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September 21, 2011 –Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson is fighting to make sure the government keeps its promises to military service members by urging Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to reject a proposal to scrap the military retirement program and replace it with a plan that would sharply reduce benefits.
“While deficit reduction is essential, balancing the budget and curbing costs in the U.S. Department of Defense by cutting retirement benefits to those now serving is patently unfair to our military members and their families and puts in jeopardy the recruitment and retention of our nation’s future all-volunteer force,” Senator Nelson wrote in the letter to Secretary Panetta.
The Defense Business Board, a Pentagon policy advisory group, has recommended replacing the established military retirement benefits with a private-sector 401(k)-type plan.
Not only would this change reduce benefits to service members who have earned them, but it would hurt the military’s recruitment efforts, which could put our national security at risk.
In support of Nelson’s letter to Panetta, Vice Admiral Norbert Ryan, President of the Military Officers Association of America, wrote, “Military and civilian careers are vastly different and require radically different career retention incentives. Civilianizing the military system as suggested by the Defense Business Board (which would cut benefits far more than REDUX did) would destroy the career incentives and undermine retention and readiness. … Never in history has the protracted sacrifice of the career force been more evident than it has over the past 10 years. We fully agree with Senator Nelson – changing the retirement system would be a terrible breach of faith for those of whom we have asked so much.”
Veterans of Foreign Wars is also supporting Nelson’s effort. VFW Legislative Director Raymond Kelley wrote, “The current system is a critical component to our service members’ lives. It also provides peace of mind to military families about their future, and we strongly believe that weakening the current retirement would severely impact our Armed Forces in a negative way. It is critical to our national security that military retirement remains strong for our nation’s best and brightest who have served and sacrificed so much.”
Nelson’s letter will be sent to Panetta by the end of this week. He is now circulating a letter among his colleagues to get additional senators to sign on, and both Democrats and Republicans have already joined the effort.
Nelson recognizes the importance of cutting spending and is advocating for reductions throughout the federal budget. Cuts that would weaken our national defense and break our promises to military families, however, are the wrong approach.
“We have heard from countless veterans and constituents asking that Congress do the right thing by ensuring that these important benefits are not pulled out from under those who are working hard for what they have been promised,” Nelson wrote.
In making his case, Nelson quoted Panetta’s own words, “On this subject, you have said, ‘People who have come into the service, who have put their lives on the line, who have been deployed to the war zones, who fought for this country, who have been promised certain benefits for that – I’m not going to break faith with what’s been promised to them.’ We believe, as do our constituents, that we must follow your lead and ensure that our government upholds the promises we have made to our military.”
Full text of Senator Nelson’s letter to Defense Secretary Panetta follows:
The Honorable Leon E. Panetta, Secretary
U.S. Department of Defense
1400 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1400
Dear Mr. Secretary:
We are gravely concerned about recommendations proffered by the Defense Business Board with regard to America’s military retirement, primarily those recommendations altering and/or cutting the military retirement benefits which our career military members who are currently serving our great nation have been promised and are relying upon to assist with their retirement needs.
While deficit reduction is essential, balancing the budget and curbing costs in the U.S. Department of Defense by cutting retirement benefits to those now serving is patently unfair to our military members and their families and puts in jeopardy the recruitment and retention of our nation’s future all-volunteer force. We have heard from countless veterans and constituents asking that Congress do the right thing by ensuring that these important benefits are not pulled out from under those who are working hard for what they have been promised.
The current retirement system is a considerable enticement in preserving a career voluntary military force, and any proposed changes must be calculated in that light. Many of our constituents have stated that the current retirement system was a major factor in their decision to choose to serve, or to continue serving in uniform. Contrary to the belief of some, military service is not comparable to the private sector; and a retirement system that works for a civilian career may not necessarily be appropriate for the military.
On this subject, you have said, “People who have come into the service, who have put their lives on the line, who have been deployed to the war zones, who fought for this country, who have been promised certain benefits for that – I’m not going to break faith with what’s been promised to them.” We believe, as do our constituents, that we must follow your lead and ensure that our government upholds the promises we have made to our military.
Certainly, Congress will be looking to you regarding cuts in defense spending; yet it is our worry that some members will also look to these recommendations by the Defense Business Board. We encourage you then to ensure the security of America’s military by relaying to Congress your deep commitment that our nation not undertake any detrimental changes or reductions in military retirement for those who are serving. While our nation must cut spending and balance the budget, we simply cannot do it on the backs of America’s military and their families.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Please be assured we will assist you in this effort in any way that we can.
Sincerely,
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