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> The 2008 National Defense Authorization Act passed an early retirement provision, but its eligibility started on January 28, 2008. Over 600,000 who served since September 11, 2001 were unfairly excluded.
> Section 660 in the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would correct this, extending eligibility for earlier retirement to those who have served since 9/11/2001.
> Members of the Active Components of the United States Military Services are eligible for an immediate annuity upon attaining twenty years of creditable service.
> Members of the Reserve Components must wait to receive their annuity until age 60. The new law reduces retirement by 90 days for every 90 days of mobilization in support of a contingency operations.
> Over 600,000 National Guard and Reserve members served between 9/11/2001 and January 29, 2008 were excluded from eligibility.
> Over the last 15 years, the contributions in support of Active Duty missions by both the Guard and the Reserve have increased substantially.
> During the Global War on Terrorism Reserve Component members have gone into harms way and fought alongside members of the Active Duty, but have different retirement compensation.
> Guard and Reserve members feel some what cheated as with the change in the roles and missions of the Reserve Component, their contract has also changed.
> A small step would be to change the eligibility date back to 9/11/2001.
> ROA recognizes the expense of this corrective measure scored by CBO at $2.1 billion over ten years, but there are no available mandatory funds to find offset dollars. With the excess of funds being spent elsewhere, it is only fair that Congress remembers the Guard and Reserve members who have mobilized, serving this country more than many other citizens.
> ROA endorses H.R. 208, the Parity for Patriots Act, introduced by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), which was the first bill and is a corrective measure to the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, including those Guard and Reserve members who have been mobilized since 9/11/2001. This did not get into the House version of the NDAA.
> ROA worked with Senate offices for a companion bill. S.831 was introduced by Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) also corrects eligibility in the existing law to 9/11/2001. This was the basis for the amendment added to the Senate NDAA, which became Section 660.
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