|
I can't opine about the retirement structure of FF'ers, but I can tell you that military retirements may well be the 800lb gorilla in the room.
The base retirement is reasonable from a cash standpoint; what becomes untenable is the medical package for a person that retires at 20 years of service...medical expenses across the DoD dwarf the monthly stipend earned as a percentage of our base pay.
Think about it: Most enlisted folks join in their late teens, most officers are commissioned in their early 20's. A fair percentage retire at 20 years, meaning the taxpayers fund their retirement for, on average, 30 years or more.
Before I get flamed, I am a Naval Officer who will retire this year after almost 25 years of service. I think we deserve the base retirement, but we must reform the medical aspects to lessen the burden on the taxpayers.
For instance. I will start work as a very well paid employee of a major university, teaching Systems Engineering and working for the Army on UAS'. The university package includes medical. Since I am will be a retired officer, I don't need the medical. Wouldn't it be nice if the government would share the cost of purchasing my new employees medical (or augmenting) at what will be a net savings to the taxpayer?
I asked. Their is no such program.
My point is that no one really stops working in their late 30's, early 40's, or in my case, 50. We need to figure out a way to bridge medical coverage between retirement and real need after the final retirement.
BTW, the Cival Service retirement package has been dramatically reformed.
__________________
1996 FJ80.
|