An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Oct. 19, 2011

Chairman's Corner: The Military Retirement System

By Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

WASHINGTON - In my first blog entry, I discussed the four themes that are important to me as I start my tenure as the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Among them I mention keeping faith with our Military Family.

I was recently reminded of the importance of this when I testified before the House Armed Services Committee with Secretary of Defense Panetta last week.

During that testimony I was asked by several Representatives to comment on the recent recommendations of the Defense Business Board regarding changing the military retirement system to something more like what is available to civilians in the commercial sector.

What I told them and what I want to reiterate here is that I reject the comparison of military to civilian retirement and that I am adamantly opposed to changing the retirement benefits for those who are currently on active duty.

We will undoubtedly have to change our retirement system in the future to make it affordable, but we have made a commitment to those currently serving, and I aim to keep it.

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Army Pacific Commander Gen. Ronald Clark presents the Alexander Hamilton Award to U.S. Army Capt. Tom Borgonia, commander of the Security Forces VII Team Binadu, during an awards ceremony at Guam National Guard Barrigada Readiness Complex, April 12. This is the first time in the award’s history that a non-artillery or air defense unit has been selected and is the first time a unit from the Guam Army National Guard has received this award.
Guam National Guard Makes History with Alexander Hamilton Award
By Capt. Frank Spatt, | April 14, 2025
BARRIGADA READINESS CENTER, Guam — Members of Guam’s National Guard B Company, 1st Battalion, 294th Infantry Regiment, known as “Team Binadu,” have made history by winning the prestigious Alexander Hamilton Award that is...
U.S. and Latvian service members listen as speakers address the audience during the opening of a new exhibit commemorating 32 years of U.S.-Latvian military partnership at the Latvian War Museum in Riga, Latvia, April 11, 2025. The exhibit, titled “Message Follows,” features video interviews, uniforms and equipment, and personal belongings of U.S. Army Soldiers who served alongside Latvian troops during the War in Afghanistan. The U.S.-Latvia military partnership continues today with the presence of V Corps, the U.S. Army’s only forward-deployed corps in Europe. V Corps continues to enhance its posture across the European theater through modernization efforts to defend NATO and its territorial integrity.
Museum Opens Exhibit Commemorating U.S. and Latvian Military Partnership
By Spc. Rachel Hall, | April 14, 2025
RIGA, Latvia — U.S. and Latvian service members, diplomats and other guests gathered last week at the Latvian War Museum’s opening of a new exhibit commemorating the 32-year history of the U.S.-Latvia military partnership...
Teams from the Minnesota National Guard Joint Operations Center (JOC) conducted an exercise April 08-10, 2025 on Camp Ripley in order to participate in the U.S. Army NORTHCOM Joint Operations Center Training Course (JOC-TC).
Emergency Response Exercise Readies Minnesota Guard
By Anthony Housey, | April 14, 2025
CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. – Teams from the Minnesota National Guard Joint Operations Center (JOC) conducted an exercise last week at the Camp Ripley Training Center as part of the U.S. Army NORTHCOM Joint Operations Center Training...
More
Staying Connected
Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil Veterans Crisis Line number. Dial 988 then Press 1