The Military Coalition (TMC), a grouping of more than 30 associations that support quality-of-life issues for troops, veterans, retirees, and their families, has set a goal for 2007 of adjusting active-duty and reserve military pay upwards with an ultimate intent of matching private-sector wages.

They plan to ask for a 3.5% raise effective 1 JAN 08 which would be a half percentage point higher than equivalent pay raises in the private sector.

This would narrow the 4% gap that remains in the wake of the 2.2% across-the-board raise and certain targeted raises in January, according to TMC.

The gap would continue to close if Congress should re-establish a previous formula that kept military pay increases a half percentage point above the private sector.

The Defense Department currently is planning for only a 3% hike in 2008.