In an effort to honor its contracts with troops throughout a planned slim down of its forces, the Marine Corps will offer early retirement with benefits to members with at least 15 years of service, according to the Stars and Stripes.
As it did at the end of World War II and the Vietnam War, the Marine Corps is planning to reduce its numbers as the war in Afghanistan comes to a close. The Pentagon has announced the number of Marines will go from its current 202,000 troops down to 182,100 by the end of fiscal 2016.
Marine spokeswoman Maj. Shawn Haney told the Stars and Stripes that Marines, both enlisted members and officers, will be offered early retirement with benefits if they have between 15 and 20 years of service. Haney said the Marines Corps is doing its best to honor the contracts it made with troops:
“We’re going to be doing this for four years, starting now. We’re trying to do the right thing by everybody.”
