    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [August 2, 2005]
    [Pages 1294-1295]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on the Tenth Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation
    August 2, 2005

    Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense

    Subject: Tenth Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation

        Consistent with section 1008(b) of title 37, United States Code,
    every 4 years the President directs a complete review of the principles
    and concepts of the compensation system for members of the uniformed
    services. You shall conduct the tenth such Quadrennial Review of
    Military Compensation as my Executive Agent.
        The Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force in the Department of
    Defense; the Coast Guard in the Department of Homeland Security; the
    commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
    Administration in the Department of Commerce; and the commissioned corps
    of the Public Health Service in the Department of Health and Human
    Services perform important roles in the protection of the American
    people and advancement of their interests at home and abroad. To
    continue to recruit and retain highly qualified personnel for the
    uniformed services as they transform themselves to meet new challenges,
    the departments concerned must offer, in addition to challenging and
    rewarding duties, compensation appropriate to the services rendered to
    the Nation. The departments also must apply the substantial taxpayer
    resources devoted to uniformed services compensation in the most
    effective manner possible.
        In the review of the principles and concepts of the compensation
    system, particular attention should be paid to:
           (1)   ensuring that personnel in the uniformed services have the
                abilities and experience necessary to meet the challenges
                expected in the future, especially with respect to the War
                on Terror, defense of the homeland, and public warning and
                health in emergencies;
           (2)   maintaining the quality of life for members of the
                uniformed services and their families;
           (3)   the potential for consolidation of special pays and bonuses
                into fewer, broader, and more flexible authorities and for
                the substantial reduction or elimination of community-
                specific continuation and career pays in favor of more
                flexible and effective compensation alternatives;
           (4)   the potential need for enactment of broader and more
                flexible authorities for recruitment and retention of
                uniformed services personnel; and
           (5)   the implications of changing expectations of present and
                potential members of the uniformed services relating to
                retirement.
        Please ensure that the Secretaries of Commerce, Health and Human
    Services, and Homeland Security participate as appropriate in the
    conduct of the review. I look forward to reviewing your findings and
    recommendations in this important undertaking.

                                                              George W. Bush

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