by Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
10/18/2011 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- In my first blog entry, I discussed the four themes that are important to me as I start my tenure as the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Among them I mention keeping faith with our military family. I was recently reminded of the importance of this when I testified before the House Armed Services Committee with Secretary of Defense Panetta on Oct. 13.
During that testimony. I was asked by several representatives to comment on the recent recommendations of the Defense Business Board regarding changing the military retirement system to something more like what is available to civilians in the commercial sector.
What I told them and what I want to reiterate here is that I reject the comparison of military to civilian retirement and that I am adamantly opposed to changing the retirement benefits for those who are currently on active duty. We will undoubtedly have to change our retirement system in the future to make it affordable, but we have made a commitment to those currently serving, and I aim to keep it.
Comments
10/18/2011 5:10:04 PM ET James Read General Dempsey's comments closely 'in the future' is his operative comment. We will undoubtedly have to change our retirement system in the future to make it affordable but we have made a commitment to those currently serving and I aim to keep it.My daughter calls me a socialist because I'm collecting my AF retirement. I asked them if they wanted to give 20 years of service. No comment. Note Gen. Dempsey's comment ...made a commitment to those currently serving...
Kent, Bloomington IN
10/18/2011 3:36:14 PM ET Relax James. No one is talking about changing anything with current retiree's pensions. There is talk about changing retirement in the future and the Chairman is just calming the masses and letting them know they will be grandfathered from the abysmal state of things to come.
DC, MD
10/18/2011 2:38:10 PM ET James...I think that he is referring to keeping the current system for those who are currently on active duty as well as those who have already retired. If I remember right from previous readings the Secretary supports a change to the retirement system but only for future members not current or past.
Chris, USA
10/18/2011 1:16:00 PM ET SirWhile I understand your commitment to those on active duty I would ask are you then saying that it would be ok to make changes to the retirements of those that have served honorably and retired from our great military Should we not receive what was promised to us if we served our countries military or is it ok now that we are no longer wearing the uniform to make changes to our retirement
