Projected Effects of the New US Military Compensation and Benefits Package on an All-Volunteer Military Force

Abstract

Thesis: The reformed US Military benefit package will have the following impacts on the current and future volunteer fighting forces: compromised talent management, recruiting incentives and challenges, increased military capabilities, and a sense of 'breaking faith' with military families. Discussion: Military retirement reform has been a contentious and ongoing argument in America's history. With little reform enacted since the end of WWII and increasing military personnel costs amid financial constraints, the necessity for reform can no longer be ignored. The President of the United States established a Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission in 2013 with a mandate to provide specific recommendations that ensured the long-term viability of an all-volunteer force, maintained the quality of life of military members and their families, and modernized and achieved fiscal sustainability in the 21st century. The commission's report was released in January 2015 with the adoption of several of their policy recommendations in the FY 2016 Defense Authorization Bill. The altered compensation package that is to be implemented in 2018 will undoubtedly impact several aspects of today's fighting force. Drawing from the current conversations and opinions portrayed throughout media outlets, it is critical that the DoD take a proactive approach in developing a strong message that harnesses the positive aspects of the benefits reform while limiting negative impacts of the changes. Conclusion: To minimize negative impacts to talent management, recruiting, military capabilities, and the faith of the military family, DoD should facilitate an open and honest discussion among service members addressing the unsustainable high personnel costs of today's military, compensation comparisons to the civilian sector, and the potential negative effects if changes are not implemented.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 13, 2016
Accession Number
AD1176166

Entities

People

  • James Johncock

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Addressing
  • Budgets
  • Compensation
  • Congress
  • Department Of Defense
  • Families (Human)
  • Governments
  • Law
  • Military Capabilities
  • Military Families
  • Military Personnel
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Political Science
  • Quality Of Life
  • Security
  • Students
  • Training
  • United States
  • Universities
  • Volunteers
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Military Mobilization and Reserve Forces Studies.