Once again the congresscritters, in conjunction with the leadership under Hagel (spit) have come after military retirees…
They once again proposed charging retirees for health care services…
“If left unchecked, pay and benefits will continue to eat into our readiness and modernization. That could result in a far less capable force that is well-compensated, but poorly trained and poorly equipped,” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in July, when he outlined some of the findings in a Strategic Choices and Management Review.
Hagel’s view is shared by the White House and the service chiefs, each of whom has testified before Congress about the ever-increasing costs associated with payroll, benefits and healthcare.
Yeah, right… Service chiefs got their marching orders from Dempsey… Thankfully the HASC stood up for us again…
By throwing out any new increases, the House Armed Services Committee said its members believe retirees’ access to quality healthcare services is “a benefit earned through prior service to our nation.”
Full article HERE.
But it makes one wonder how long it will be before they get us some other way…
The ‘new’ budget deal has one attempt…
Targeted in the Ryan-Murray deal is full inflation protection for “working age” military retirees, those younger than 62. Retirees 62 and older, and those retired on disability, would not be impacted. They would continue to get annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) that match inflation as measured by the government’s Consumer Price Index.
Retirees younger than 62, and future retirees including currently serving members, would see yearly COLAs in retirement cut by one-percentage point below inflation until age 62. At that point they would receive a one-time catch up in their annuity to restore lost purchasing power going forward into old age.
Estimated savings (e.g. loss to the service person), $83K for a retired enlisted after 20, $124K for a retired officer after 20 years. Between retirement and age 62…
They ‘promise’ they’ll give the points back… Yeah, right…
Full article HERE.
In other news, the F/A-18 is 35 years old this year… The platform has amassed over 8.5 MILLION flight hours since introduction.
Sigh, I can remember when that was a NEW airplane…
Once again the Congress & all its appendages try to milk the military budget for a few more dollars. Veterans have been astoundingly calm in the past, tightening their belts as needed, but I wonder how much longer that will be the case … especially as vets perceive how hostile TPTB are toward them.
Once again, the military take it in the shorts! Hey FO, the Hornet makes you feel old? I was in the tower @ Oceana when the prototype, the YF17, came in for a show & tell at FitWing 1!
Rev- Yep, I wonder too…
Retied AC1- LOL, so you’re older’n dirt too… 🙂
My youngest just signed for three more years. He IS NOT counting on much of a retirement. He has health issues that he believes he can handle better in than out in the VA system. One motivator was looking up his costs under ACA as a civilian. His response, “That is a mortgage payment.”
Preaching to the choir, I know, but if we could only get the congress-scum to tie their retirement benefits and health care to the military’s, or to social security and obamacare, those problems would be fixed PDQ.
Pisses on them and send them all home. I got a great idea, cut the entitlements to the welfare participants, force them to go work.
If you want your military retirement, you can keep your military retirement. PERIOD.
+1 senior
WSF- Understood… And he’s one of the ones they are ‘counting’ on…
Tim- Oh HELL yes… sigh
Senior/Rick- Agreed! WI did it, and they all ran…
LL- You would think…
Yeah, just kidding. When you consider that most veterans didn’t vote for Obama, the odds that they’ll be treated equitably —- dropped.
From Frito via email… It’s still a better deal than what the poor kids in uniform are getting…killed in Afghanistan by ROE that favors the enemy. The lesson here is for the benefit of those kids thinking they might join the volunteer force, not only is the recruiter lying, the stuff written is subject to change after you sign on the dotted line. Only YOU will be held to the contract, NOT Uncle Sam. What’s that, you’d rather work at McDonalds? You ain’t as dumb as you look.
So much for growing up patriotic and willing to serve your country. I learned from my dad, career Army, who after retirement saw his “promised” benefits take hit after hit from sleazy politicians who would not keep a promise. The world changed then and I also noticed no one else seemed to honor commitments, i.e. sports contracts. Don’t like it … throw a hissy fit & renegotiate. But what is our military to do? Protest? My dad protected me with his wisdom. Before going to Vietnam he would tell me, “If you have to go into the service, go Air Force. Hot food, nice warm bed at night, not like grunts who sleep in a hole in the ground, mud, and eat cold C-rations.” After Nam, he told me to stay in school and that “Our family has done it’s part.” Nope, can’t trust any piece of paper the government gives you. It is definitely a one-way deal.
LL- Yep, we’re pawns…
I’m afraid to say what I really think of congress at the moment. Language like that will get you put on a list somewhere.
I was Stationed aboard the USS Carl Vinson when the F-18 flew out for it’s first carrier qual in ’83. But they couldn’t land cuz somebody installed the tailhook upside down at Pax River. So, they had to tank, fly back to Pax, fix the problem, then fly back out the next day to make the first trap. Another first on that trip: the qual tests called for the plane to make a landing with 25 kts of wind over the deck. But we were out in the VaCapes and the wind was a steady 40 kts. So, we had to land the F-18 while going in reverse at 15 kts. They got their 25 kts of wind.
The Ryan-Murray bill continues to split the GOP. Boehner is pushing for a vote today before the conservative and Tea Party organizations can get the grassroots opposition rolling. There WILL be payback.
See? THIS is why I read your stuff. You all remember, like P-47s and stuff, and the F-18 has been working longer than me.
Damn, I feel young.
😉
Aguila- You DO have a good point…
Ray- Damn, I thought that was a sea story about the CVN backing down… 🙂
Crucis- You’re right.
BP- LOL, I ‘think’ that is a compliment… I think… 😀