71 Democrats  44 Republicans = 115 Join Bill as of 14 Dec!

Saxton's Popular ("Ask Any Reservist!") Bi-Partisan Retirement Bill  - HR 783

WASHINGTON, D.C. - (2/16/2005) Rep. Jim Saxton today announced the reintroduction of H.R. 783, bipartisan legislation that would lower the retirement age from 60 to 55 for members of the Reserves and National Guard. ...more

SENATE COMPANION BILL

Corzine Age 55 Amendment Not Voted On

Chambliss Amendment of 2006 Defense Authorization Passes

The Senate version of the 2006 National Defense Authorization Bill approved 99 to 0 a Sen. Saxby Chamblisss amendment lowering the retirement age under narrow criteria, for members of the National Guard and Reserve. 

Initial chances seem dim that this $300 million measure will pass muster in the mandatory conference between the House and Senate to craft a single bill from both House's Defense bill versions.

 "The lack of committed budget dollars likely dooms, at least for this year, some of the more popular initiatives endorsed by the Senate, even as their inclusion in the bill raised expectations, particularly among reservists, survivors and a special group of disabled retirees." wrote  Tom Philpot in his  column (Full Column).

The amendment criteria reduces the age requirement where 90 days of active service performed in a contingency operation in a fiscal year, retroactive to Sept. 2001, leads to a 3 month reduction from age 60.  It sets the maximum age reduction to receive retirement pay at 50. 

Under current law, the eligible age for retirement pay is 60.

Step in the Right direction?  

Commentary Here

Sign Petition For S 639/HR 783

19924 Total Signatures on petition for Congress!  (Our Thanks to:  Retired Marine Sgt Major William Doherty, who collected these at the site - click headline) 

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March 17, 2005:

ROA Congressional Testimony Highlights

" Retirement: Several years ago Congress proposed legislation to lower the retirement age. Twice during the 108th the Senate offered this legislation as amendments to other bills and twice they voted it down. 

ROA reported to their members that the vote was for a budget technicality and not for the legislation per se but quite honestly they didnt care for the packaging. 

The members saw two things in 2004: the Senate did not support the legislation and DoD made statements against the legislation.

The Reserve Components have seen a gradual increase in their peacetime participation and Congress recognized this by increasing the number of points allowed. The Air Force Guard and Reserve increased their participation significantly when the Air Expeditionary Force concept was put into place. 

The Army recognizes an increased participation as their new reality and is considering a similar program. A mobilization requirement up to two years makes further demands. ROA members have stated they feel that military personnel programs need to change in response to this new reality, specifically by reducing the retirement age. 

ROA encourages Congress to pass reduced retirement legislation while also considering force management options by extending mandatory retirement/separation dates. [Excerpted from Statement of
Major General (Ret.) Robert A. McIntosh Executive Director, Reserve Officers Association of the United States, full statement here]

Declining Retention & Recruiting Forces Action:

Guard, Reserve raise recruiting age

Comparison of Active Duty & Reserve Retirements - Dave Rice maps out the difference between value of active duty day for a Reservist and a Regular in this excellent chart!

RAND Corporation  demonstrates that Reservists wait for deployment at much lower cost than active duty personnel! 

Study on Retire Pay @55 Released

Retire Pay Reform Report
Gives Unintended Support 

By Mike Mitchell, "Unite The Military Community" editor

A Government Accounting Office (GAO) report has been released that opposes the lowering the age of receipt of retirement pay by military Reservists. But facts presented support the reform. First is this surprise: The Department of Defense (DoD) Opposition to the reform is literally a blind opposition. Full Story here 

Some reservists, Guard troops say goodbye to long deployments

By Roger Roy, The Orlando Sentinel

ORLANDO, Fla. - (KRT) - Before signing the enlistment papers, Linda Cordle grilled the recruiter about whether her 17-year-old son might be shipped off to fight a war.

Don't worry, the recruiter assured her: Florida National Guard infantry soldiers hadn't been sent overseas since World War II.

But Sept. 11 and the global war on terror changed all that, and now thousands of National Guard troops - Cordle's son among them - are pulling long stretches of foreign duty from Iraq to Afghanistan.

That has some of them planning to get out - before they face another long deployment overseas.

FULL STORY

Memo: Reserve Power Cut-Off

RUMSFELD-BUSH: Deploy - Don't Destroy Reserves Forces

By Mike Mitchell, Unite the Military Community Editor

The Reserve Component is fighting a new battle for its own existence as a vital and valued asset to national defense. All this at a critical juncture in fielding troops for Iraq occupation duty!

"Reserve officials say they were stunned by the
proposal, which they fear would shrink the role of
citizen soldiers into irrelevance. Rumsfeld's office
could not be reached for comment," reports the LA Times. 

FULL STORY

Additional Resource: 

Reserve Officers Assoc. Analysis