Last updated: March 2025
Bottom Line Up Front
Reserve retired pay is a proportional version of Active Duty retired pay, and payments do not start until age 60*. It covers members of the Reserves and National Guard. The major factors that determine its value are:
1) your retired rank for pay,
2) your total days of duty (points) during your military career, and
3) which retirement plan you are in: Blended Retirement System (BRS) or the legacy High-3 system.
To estimate your monthly pension payment with just these 3 pieces of information, use our simple calculator.
*you can reduce the payment start age, potentially down to age 50, by being activated as a Reservist after 2008. If you are early- or mid-career and trying to decide whether to stick it out, the payment start age is not a large factor in the value of the pension.
Table of Contents
- Differences between Active Duty Retirement and Reserve Retirement
- Qualifying for Reserve Retirement
- Calculating Your Reserve Retired Pay
- Other Considerations
- Using our Calculators
Military reserve retirement, officially known in US law as “non-regular retirement,” covers the Reserve components of the military (including National Guard), and differs significantly from active duty retirement. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the Reserve retirement system, with a focus on the Blended Retirement System (BRS) but also covering the legacy “High 3” system.
Differences between Active Duty Retirement and Reserve Retirement
Key differences between reserve and active duty retirement are:
| Reserve | Active Duty | |
| Eligibility | At least 20 qualifying years | 20 or more years of active-duty service |
| Calculation Basis | Total retirement points | Total active-duty years |
| Start of Payments | Age 60 (or earlier with qualifying service) | Immediately upon retirement |
BRS uses a 2.0% multiplier and High-3 uses a 2.5% multiplier, regardless of whether you qualify for Reserve or Active retirement.
Reduced Age Retirement: You may qualify to receive your retirement pay before age 60. This is known as “reduced age retirement” and requires qualifying active duty service after January 28, 2008. Your pension will start 3 months earlier for each qualifying 90-day period of active duty as a reservist. Regular Active duty time does not count.
Qualifying for Reserve Retirement
To qualify for reserve retirement, you need 20 qualifying years, also known as “good years” toward retirement.
- You get 1 “good year” for each:
- Year of Active Duty
- Year as a Reservist/NG in which you earn 50+ points
- This year resets based on your Retirement Year End (RYE), *not* fiscal year!
Read more about Retirement Points here.
Calculating your Reserve Retired Pay
By estimating your total career points and retired pay base, you can estimate your monthly retired pay.
Retired Pay Base is the average of your highest 36 months of base pay. If you’re early in your career, taking the max pay for your planned retirement rank is a useful rough estimate.
Other Considerations
- Healthcare coverage –
- Reservists qualify for Tricare Reserve Select (TRS) while actively serving – a very valuable benefit
- Gray Area Retirees (after retiring but before retired pay starts) have the option to use Tricare Retired Reserve – a more expensive version of TRS
- Upon reaching age 60, retired reservists have the exact same healthcare benefits as active duty retirees
- Survivor Benefit Plan – an optional benefit that ensures your spouse will receive a portion of your retired pay if they outlive you
- VA Disability Pay –
- If you are VA disability rated 50% or higher once retired pay starts, there is no reduction to either payment
- If you are below 50%, the amount of your monthly VA payment is subtracted from your retirement pay, unless you qualify for Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC)
- For more information: https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Retirement/Concurrent.aspx
Using our Calculators
My Reserve Retirement calculators provide an easy way to estimate your retired pay, without requiring a lot of information. The official DoD calculators are very detailed – which is helpful if you are close to retirement but confusing if you are early in your career. Official DoD calculators are located here.
By signing up for a free My Reserve Retirement membership, you can access all of our retirement calculators, benefit resources, and classes. MRR Member Area
Retirement Resources
- Army – https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Retirement
- Air Force – https://www.retirees.af.mil/
- Navy – https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Retirement/
- Marine Corps –
https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Manpower-Management/Separation-and-Retirements-Branch/Retired-Services-and-Pay/ - Coast Guard – https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/ras/
- Space Force – https://www.spaceforce.com/guardian-benefits/military
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