Keep Retirement a NGAUS Priority
Outside of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, a more equitable retirement for Guardsmen should be your top priority. Retiring pilots at age 55 and not granting military retirement until age 60 is unfair.
I can fill Active Guard Reserve (AGR) positions all day but it is work to get a quality individual to take a technician post. The next airline hiring cycle will decimate the technician force even with the BRAC reductions.
Active duty and AGRs get a full retirement after 20 years. They are typically eligible to retire in their early to mid-40s. [Technicians] retiring at 55 with 25 years of service get less.
Please make this one of your top priorities.
Col. Woodward D. Lamar Jr.
Alabama Air National Guard
I appreciate the information concerning equipment, personnel and the Hawaii conference, but how about some hard-core work concerning early retirement pay for our Guard and Reserves? These soldiers have paid the price and served their country. We should be providing them with something concrete-recognizing their service in an equal manner.
With low recruitment numbers, this would be an excellent time to direct those additional personnel funds to early retirement and use that promotion as an incentive to retain and possibly recruit. Thanks.
Retired Major Marc McNeal
Louisiana Army National Guard
'Moved' By Iraqi Adoption Story
I was moved beyond words to read the article "Mission Adoption: Wisconsin Army National Guard Officer Finds Purpose in Iraq Beyond Serving His Country" (NATIONAL GUARD, June 2005).
God bless Capt. Scott Southworth. He makes me very proud to be a fellow American.
Navy Capt. Steven E. Maffeo
Former Colorado National Guardsman
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© 2005 National Guard Association of the United States Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Source: National Guard
