NATIONAL GUARD ASOCIATION OF ILLINOIS

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RESOLUTION IL-07

Relating to Amendment of Title 10, USC which would reduce from 60 to 55 the age at which a reserve component member may begin receiving retirement pay

Background

Current law states that a retired reserve component member will begin to draw military retired pay upon reaching 60 years of age, regardless of the age of retirement. With the increased reliance on the reserve components, and the likelihood of increasingly frequent mobilizations for members thereof, the gap between active duty and reserve component membership is eroding, yet the National Guard soldier must still wait until age 60 to derive the financial benefits of over 20 years service. Reducing the age of retirement will help reduce some of the disparity in retirement benefits that vest immediately upon discharge for our active duty counterparts.

Recommendation

The National Guard Association of Illinois urges Congress and the Department of Defense to support current proposed legislation to amend Title 10, USC to reduce receipt of retired reserve military pay from age 60 to age 55.