ALCON,
Reviewing my email folders and came across this. Over 2 years later and still the same status quo. Same question to any one of you influential people who may be more influential now with this new administration. I don't necessarily like what this new administration is doing to my great-grand-children's future, but if all this money is going to be thrown around, some of it should be thrown to the veterans who defended the freedom of those politicians that do what they are doing. I have attached one more doc for anyone's interest. Just maybe there is someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone, etc, who can get a few minutes on the Congressional floor in support of the Congressman's effort....Will stand by.
MSG Moore
----- Original Message -----
From: "Moore, Anthony W SFC RES" <koni....@us.army.mil>
Date: Thursday, March 13, 2008 15:34
Subject: Retire Pay @55 Re: Message from Rep. Joe Wilson
To: Reserve-Re...@googlegroups.com
> ALCON,
>
> Read all and I agree with the disagreements as it seems most of us
> do.
>
> I have attached three docs I sent out some time ago to my two
> Senators. Silence so far. Maybe one of you influential people can
> either present in whole or dissect my proposal and present for
> effect to one of them?
>
> Regarding the above, at a minimum, allow USAR/ARNG dependents of
> those eligible retirees equivalent SPACE-A travel privileges NOW!
>
> In closing, I would like to present to all of you my simplest
> explanation of just how important each and every one of you have
> been to me and my family-EACH AND EVERY ONE! I challenge anyone to
> get any Senator or Presidential candidate to recite the below for
> effect.
> Take out three pennies. Now take out three one dollar bills. Place
> the three pennies on one of the $1.00 dollar bills. The three
> pennies represent one percent or three (3) million of the three
> hundred (300) million men, women, and children souls of this great
> nation of North America, US possessions and territories as
> represented by the three one dollar bills. Tracking so far? Now
> take away one of the three pennies. In 2007 there were approx 1.76
> million Active, Guard, and Reserve service members toeing the line
> in defense of the other 299 million, yes, TWO HUNDRED NINETY-NINE
> MILLION, civilians of this great nation. That includes our stingy
> politicians who keep cutting our forces, funding, equipment, etc,
> and of course, retirement benefits! WE cover and have covered
> their 6. This does not include another 125 or so nations overseas
> where the US is trying desperately to help those establish
> democracies. Is it any small wonder of understanding to you now of
> WHY our forces are strectched so very thin?
>
> Did this simple analogy change your perception of how important
> your past and current service has been? I use this analogy when I
> speak with young Wounded Warriors and tell them THAT IS HOW
> IMPORTANT you are to me, and your service to this great nation.
> You can actually see a visible change in their faces when they
> realize the other 299 million don't accept the voluntary challenge
> to serve... Don't ever forget Ladies and Gentlemen, you're THAT
> important, at least to me! HOOOAAHHH!!!
>
> Now if only our politicians could see this the way I do...but then
> again, it would mean advocating cessation of benefits erosion, new
> equipment, unlimited funding, etc, all not politically correct. I
> apologize for the long post.
>
> SFC Anthony Moore
> USAR, Active
> HOOOAAHHH!!!
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: j m
> Date: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 22:03
> Subject: Retire Pay @55 Re: Message from Rep. Joe Wilson
> To: Reserve-Re...@googlegroups.com
>
> > To all hands:
> >
> > One of my previous postings suggested the idea of a tiered
> > retirement system. The concept is to allow all who reach service
> > retirement eligibility of 20 years to elect benefits based on
> the
> > tier category they fall under.
> >
> > My initial idea involved using an increased to decreased ratio
> > based on Combined Service of active and reserve time: ([1.] 20
> > years active-which is now full benefit, [2.] at least 10 years
> > active in your CS, [3.] at least 4 years active in your CS).
> >
> > The revamped idea would be a reversed tiered system model, still
> > based on CS, but recognizing each 4-year active service period
> in
> > the equation. For example, a CMSgt with 26 years CS which may
> > include 10 years of active service, would be in the second tier
> > for retirement purposes (2 four-year active duty periods
> credited,
> > the remaining 2 years used in point configuring). You could use
> > year for year as well. In either case this would be an incentive
> > for our highly trained personnel with experience to stay in
> active
> > and convert their time to reserve instead of losing the assets
> > these valuable servicemembers represent.
