[Guest post by DRJ]
General Stanley McChrystal has told the Army he will retire.
It’s tempting to feel sad for McChrystal since his fall from grace was so spectacular, but he’s luckier than most people who lost jobs during Obama’s term. At least he will get a pension and health benefits.
— DRJ
Pronounced "Patter-EE-koh"
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One needs to understand that at the rarified 4-star level, there are not 4-Star Generals, so much as 4-Star positions.
Congress specifies a limited number of positions, some within the Army and others in Joint Commands.
Get selected for the position and your name goes to Congress for confirmation. Get bumped from a position?
You go to a holding detachment run by the Army’s General Officer Management Officer (GOMO) where you have 30 days to get your retirement papers in order or get a new 4-Star position.
Up or Out.
The Drill SGT (df7a09) — 6/28/2010 @ 3:57 pmThat’s different than the judiciary where judges sometimes take senior status instead of retiring. It can be a boondoggle but generally it makes experienced judges available to substitute or take over for sick, vacationing, or overloaded judges. However, I doubt there’s much need for that in the military.
DRJ (d43dcd) — 6/28/2010 @ 4:12 pmHe doesn’t get a “pension”, he gets retirement “pay”, and is subject to recall to active duty at the whim (and needs) of the Government.
AD - RtR/OS! (7166b6) — 6/28/2010 @ 4:23 pmGeneral Officer Management
The Drill SGT (df7a09) — 6/28/2010 @ 4:35 pmOfficerOffice(GOMO)I heard one other wrinkle on the news over the weekend. Perhaps someone with military background can confirm this.
The report said that in order to get the retirement pay (which the report called a pension) and benefits of 4 star rank, the retiree has to serve a certain length of time at that rank–and because McChrystal has not served long enough as a 4 star, he will only get the retirement package given to a 3 star. (Unless the delay in putting through the retirement papers is long enough to make up the difference, I suppose.)
kishnevi (60aae7) — 6/28/2010 @ 5:37 pmGeneral McChrystal voted for Obama. Its clear his judgement is impaired.
Dennis D (e0b996) — 6/28/2010 @ 5:54 pmHe will soon be an analyst on CNN, don’t you think?
Patricia (160852) — 6/28/2010 @ 7:43 pmFrom now on, AD, I’m running my military posts by you first.
DRJ (d43dcd) — 6/28/2010 @ 7:45 pmHey, Don’t rely on me, I was only an E-5.
AD - RtR/OS! (7166b6) — 6/28/2010 @ 11:26 pmI know nuthing!
I was an E-5 like AD. He is being modest.
James (854ea3) — 6/29/2010 @ 6:17 amComment by kishnevi — 6/28/2010 @ 5:37 pm
You’re ‘on target’ on this kish.
AD - RtR/OS! (f22b48) — 6/29/2010 @ 12:12 pmHe’s got enough ‘good time’ at O-9 to retire with 3, but not enough time (even with a delay in putting in his papers, he needs 24-mos with the approval of the SecDef) for 4.
Don’t know what McChrystal’s total service is, but say that he has 30-years in, the difference in 4-star and 3-star retirement will be about $1295/month.
James…No one, and I mean NO ONE, has ever accused me of being modest – but, Thank You.
AD - RtR/OS! (f22b48) — 6/29/2010 @ 12:14 pm