MILITARY UPDATE
House bill strengthens Reserve benefits

By Tom Philpott

The House panel shaping its version of the 2005 defense authorization bill approved new income protection for mobilized Reserve and National Guard members, and a provision to phase out, starting in 2009, the sharp drop in military survivor benefits that occurs at age 62.

The bill also would support a 3.5 percent military pay raise next January — the sixth consecutive annual raise to exceed wage growth in the private sector — and would boost active duty force strength by 39,000 over three years, adding 30,000 soldiers and 9,000 Marines to help relieve strain from the extraordinary pace of operations since 9/11.

The Total Force Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee unveiled these and more quality-of-life initiatives last week during its mark up of a new defense bill.

Highlights for Reserve and National Guard personnel include:

Revised bonuses

Reserve bonus and incentive authorities would be made identical to those for active duty members. This would mean expansion to Reserve personnel of critical skill retention bonuses, officer accession bonuses, and conversion incentives to address hard-to-fill job skills.

Income replacement

Reserve component members mobilized involuntarily could receive new extra pay, of $50 to $3,000 a month, to cover average monthly income losses when away for extended time from civilian jobs. Replacement income wouldn't start until a reservist had 12 continuous months on active duty, or 18 months active duty during the previous 60 months, or for any month a member is mobilized within six months of a previous active duty tour.

Reserve healthcare

The House bill would increase healthcare spending by $300 million in 2005 by making permanent two temporary gains in Reserve healthcare access approved last year. One opened TRICARE to Reserve and Guard members 90 days before the date they are to report for active duty. Another provides reserve component personnel up to 180 days of TRICARE coverage after separation from active duty.

Other bill highlights include:

• A 3.5 percent pay raise for active duty and reserve personnel effective Jan. 1, 2005.
• A $367 million increase in the Basic Allowance for Housing next January, which will complete a five-year goal of eliminating average out-of-pocket rental costs for service members living off base in stateside areas.
• Extension for at least another year of April 1, 2003, increases in Family Separation Allowance and Imminent Danger Pay
• A diluted version of general officer management initiatives that the administration proposed last year.

Before these provisions become law, they must be approved by the full committee, passed by the House, reconciled with the Senate's version, passed again by both chambers and signed by President Bush.

Questions, comments and suggestions are welcomed. Write to Military Update, P.O. Box 231111, Centreville, VA 20120-1111, or send e-mail to: milupdate@aol.com. Or visit Tom Philpott's Web site.