washingtonscene
raises one-half percentage point above See the chart on pages 38 and 39 for
private-sector pay growth each year for a comparison of selected provisions in
the next fi ve years. Restoring pay compa- the House- versus Senate-passed bills,
rability is fundamental to the all-volunteer along with MOAA’s position on these
force and will send a much-needed mes- important issues.
sage to overburdened troops and families.
Guard and Reserve retirement. Re-
duce the reserve retirement age by three Debate on
months for each cumulative 90 days’ ac-
tive duty service since Oct. 7, 2001. Credit Disability Fixes
up to 130 retirement points per year. The
Groups claim combat focus
government has changed the rules to re-
quire dramatically increased service from
is too narrow.
selected reserve personnel. These changes
will help offset civilian retirement losses
and encourage continued service.
Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB). Consolidate O
n Oct. 17, the Senate Veterans’
Affairs Committee convened a
special hearing to consider input
all MGIB authorities and authorize 10 from MOAA and a number of other groups
years of post-service used by selected re- regarding proposals to improve health
serve servicemembers. It’s wrong that all care, compensation, and rehabilitation
participating active duty servicemembers benefi ts for disabled servicemembers and
enjoy that right, but Guard and Reserve their families, with particular emphasis on
servicemembers — many whom have had problems encountered by those wounded
multiple tours in Iraq — don’t. in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Support for military families. Consolidate Witnesses included former Sen. Bob
various House- and Senate-passed provi- Dole and former Clinton cabinet mem-
sions in a comprehensive package address- ber Donna Shalala, who cochaired the
ing family readiness, access to counseling President’s Commission on Wounded
and mental health services, and support Warriors; Independent Review Group
through all cycles from pre-deployment to Cochair (and former Army and VA sec-
reintegration. Update the Family and Medi- retary) Togo West; VDBC Chair Lt. Gen.
cal Leave Act to protect employment rights James Terry Scott, USA-Ret.; and MOAA
of family caregivers. Ensure all facilities and Government Relations Director Col.
family support services are fully in place to Steve Strobridge, USAF-Ret.
meet base realignment and closure and re- While sorting through the various rec-
basing timelines. ommendations of the review panels, Sen.
The coalition letter enclosed an ex- Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) and Ranking
tensive matrix providing specifi c recom- Minority Member Sen. Richard Burr (R-
mendations to resolve a large number of N.C.) searched for common themes.
differences between the House- and Sen- Akaka was asked whether there should
ate-passed versions of the defense bill. be a distinction between benefi ts for the
As this article was being written, combat-wounded versus those disabled
Armed Services committee leaders were by other causes. The consensus was there
hoping to reach agreement on a compro- should not be. “When you join the mili-
mise bill by early November, but the histo- tary, you’re preparing for combat,” said
ry of contentious negotiations in previous Dole. Strobridge argued, “Once you’re a
years cast some doubt on whether that paraplegic, the impact on your life is the
goal would prove achievable. same whether your injury was caused by
30 MILITARY OFFICER DECEMBER 2007
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