Military Retirees: You Betrayed Us, Congress!

December 16, 2013 at 6:58 pm By Brandon Walker

It seems that plans in the new budget deal have Military Retirees calling out Congress. One simple phrase is echoing through the halls of Capital Hill, “You Betrayed Us!”
Military Retirees concerned with the new budget deal on Capital Hill that will be voted on have good reason. It looks like the deal trims United States Military retirees and Veteran pensions while increasing their salaries again. They are calling it, “an egregious breach of faith.”
The Military Collation, which consists of over 27 independent Military Retiree groups,  gave a “strong objection” and expressed “grave concern” in letters penned to Congress and President Obama over the new budget deal.
The new budget deal, as reported by CNN, cuts the cost of living hikes from 2% down to 1% overall. These cost of living hikes were implemented as automatic to keep up with inflation but have been not given some years due to no budget agreement already. This agreement would impact anyone under the age of 62 that retires from the military.
The problem with that is most people in the private sector do not retire prior to 62 years of age, but that is not the same for military personnel. The Military, on the other hand, usually enlist prior to the age of 20, give up 3% to 6% of their military check to contribute to their pension, and usually retire between 20 to 25 years of service. Most of them have seen things that most in the private sector have no clue about, and are extremely lucky to escape injuries by the time they reach 45, better less stay on active duty until the age of 62.
With inflation and compounded interest, that little “1%” cut actually accounts to a 20% cut in their pension that they put in to in as little as 20 years.

The average cut in pension payouts, including compounding interest, for a retiring Army Sergeant first class, would be about $3,700 each year, according to the Military Officers Association of America. Over 20 years, the total losses could balloon to more than $80,000.
“While portrayed as a minor change, a 20% reduction in retired pay and survivor benefit values is a massive cut in military career benefits,” wrote groups, including the Air Force Sergeants Association, Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America and the Marine Corps League, among others in the letter.
The change is infuriating to military retirees like Army Col. Michael Barron, who retired nearly 4 years ago, after 30 years of service, which included being deployed to both Iraq wars.
“It’s not fair at all. I spent a 30 year career in the military. I clearly understood what the (cost of living increases) would be,” said Barron, deputy director of government relations for the Military Officers Association of America. “This is the worst kind of example of a shady, backroom deal.”
The cut is forcing some to reconsider how much longer they will continue to work with the military.
Rebekah Sanderlin’s husband is two years away from hitting his 20 year retirement mark with the Army and she’s wondering if its worth it. He’s served in Afghanistan four times, among other places, and has many injuries.
“The war has been very hard on our family,” said Sanderlin, a writer. “We’d like to stay in, but it seems stupid to give more time to a government that goes back on their word.”
Military groups say the cut is particularly unfair because the changes will affect those who have already put in their years of service.
“To tax the very men and women who have sacrificed and served more than others is simply a foul,” the letter stated.~CNN Money

This, like the budget cuts to the Pentagon, continues to show a war on the very people who gave everything to serve the country. There is no secret of the $439 Million in bonuses paid to federal employees while finally giving the 2% raise to Veterans and Military Retirees for the first time in 3 years. This year marked civilian federal employee hiring freeze lifted and even more worker bonuses being paid out, including a $5 million dollar mechanical bull for morale. It also included a raise to Congress and the President, as well as paying for Secret Service Protection for life for them.
It is no wonder they are crying foul. There has to be other areas to look at like tax dollars to prostitutes that should be considered before slapping the men and women that fought for this country with an $80,000 penalty for each and every person that completed their tour of duty!
The post Military Retirees: You Betrayed Us, Congress! appeared first on The Free Patriot.

Read more here: http://freepatriot.org/2013/12/16/military-retirees-betrayed-us-congress/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=military-retirees-betrayed-us-congress by Brandon Walker Originally posted on http://freepatriot.org