Battlefield, cubicle not alike

Congress and the Pentagon are considering measures to reduce spending which include trimming medical benefits provided to retired service members. By objectively comparing the cost of benefits provided to government civilian and nongovernment employees with those of uniformed service members, they conclude that current military retiree benefits are too expensive.

In our chapter of the Military Officers Association of America and every post of the American Legion, VFW and DAV, there are stories of service and sacrifice. Not everyone was wounded, but all served and faced the possibility of death, capture, injury, disfigurement, disease and isolation. Everyone endured weeks and months of separation from home and family.

We are asking Congress to recognize that medical care for career service members is not a social program. These are earned benefits, prepaid many times over by service, separation, wounds and stress that can never be compared to that of corporate or civilian government employees.

Decades of arduous service and sacrifice by both the service members and their families represent far greater premiums for future health care coverage than any civilian has paid. In recognition of those extraordinary prepaid premiums, the percentage growth in military health care fees should not exceed the rate of growth of retirement pay.

Ralph E. Shrigley

Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, retired

President, Spokane Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America