Military Officer - February 2008 - (Page 37) washingtonscene Non-Health Care Issues Issue Senate version Combat-related special compensation (CRSC) Authorize for all members medically retired for combat-related conditions before 20 years of service. 3.5 percent for active duty, Guard, and Reserve members Jan. 1, 2008. House version Similar provision, but limit to members with 15+ years and 60+ percent combatrelated disability. 3.5-percent raise Jan. 1, 2008; raises for 2009-12 to be 0.5 percent higher than private-sector pay growth. Authorize $40/month stipend for widows affected by SBP/DIC offset, effective Oct. 1, 2008. Similar provisions. Final law Senate provision adopted. Military pay raise Senate provision adopted. Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Fully repeal SBP-Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) offset. House provision adopted except authorizes $50 a month increasing by $10 each year until FY 2014. Provisions adopted. Military manpower levels versus FY 2007 Increase Army by 13,000; Marine Corps by 9,000; and Army National Guard by 1,300. Reduce Navy by 11,600 and USAF by 4,300. Reduce retirement age three months for each 90 days of active duty, retroactive to Oct. 7, 2001. No provision. Reserve retirement age No provision. Senate provision adopted except only credits active service after law change. Deployment and child custody Bar permanent loss of child custody because of deployment. Make Guard chief a fourstar, responsible for planning contingencies and homeland security needs. Consolidate active duty and reserve MGIB statutes; express “sense of Congress” that reserve members should have 10 years after service to use MGIB. House provision adopted. National Guard responsibilities Similar provisions. Provisions adopted. Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) Authorize 10-year postservice usage of active duty-earned MGIB benefits for guardmembers and reservists. Senate provision adopted. FEBRUARY 2008 MILITARY OFFICER 37
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.