Judging Retirement Reform Using the Strategic Thinking Framework

Abstract

Reforming the Military Retirement System (MRS) is an issue that raises concern within Congress, the military organization and the military s strategic leadership. A 2011 Defense Business Board (DBB) report recommends major reform of the MRS from a defined benefit system towards a defined contribution system that demonstrates federal budget savings over time. This study contemplates MRS reform using the Strategic Thinking Framework to identify the viable reasons to consider alternatives to the current MRS that reach beyond the budget savings projected by the DBB in its report on MRS reform. Even though the United States government s budget is facing mounting deficits and increased debt, the DBB report faced immediate criticism upon publication in an effort to resist any change. The criticism suggests budget savings alone will not carry an effort for MRS reform. Linking U.S. interests identified in the National Security Strategy (NSS) to the need for MRS reform beyond budget savings may be the key to moving the MRS from the current method to a system that truly aligns ends, ways and means.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 22, 2012
Accession Number
ADA561674

Entities

People

  • Thomas C. Fisher

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Budgets
  • Business Administration
  • Congress
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of Veterans Affairs
  • Federal Budgets
  • Governments
  • Human Resources
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Personnel
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Security
  • Students
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Strategic Security Studies