Bob Kerrey: “I welcome a discussion in the Senate about military pay and retirement benefits. Review of these and other quality of…”

“I welcome a discussion in the Senate about military pay and retirement benefits. Review of these and other quality of life issues in today's military is long overdue. The defense debate in recent years has centered on equipment procurement, readiness issues, and the wisdom of our nation's troop deployments and foreign policy. This year we should turn to consider the men and women who dedicate their lives to keeping our nation safe. Military service requires valor and sacrifice. It attracts a certain type of individual, a person with the character to lead, the resolve to complete a task however difficult and demanding, and the willingness to sacrifice his or her life for fellow soldiers and country. For those reasons, the decision to join the military has always been unlike the decision to join any other profession. The unparalleled strength of our economy in recent years, and the growth of new technologies and industries, further complicate the decision to serve in the military. Just as our society has entered a new age of technological change, the United States Military has also entered a new era of digital warfare, where the machinery of battle is more reliant upon silicon chips than hard steel. To keep these processors and equipment running, our military needs to attract and retain highly skilled, intelligent men and women.”