Report of the Tenth Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation. Volume 2: Deferred and Noncash Compensation
Abstract
The military compensation system includes a complex package of cash, deferred, and noncash benefits. In general, this system works effectively to attract and retain the high-quality personnel needed in the uniformed services of the 21st century. That said, there is room for improvement to increase the system's flexibility and better enable force managers to respond to changing requirements in support of national security missions. Improvements can also increase member choice, serving to enhance recruiting and retention efforts in the uniformed services. Volume 1 of the Report of the Tenth Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (10th QRMC) covered cash compensation the single largest component of military compensation. This volume, Volume 2, builds upon that effort with the results of the QRMCs evaluation of deferred and noncash compensation an evaluation that examined military retirement, health care, and quality of life programs. Cash compensation accounts for almost half of service members compensation; deferred, or future, benefits another 31 percent; and noncash compensation, such as health care, educational benefits, and many quality of life programs, the remaining 21 percent. The combination of deferred and noncash compensation is significantly higher than what is typically seen in civilian compensation plans, where these elements account for only one third of employee compensation. As compensation tools, deferred and noncash (or in-kind) benefits present unique challenges to force managers seeking to optimize the use of compensation resources. They are less efficient, their value is less easily understood by military personnel and their families, and, at least in many cases in the current system, they are relatively inflexible.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA484580
Entities
Organizations
- United States Department of Defense