Legislation has been introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives to ensure Coast Guard members receive the same 20-year retirement benefits as other branches of the military.
Reps. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., and Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, introduced the Coast Guard Separation Parity Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at establishing “equal protections” for members of the Coast Guard by creating parity with the other armed forces.
The legislation would ensure that enlisted Coast Guard members who have served a minimum of 18 years would not be forced to depart the service two years shy of reaching a 20-year retirement. The proposal would provide them with the same protection and benefits as members of other armed forces.
Currently, Coast Guardsmen are not entitled to the same protections, which leaves them vulnerable to separation before the 20-year mark.
The Coast Guard is unique from other branches as it operates under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime and is the only branch of the armed forces with both civilian and military responsibilities. It has a workforce of over 57,000, including active duty, reserve and civilian personnel.
The lawmakers argue that the legislation would ensure “experienced personnel can complete their 20 years of service strengthens retention, morale, and fairness.”
“After years of dedicated service to our country, every member of our armed forces deserves the right to retire with the benefits they’ve earned – including the Coast Guard,” said Kiggans. “The Coast Guard Separation Parity Act ensures that the brave men and women who wear the uniform in our nation’s maritime force receive the same protections as their military counterparts in other branches. This is about fairness, recognizing the sacrifices of our Coast Guard, and ensuring these servicemembers are not forced out just before reaching retirement eligibility.”
The bipartisan legislation has received the support of several military-affiliated organizations.
