The 20-Year Military Retirement System Needs Reform

Abstract

Members of the Armed Forces can retire at any age after 20 years of service. The Department of Defense's justification for early retirement is a need to attract and maintain a youthful and vigorous force. However, most servicemen who retired in fiscal year 1975 spent the greatest part of their careers in occupations that did not require exceptionally vigorous duties. Yet, they were eligible to retire under the same criteria as those who served in more demanding combat-type positions. The retirement system should be altered to encourage more effective lengths of careers and mixtures of first-term and career servicemen, to better attract and retain members, and to improve equity and efficiency.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 13, 1978
Accession Number
AD1178496

Entities

People

  • Elmer B. Staats

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Artillery
  • Business Administration
  • Combat Areas
  • Department Of Defense
  • Employment
  • Engineers
  • Enlisted Personnel
  • Governments
  • Health Services
  • Law
  • Management Personnel
  • Marine Corps
  • Mechanical Equipment
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Personnel
  • Military Science
  • Officer Personnel
  • Personnel Management
  • Recruiting
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Military Mobilization and Reserve Forces Studies.
  • Naval Personnel Management
  • Strategic Security Studies