Earlier Retirement Pay Sought for RCs

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R- Ga., has introduced S. 648, which would authorize retirement pay before age 60 for National Guard and reserve members who have qualified for retirement. The bill would decrease the age they could begin drawing pay by three months for each 90-days they have been on active duty in support of a contingency operation. Any federally funded activation of 90 days or more would count as active-duty time, including voluntary mobilizations. All active-duty time since Sept. 11, 2001 would qualify. The bill would not allow retirement pay before age 50. A similar bill by Chambliss failed last year because of dogged opposition from the Defense Department and the administration.