Guard and Reserve members have a legitimate gripe about personnel and retirement systems that don't fit today's needs. Programs built 50 years ago envisioned reserve call-ups only in rare emergencies.

No more. Guard and Reserve forces now fill a big share of daily mission requirements. Tens of thousands serve actively every day, with no end in sight. We must rebalance reserve service incentives with demands.

But that can be tricky. Reserve incentive upgrades can't undermine active duty retention. That fear, and cost concerns, have stalled proposals to lower the reserve retirement age - so far. Congress ordered Pentagon input by this summer, but we've seen no proposals yet.

The troops are getting restless, and with good reason. Barring a sizeable increase in active duty forces - which appears unlikely - we think updating the reserve retirement system is essential.

The Pentagon must look seriously - and quickly - at how to do that intelligently. If Defense leaders fail to recommend positive action, they can't beef about others who do.

Col. Steve Strobridge, USAF-Ret., director of MOAA government relations