Defined benefit pension plans are being phased out throughout the country.
Think of it this way, when you start work you a looking for some private firm or government to be ready to pay a pension to you some 45/50 years in the future and continue for up to 80 years.

Who can you depend upon for that? Who do you trust for 80 years, politicians? Remember few pension funds even existed 80 years ago and that included SS.

In the end you may object to “depending on the stock market (SM)” but if the SM tanks so does the economy.

I would suggest that most including the military would be better off with their pension invested in the SM than dependent upon the politicians.

Obviously you cannot change the system for most of those currently in the military unless you give them a paid up plan. Yes, you might have to adjust the pay to make it competitive.

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Ipsis Rebus Dictantitbus