Readers of Tom Philpott's Military Update column sound off.

Time to Repeal 'Career Status Bonus/Redux' Scam

I'm a career soldier who was enticed into the Career Status Bonus/Redux retirement trap. As with many enlisted men, my strong suit is not economics. When I was offered $30,000 (about $23,000 after taxes) I jumped at the opportunity to reduce some accumulated debt.

I'm currently on the promotion list for sergeant major and plan to serve close to 30 years (in 21 now) which will help to close the initial "gap" in future retirement income. But the loss of one percent cost-of-living adjustment per year will continue to haunt my family income for the rest of our lives.

I'm just dumbfounded that our congress and leaders at the highest level would ever stand for such a scam or, worst yet, be active participants, directing this at the enlisted force.

The secretary of the Army, the Chief of Staff of the Army and the Sergeant Major of the Army have designated 2009 "The Year of the NCO," crediting the successes made in Global War on Terrorism directly to their efforts. Well, I recommend that leadership and Congress truly recognize the NCO by protecting them from this horrible scam known as "CSB/REDUX."

If old soldiers like me are required to reap the consequences of the scam, so be it. But eliminate the program ASAP before our young warriors are enticed into making the same mistakes.

ERIC J. LAUB
Master Sergeant (P), USA

RESERVE RETIREMENT POINTS

Your recent column is the second you've written concerning reserve component retirement. It's obvious you have never been an Army Reserve or Army National Guard soldier. I'm not sure that you are aware what it takes to have a "Good" retirement year in the Reserves.

Just because you accumulate 20 good years for an RC retirement, very few soldiers even think about getting out of the program. Once one receives their 20-year letter, it's great to receive it, but that's about it.

The name of the game is accumulating retirement points, since the more one has the bigger the retirement check at age 60, or possibly a few years sooner.

The "problem" is not accumulating 20 years, but the soldier's Mandatory Removal Date (MRD), which is 28 years of commissioned service or age 60, whatever comes first.

Most officers graduate from college and receive their commission at age 22, so at age 50, they are forced out of the program. In the time between age 50 and 60, they are described as Gray Area retirees. If a Reserve officer makes the rank of colonel, then their MRD is 30, not 28 years of commissioned service.

Thus many experienced officers are forced to "retire" at either age 50 or 52 depending whether they make O-6. It's not the 20-years of service that has officers leaving; it's the MRD.

TERRY HUNTER
Yorktown, Va.

Thanks for your review of both the point system and a key career retention hurdle for Army reserve officers. I should have made clear in the column that Army Reserve Chief Lt. Gen. Jack Shultz's primary retention concern for the future is non-commissioned officers.

"One of the things I'm short of is NCOs -- E-6s and E-7s -- across the force," Shultz told us. "That's one reason I'm pushing this thing about retirement. I can't afford to lose that leadership. [And I ask] soldiers who are deciding to leave active duty to become civilians [after wartime] three deployments. 'Come on and join the Reserve and let's go another one.' That soldier looks at me and says 'Why would I do that?' I need some incentives?' – Tom Philpott

DOUBLE RECOUPMENT

I received $30,000 non-disability separation pay when I left the Navy in 1988 after 11 years active duty. I entered the Reserves and retired in 1996.

Later in 1996, I was awarded a 30 percent service-connected disability rating from VA. My disability compensation was, correctly, withheld until the full $30,000 separation pay was recouped. Here's my dilemma: I am about to turn 60 years old and soon will begin receiving my military retirement, but I have been told that the Department of Defense is required to recoup the $30,000 separation pay I received in 1988 - the very same $30,000 VA already had recouped.

There must be some prohibition against recouping this money twice.

WILLIE J.

There is and, as you later told me, you found it in the DoD Financial Management Regulation (7000.14R), Volume 7B, Appendix G, dated September, 2008. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense deals with retired members who were paid severance pay, separation pay, Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI), Special Separation Benefit (SSB) or Voluntary Separation Pay (VSP).

"The military retired pay of such members must be reduced to recoup any such separation payment received. Many of these payments must also be recouped from VA compensation. At the time the retired pay account is established, the [Defense Finance and Accounting Service] shall contact the [Veterans Administration Regional Office] to determine if collection has been made and how much has been collected. Both the DFAS and the VA will coordinate their actions to ensure that excess collection does not occur." – T.P.

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