[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

[[Page 1295]]