WASHINGTON - The commission tasked by President Barack Obama and Congress to modernize military compensation and benefits programs is seeking input from service members on their preferences.
Alphonso Maldon Jr., chairman of the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission, said understanding service members' compensation preferences is central to the commission's effort to craft modernization recommendations.
"Our primary goal is to ensure the uniformed services can maintain the most professional all-volunteer force, provide for a high quality of life for the members of the uniformed services and their families, and ensure that compensation and retirement systems are financially sustainable," he said. "Our fundamental objective is to craft an integrated compensation and personnel system that will continue to be valued by service members, provide flexibility for the uniformed services, and be cost effective." To obtain these preferences, the commission will survey a number of active-duty, National Guard and Army Reserve service members during the next few months, with plans to survey retired service members as well. The survey will ask participants to value individual elements of their compensation package in relation to each other, Maldon said.
"If you receive this survey, please take it," he added. "However, the survey is not the only way to let us know your preferences."
People can provide input on the commission's public website, http://www.mcrmc.gov, and written comments may be mailed to the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission, Post Office Box 13170, Arlington, VA 22209.
"These tools are powerful ways to ensure we are aware of your preferences and concerns," Maldon said.
Over the past year, he noted, the commission has benefitted from meetings with service members, veterans, retirees and their family members.
"Additionally," he said, "representatives of the uniformed services, military and veterans service organizations, and other subject-matter experts have greatly added to our understanding of the breadth of current military compensation and benefit systems. These engagements have reinforced what we've always known: Our people are the strength of our uniformed services."
"We honor your service and ask for your continued input and support as we move forward with this important endeavor," Maldon added.