The uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act is an old and antiquated law.  Enacted in 1983, it allows states to divide retiree pay of military service members and award it to former spouses, for the rest of their lives.  

The design made sense in the 1980s. There simply weren't the resources to continue your education or progress your career.  Today, we have the internet. We have access to numerous programs on military installations to assist the advancement of spouses during the service member's career.  Too often the spouses get used to staying at home and deciding not to work since it is easier and they know there is a golden parachute at the end of the trail if the marriage fails. 

Often times the spouse does take care of the children, but that is not an excuse in today's society to give up on growing educationally or progressing at a career.  It is a choice.  I know many people whose spouses attained education and career goals while there were children living in the home.  

The practice has to stop.  Our hard working men and women in uniform put themselves in harm's way and deserve to receive their retirement pay.  

If this act should change, it should be reflected to be limited to a certain number of months after the divorce is final, but please repeal or change it so there is a time limit on how long a spouse can receive payments, or repeal it in it's entirety to force people to be responsible for their actions.  

I lost almost everything in my divorce.  My entire TSP (401k like) account, 40% of my retirement for life and am stuck paying the medical and dental premiums for 10 years.  Please pass this petition along.  Let's get it signed.  I am being penalized for trying to be successful since I got a job when I retired from the Army.  My former spouse is reaping the benefits of my hard work and sacrifice after asking for years to get an education, secure employment so we can be secure post retirement.