Military Personnel: Active Duty Benefits Reflect Changing Demographics, but Opportunities Exist to Improve

摘要

The Department of Defense (DOD) uses employee benefits that is, indirect compensation above and beyond a service members basic pay as one tool to recruit and retain personnel. Employee benefits are part of DODs overall military compensation system that also includes basic military pay, special pays, and allowances. The Subcommittee expressed concerns about whether the current employee benefit package available to active duty service members has kept pace with changes in the demographic composition of the force and whether the benefit package positions DOD to compete with private-sector companies for high-quality personnel. Because of these concerns, the Subcommittee asked the General Accounting Office (GAO) to review the active duty benefit structure. Specifically, our objectives were to determine (1) how DOD has changed benefits in response to demographic changes in the active duty military since the advent of the all-volunteer force in 1973 and (2) how the militarys overall benefit package compares with the array of benefits offered by private-sector firms. This report is the GAO's response to the Subcommitte's request.