摘要：IN TERMS of trauma and waste of human potential, there is mueh similarity between divorce and the military retirement system. Some of the rationale behind our present retirement policy is to make room for young and physieally vigorous personnel. Some men, in passing through the “dangerous forties,” are prone to east off their faithful partner of 20-odd years and run off with a younger and more seduetive model. One suspects that the Defense Department, like the errant male, may also be interested in new alliances with those who are unaware of weaknesses and don t know where the mistakes are recorded. Economically, the retiree, like the ex-wife, is “bought off” with monthly payments as compensation for past Services. In both cases, divorce and retirement, the implication is that the individual cast off is of no further value to the party doing the “ridding.”.
