President Obama has announced he’ll be supporting broad changesto military benefits, including retirement and healthcare.

The Stars and Stripes newspaper reported this week that Obamahas said he will provide suggestions to Congress by the end of themonth, and that they will be based on the recommendations of theMilitary Compensation and Retirement ModernizationCommission.

The commission was given the job by lawmakers of finding a wayto cut personnel costs.

Among other things, the commission recommended changing themilitary’s 20-year pension system by cutting payouts andintroducing a 401(k)-type option. The 401(k) option is supposed tohelp address the problem of service members who leave the militarybefore completing 20 years of active-duty service.

Under the current system, the minimum amount of service requiredfor a retirement benefit is 20 years. However, according toSecretary of Defense Ashton Carter, 80 percent of service membersdo not stay that long and those who leave before completing 20years receive nothing at retirement. That takes a toll on bothrecruitment and retention. However, there has been no word on howthe Department of Defense might fund a new 401(k) system.

Other changes Obama is said to favor are the replacement of theexisting Tricare medical coverage with a variety of privateinsurance plans — the commission suggested something similar to theFederal Employees Health Benefits Program — as well as changes tothe commissary system and other military compensationchanges.

According to the report, Obama said in a letter to Congress, “Ibelieve the recommendations are an important step forward inprotecting the long-term viability of the all-volunteer force,improving quality-of-life for service members and their families,and ensuring the fiscal sustainability of the military compensationand retirement systems.”

He intends to send his proposals by April 30, and to ask thatthey be passed without delay.

The panel spent close to two years on its research anddeliberations before coming up with the proposals it offered inJanuary. Its suggestions have met with mixed reactions amongmilitary members and their families, although support on CapitolHill has been broad.