Absolutely, and that is a question that seems to range in the answers you receive. I have heard responses during conversation and OPD sessions that ranged from “their personal life is their personal life” to “I would ask for their credit score and see their financial strength.” Neither of those was my opinions but showed me that the topic can get interesting responses.  I think there is a medium that we must reach and it is not to be micromanaging a solider’s life, or to be nosey, but to ensure they stay out of financial trouble.

For the blended retirement system, my feeling as I start preparing to move out of TRADOC into a FORSCOM unit is that I don’t want this to just turn into some “check the block” mandatory training. It is a very important decision with a lot of questions to be asked. I also understand it would be impossible for me to sit down with every eligible soldier in my unit to talk at length with them and then refer them to on post resources that are the professionals in this situation.

I am sure we will all find a solution in our own style of leadership.

To share the links that are available in case others aren’t aware of them:
Blended Retirement System (BRS) courses are currently available on JKO at https://jkodirect.jten.mil/Atlas2/page/login/Login.jsf (Main page).  The available courses and direct links to each are as follows:

Leader Training to Introduce the Blended Retirement System (BRS) For the Uniformed Services (.5 hr) (Recommended for all leaders) https://jkodirect.jten.mil/html/COI.xhtml?course_prefix=J3O&course_number=P-US1330</p>

Blended Retirement System (BRS) Financial Counselor-Educator Course (1 hr) (Recommended for Retirement Services Officers as well) https://jkodirect.jten.mil/html/COI.xhtml?course_prefix=J3O&course_number=P-US1331</p>

Blended Retirement System (BRS) OPT-IN Course (2 hrs)  (for those who are eligible to make an Opt-in decision) https://jkodirect.jten.mil/html/COI.xhtml?course_prefix=J3O&course_number=P-US1332</p>

The leader training took me about 15 minutes of reading about the new system and has some downloadable PDF files that are useful. Only 10 months to make the decision.