Military Officer - January 2006 - (Page 38)

washingtonscene which is the exclusive property of the servicemember. MOAA continues to seek congressional sponsors and hearings for USFSPA reform. activities, particularly with regard to impacts from BRAC and other re-basing/redeployment initiatives. DIC continuation MOAA will seek authority to lower the age at which survivors in receipt of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) retain this beneﬁt upon remarriage. Legislation passed in 2003 authorized retention of DIC for those who remarry at 57 or older. Continuation of beneﬁts on remarriage at age 55 is authorized for all other federal survivor programs, including the Survivor Beneﬁt Plan. MOAA believes that widows receiving DIC deserve equal treatment. Active and Reserve Force Issues Military manpower MOAA will ﬁght to improve alignment of service force levels with missions to ease deployment rates and improve quality of life, retention, and readiness. For years, military forces have been overstressed as manpower levels have been capped below mission requirements. Current severe operating tempos will have adverse consequences on military family life and personnel retention unless relieved very soon. Congress has approved an endstrength increase for the Army for FY 2006, but it is highly uncertain whether this will sufﬁce to ease current strains. MOAA believes additional strength increases and more resources for recruiting, retention, training, and family support are needed. WEP and GPO MOAA will work to repeal or reform the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) Social Security penalties for federal civilian retirees and spouses who retired under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and certain state retirement systems. WEP reduces Social Security beneﬁts earned by these members and spouses from military service or other employment. GPO reduces or eliminates the Social Security survivor annuity when the surviving spouse retires under one of the programs above. Guard/Reserve compensation Reserve pay and retirement systems were developed more than a half century ago, when these forces were truly held in reserve. This is no longer true. MOAA supports updating Guard and Reserve compensation and retirement to better reﬂect the increased sacriﬁces imposed on these members, including changing the Guard and Reserve retirement age from 60 to 55, authorizing federal beneﬁts for extended Guard “homeland security duty” performed at the request of the president, and providing tax incentives for employers of Guard and Reserve members. Financial, legal, and reemployment protections available to activated Guard and Reserve servicemembers under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act and the Service- Budget vigilance MOAA will monitor action on Budget Resolution, Omnibus Budget Reconciliation, Social Security reform initiatives, and other proposals to guard against discriminatory treatment of members of the uniformed services community and their families. Benefits protection MOAA will protect against any attempts to degrade retiree and survivor beneﬁts, including military commissaries, exchange facilities, family support services, and Morale, Welfare and Recreation 38 MILITARY OFFICER JANUARY 2006

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - January 2006

Contents Features Departments From the Editor Chairman's Page Board of Directors Nominations Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Member Books Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Cover Story: On the Edge Storm Stories Our Brilliant, Bloody Future eXtreme Seniors Pages of History Information Exchange MOAA Scholarship Donors Advertising Index MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps MOAA Member Services Encore

Military Officer - January 2006

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