | | However, what the opposition would like to say is |
| how the men and women of the U.S. armed forces | | | | that making significant changes in the military |
| will benefit from military retirement. | | | | retirement plan is critical based on the following |
| In the U.S., military retirement plans are one of the | | | | reasons: |
| best gratifications these people should have by the | | | | 1. Effect not clearly determined |
| time they have reached their retirement age. | | | | The effects on maintenance of the military funds |
| Considering the services and dedication that the | | | | brought about by such major changes in the military |
| military personnel have offered, military retirement is | | | | retirement are hard to uncover in a snap. In fact, |
| the best reward to compensate their performances. | | | | many people claim that the objectives of canceling |
| Today, under the Military Retirement Reform Act of | | | | REDUX were not even clearly put into details. |
| 1986 (REDUX), military people are enjoying a 50% | | | | 2. Changes like this are rare |
| compensation based on their "basic salary" while they | | | | Political and military analysts say that changes in the |
| were still on service. This is after they have opted to | | | | system like that of the military retirement plans are |
| retire upon accumulating 20 years of military service. | | | | "politically" hard to establish. In essence, changes like |
| This is applicable to any military personnel who have | | | | the proposed REDUX cancellation are very |
| joined the service on or before July 31, 1986. | | | | uncommon. |
| Consequently, based on REDUX rules, anyone who | | | | For this reason, one can simply understand that |
| was able to join the military after July 31, 1986 is | | | | people, especially those in the military, can still do |
| expected to receive 40% of his basic compensation | | | | away with what they have now. That means they |
| upon completion of a 20-year service in the military. | | | | can still survive for years without having to change |
| However, with the perilous weaknesses of the | | | | the military retirement plans. |
| government, the compensations that military | | | | All of these things are boiled down to the fact that in |
| retirement plans are expected to provide becomes a | | | | a matter of serious change in an ongoing political |
| threat instead of a reward. | | | | system like the military retirement, important |
| On its current state, the Federal government is | | | | considerations must be made and taken into account |
| presently considering the cancellation of REDUX. As a | | | | before even thinking of drafting the proposal. |
| result, military retirement benefits will be fixed on a | | | | All sides of the coin must be well considered, both |
| 50% compensation upon completion of 20-year | | | | pensively and on purpose. Changes to be made in |
| service for all the personnel. | | | | military retirement should not be dealt with as of the |
| Sounds good? Think again. | | | | moment but more on the long-term effect. |
| While military retirement benefits may increase upon | | | | The complexity of choices and issues concerning |
| the cancellation of REDUX, many people still say that | | | | military retirement should not propose a threat on |
| it is not advisable that the government should take | | | | the personal growth of every individual who have |
| drastic changes on important matters like the | | | | served in the military. |
| proposed REDUX cancellation. | | | | Keep in mind that retirement is something that every |
| Statistical reports show that abolishment of REDUX | | | | worker should enjoy after his or her retirement age. |
| will charge the government a whopping $6 billion for | | | | The war is over. Why prolong the agony of the |
| the following 6 years and approximately $1.5 billion a | | | | military people? |
| year after that. | | | | |