Congress in 2003 fully funded the military retirement credit for U.S. Postal Service employees by asking the postal service to pick up the cost. If we were to suggest otherwise we would undermine the desires of Congress (“Health Costs and Other Postal Fairy Tales,” May 23).
I never proposed the postal service pay costs resulting from military retirement. Payments to military retirees are paid by the Department of Defense for men and women who meet length of service requirements. Those not eligible for retirement are not compensated, as demonstrated by the many men and women who have served their country and receive no pension. However, one of the perks of taking a position with the postal service is that pension credit is given for time served.
What I was addressing were the pension costs that arise because of employment with the postal service and the resulting credit for past military service. Private sector employers are required to pay all the costs resulting from employing an individual. In some companies such costs include giving employee discounts on the company’s products or granting paid time off for certain educational opportunities. For postal employees, such costs include granting additional credit for past military service if applicable.
Dan G. Blair, Acting Director, U.S. Office of Personnel Management
