Reserve Retirement for an Operational Reserve

摘要

Since the early 1990s the frequency and extent of reserve component utilization has increased significantly. The United States no longer goes to war without its reserve components. The Army Reserves has changed from a strategic reserve force, only called up in the event of a World War III scenario, to an operational reserve force utilized anytime active forces are employed across the spectrum of military operations. Changes to the reserve component retirement benefits are warranted in light of the change in use of the reserves. This paper examines several of the proposed changes to the reserve components retirement benefits. First, I will review the reserve component military retirement system origin and purpose, and then I will examine what purpose the reserve retirement system serves now. Then I will briefly discuss the proposed changes and examine which system, either the existing system or one of those proposed, is best to meet the current purpose of the reserve component retirement system. For comparison sake reference to active duty benefits and specifically retirement benefits are included to frame the discussion concerning reserve retirement benefits.