For the government’s budget to come under control, there are a lot of proposals on the table. One recent proposal is a five year freeze on the DoD budget (not including overseas operations) which will cut programs like the F-35, V-22, Virginia Class submarines and ballistic missile defense. Another source of cost savings being postulated is cutting the military force, reducing their pay, ceasing COLA increases for military retirees and raising copays for TRICARE medical treatment. Panelists argue that military personnel pay raises have been ahead of their counterparts in the civilian sector in recent years.