> >
> > Finally, the election to receive benefits could be immediate
> > upon retirement (for reserves as with the current active
> > retirement system). The earlier a servicemember elects the
> > retirement the lower the monthly benefit payment on a percentile
> > basis (in combination with their tier category). This may be
> most
> > beneficial for our servicemembers who have health detriments and
> > could elect payments early due to disabling conditions, in some
> > cases knowing full well they may never see their 60th birthday
> for
> > entitlement to monthly reserve payment under the current system.
> >
> > Obviously there are a lot of particulars to be worked out in
> > these scenarios presented. It would be interesting to hear
> > comments on these concepts and hear any supporting or opposing
> > ideas that surface.
> >
> > Thank you for all the hard work and effort for the group. Best
> > of luck!
> >
> > Jeff
> >
> > "Mitchell, Michael C SFC RET" wrote:
> >
> > Command Sergeant Major,
> >
> > The information was sent for just the purpose of showing the
> > latest in this area of reduction of Reservist retirement age.
> I'm
> > certain that it is shooting sincerely at its target, but misses
> in
> > the area you point out regarding the use of 9/11/2001 as the
> bench
> > mark.
> > This group was begun for the purpose of supporting legislation
> > that would lower the retirement age to age 55 for Reservists.
> The
> > group began about 6 years ago with this goal. For many years we
> > unfortunately had a very stubborn bean-counting SecDef who
> wanted
> > to use funds for weaponry and not Reservist personnel - and
> shrink
> > personnel numbers.
> >
> > We are still clearly suffering from that legacy as the current
> > Administration dumped him and is now trying to go more for
> > personnel numbers so that we can not only take, but we would be
> > able to secure and hold ground.
> >
> > However, his efforts and assistants like Dr. David Chu and Cindy
> > Williams blunted that high energy burst at its beginning when
> Rep.
> > Saxton first introduced a bill to lower the age to 55. Since
> then
> > a plethora of alternative proposals have appeared, distracting
> > initially, and they continue to deflect attentiion from that
> > original concept that kicked this off. All the bills implied the
> > age 55 retirement was too costly, not a politically pragmatic
> > concept, etc. One by Wilson was introduced for an immediate
> > retirement pay upon qualification for it. That obviously has
> been
> > set aside by him.
> >
> > Getting an age 55 retirement pay focus back proves difficult
> > because a large number of proposals that fragmented the effort,
> > and those sticking to it also have had significant
> discouragement -
> > but some near hits in getting it passed. But close counts only
> in
> > horseshoes and hand grenades.
> >
> > I know the 55 age limit was not mentioned by you. But I want to
> > simply say based on the above experience, Wilson may be sincere,
> > but he's shooting for the POLITICALLY possible, not the actual
> > fair, good, or right target.
> >
> > People outside the Reserves, and prior to the "benchmark" date,
> > have no clue as to how dedicated service members like yourself
> > have given of themselves for this nation. Thanks for your service.
> >
> > Mchael Mitchell, SFC, USA Retired Reserves
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: bv...@sbcglobal.net
> > Date: Saturday, March 8, 2008 17:20
> > Subject: Retire Pay @55 Re: Message from Rep. Joe Wilson
> > To: Reserve-Re...@googlegroups.com
> >
> > >
> > > Dear Michael,
> > >
> > > Actually this does not due anyone the respect they truly
> deserve
> > > in serving
> > > our nation. What about all the first gulf war and Vietnam
> > veterans
> > > that have
> > > served in the guard and reserve and are waiting on this
> pension
> > at
> > > age 60.
> > > The credit system is not an equitable system to address the
> > > service of all
> > > members of the guard an reserve that have taken the extra
> effort
> > > and time
> > > away from families to be an equal player with the active duty
> > > counterparts.
