Reserve retirement benefit proposals scaled back

[USMCRET6391]

By Rick Maze
Times staff writer

Lawmakers trying to improve retirement benefits for reservists have dramatically scaled back on retired pay improvements, but they still cannot get complete support for their proposals.

The newest idea, unveiled Monday by Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., would reduce the age at which National Guard and reserve members can receive retired pay by three months for every 90 days in a fiscal year they spend mobilized in a contingency operation. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., is the chief co-sponsor of the proposal.

This is far more restrictive than Chambliss, co-chairman of the Senate National Guard Caucus, has been talking about as he and other lawmakers have tried to change the reserve retirement system to allow retirement checks to be paid before age 60, which is the age required under current law.

Last year, Chambliss drew Bush administration opposition and even talk of a veto by proposing to provide retired pay one year earlier for every two years of service, with age 55 being the lowest age at which a reservist could receive retired pay. When that idea failed, Chambliss returned in July with a new idea. Under this second plan, the age a Guard or reserve member would begin drawing retired pay would be reduced by one year for every mobilization period of 179 days, with age 50 set as the minimum retirement age. This also drew opposition as Chambliss proposed it as an amendment to the 2006 defense authorization bill.

Monday, Chambliss offered a modification for three months of earlier retired pay for 90 days of mobilization, something he says would cost a modest $300 million over five years. “It is the least costly alternative offered so far,” he said.

He described it as a “relatively minor adjustment” but one that would help reward National Guard and reserve members facing the highest demands. “In no way will this result in a major change,” he said.

“The ways we are using the Guard and reserve have fundamentally changed. Given this fact, it is only proper we change the way they are compensated,” Chambliss said.

His newest proposal, like the previous initiatives, has support from major military associations. One association member, who asked not to be identified, said the groups were prepared to support almost any idea that reduces the minimum retirement age.

Chambliss said he had “received very good feedback” from the Department of Defense about the new proposal but there was no formal statement of support or opposition from the Bush administration.

Sen. John Warner, R-Va., the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman and floor manager of the defense bill, said he thought a deal could be struck on some kind of compromise, but he wasn’t ready to sign onto the newest idea. Warner did say he “believes there should be some special recognition” for Guard and reserve members mobilized for extended periods.

“We are studying the amendment very carefully,” Warner said. “Give us a little time to work it out.”

Warner indicated, though, that Senate passage of the reserve retirement initiative might be a short-lived victory because a new Commission on National Guard and Reserve, appointed by Congress last year as a compromise when Chambliss’ proposal was rejected, only started work two weeks ago and is studying retirement and other compensation matters. Waiting for the commission to finish its work might make sense, he suggested.