Why? If someone chose to stay in the military for 20+ years, they made that decision voluntarily. If they did not realize that decision would impact their career progression after they retired from the military, they were dreaming. I got out at the 12 year mark. Should I be complaining because I got no retirement ID to shop on bases or get military discounts, or military retirement with it's pay and medical benefits? I gave up the military retirement, and am now a mid-seniority capt. at UPS - If I had stayed for 20 and earned military retirement, I'd be a junior capt. Someone just a couple of years behind me might not ever make capt., some simply because of timing which they had no control over, some because of prior decisions.