September 19, 2014

The congressionally chartered Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission (MCRMC) recently started sending out targeted surveys as part of its ongoing review of military compensation and benefit programs. The survey is designed to help the commission understand and assess the value and preferences of the compensation and benefits received.   

MOAA received several inquiries from members selected to participate in the survey, wondering if the survey is legitimate or to be trusted. The survey is official, and MOAA encourages people who want to make their preferences known to take it.   

Feedback received from servicemembers who took the survey has been mixed. Several sections of the survey are confusing or have poorly phrased questions. If you have experienced similar issues while taking the survey, there are two options for you:  

•           There is a comment section at the end of the survey in which you can provide feedback

•           You can email the MCRMC directly by visiting their website  

MOAA raised these concerns with the commission, and noted that the line of questioning may raise doubts about the validity of the results.   

If you have not been selected to participate in the survey, MOAA still encourages you to voice your opinion about military pay and benefits. The more feedback the commission receives, the better it will be able to effectively conduct its review.  

The commission is scheduled to report its findings to Congress in February 2015.