BRYAN MCGRATH: The military retirement system we have right now is tied to a late 19th century garrison army and it doesn't address modern concerns. I think they need to be reformed in a way that makes more sense to the times.</s>RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: That is Bryan McGrath. He spent 21 years in the U.S. Navy and retired from the service as a commander when he was just 43. Though he pulls in a military pension now, McGrath supports making changes to military retirement benefits.</s>BRYAN MCGRATH: I believe that someone in their prime earning years can and should be earning money elsewhere to supplement what they get from their military retirement.</s>RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: McGrath would like some exceptions made for those who were wounded while serving their country. But he says that for most service members</s>BRYAN MCGRATH: I think giving up 1 percent for your working years is acceptable, if our legislative leaders recognize that, OK, these people gave. It's time to start making common sense reforms elsewhere.
Bryan McGrath spent 21 years in the United States Navy before retiring. He now works as a defense contractor, and he believes that it's not necessarily a bad thing that military pensions are changing. NPR's Rachel Martin reports.