The Pentagon is telling the military services and
Defense agencies that they may offer buyouts (worth up
to $25,000 each) to help pare employment rolls. These
payments would go to individuals whether they separated
or turned in their retirement papers.
Military branches and defense components may offer
buyouts, said DoD, provided those accepting the
payments (typically worth about $17,000 after taxes)
leave service during fiscal 2004. The notice came
from Ginger Groeber, deputy undersecretary for
civilian personnel policy. She distributed the fiscal
2004 buyout authority this way: 7,722 to the Army;
7,135 to the Navy; 5,873 to the Air Force, and 4,270
to other Defense agencies.
As for voluntary early retirements, the fiscal 2004
National Defense Authorization Act gave the Pentagon
the right to offer early outs without prior approval
from the Office of Personnel Management. There is no
limit on the number of early outs available.
