Military brainstorms better ways to pay

A military study of compensation suggests extending military discounts for groceries to supermarkets located off-base, a move that would save military families from driving long distance to base amidst high gas prices. This and other suggestions were outlined during a press conference discussing the 10th Review of Military Compensation, a quadrennial report to Congress from the Department of Defense.

The report advocates establishing charter schools for children on military bases and allowing military vouchers to be used in any public or private school. To improve the military’s recruiting and retention of medical professionals, the report suggested fast-tracking non-citizen physicians to citizenship, an effort that would utilize American-trained doctors who are currently unable to practice in a military setting. Responding to perceived flaws in the military’s retirement program that offer a “one size fits all” program to personnel regardless of skill sets and training, the report suggested offering gate payments to servicemen and women who have reached milestones in their career while offering separation payments that would encourage other types of personnel to retire. In addition, the report supports raising medical care co-payments for active duty personnel and their families to reflect rates of inflation.