> > > As a retired Chief Master Sergeant, U.S.A.F. - Res. I have
> > > faithfully served
> > > my country 26 years and have been on many, many deployments
> > world
> > > wide
> > > before and a few after 911. Using this date is abstract in my
> > > view. A
> > > horrible tragedy that took place on this date should not be
> used
> > > as a
> > > benchmark for creating and enacting a credit system. Congress
> > > should take a
> > > huge step back and go back to the original full retirement at
> 55
> > > to make it
> > > right for all those men and women that have defended this
> great
> > > nation of
> > > ours as guard and reservists. H.R.783 would be the right course.
> > >
> > > Sincerely,
> > >
> > > Brian Van Straten, CMSgt, USAFR - Ret
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Michael Mitchell"
> > > To: "Reserve Retirement @55"
> > > Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 8:21 PM
> > > Subject: Retire Pay @55 Message from Rep. Joe Wilson
> > >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > National Guard and Reserve Parity
> > > > In today's Global War on Terrorism, our military men and
> women are
> > > > performing incredible work and sacrificing so much to defend
> > > American> families. In addition to our active military forces,
> > > since September
> > > > 11th members of the National Guard in every state and Reservists
> > > > across every military branch have made immeasurable
> sacrifices
> > > for our
> > > > nation while accepting an even larger role abroad. Our own South
> > > > Carolina National Guard has deployed air and army units to
> > Iraq and
> > > > Afghanistan, and in Afghanistan today, the 218th Brigade
> > Combat
> > > Team,> my former unit, led by Brigadier General Bob
> Livingston,
> > is
> > > doing a
> > > > remarkable job training Afghani police.
> > > >
> > > > Under current law, National Guard members and Reservists, unlike
> > > > regular active military, must wait until the age of 60
> before
> > > they are
> > > > eligible to receive retirement benefits. The National Defense
> > > > Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2008 addressed this situation by
> > > creating> a credit system for those that served active duty,
> > > allowing Guard and
> > > > Reserve members to receive retirement benefits before the
> age
> > of 60.
> > > > The bill provides that for every 90 days of combat duty,
> three
> > > months> of credit will be given toward retirement. Thus, a
> Guardsman> > > mobilized for 12 months would start receiving
> retirement
> > > benefits at
> > > > the age of 59, instead of age 60.
> > > >
> > > > More than 600,000 Guardsmen and Reservists have been
> mobilized
> > since> > September 11th and more than 145,000 have served
> multiple
> > tours of
> > > > duty. Unfortunately, their active duty service will not be
> counted> > > toward this early retirement credit system because
> current law
> > only> > applies to those who serve active duty after the 2008
> NDAA
> > was
> > > enacted> into law.
> > > >
> > > > As someone who has seen firsthand the incredible work our
> National> > > Guard and Reservists do - both as a member of the
> Guard and
> > > father of
> > > > sons serving - I am disappointed that this gap in
> eligibility
> > > remains.>
> > > > At the end of last year, I introduced H.R. 4930, the National
> > > > Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act, which
> simply
> > > amends> the date of enactment of the early retirement
> provision
> > to
> > > September> 11th. That would cover all the Guardsmen and
> > > Reservists who were
> > > > mobilized and honorably served our nation in the Global War on
> > > > Terrorism. It ensures that all of our Guardsmen and
> Reservists who
> > > > have fought on the front lines get their due recognition. I am
> > > > pleased with the bipartisan support this legislation has
> > > garnered so
> > > > far, and I am encouraging my colleagues here in Congress to
> > take up
> > > > this initiative.
> > > >
> > > > These soldiers are on the front lines of the Global War on
> > > Terrorism.> They deserve our support and appreciation.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > -------------------------------------------------------------
> --
> > --
> > > ---------------
> > > >
> > > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ---------------------------------
> > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo!
> Mobile.
> > Try it now.
> > >
> >
>
> --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "Reserve Retirement @55" group.
> Go to http://retire55.atspace.com for Latest Updates on Retirement
> Legislation for Reservists!
> To post to this group, send email to Reserve-Retirement-
> 5...@googlegroups.comTo unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> Reserve-Retireme...@googlegroups.com
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/Reserve-Retirement-55
> -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
>
