Military Retirement Calculator
Compare High-3, BRS, Final Pay, and REDUX retirement systems. Includes active duty, Reserve/Guard, and medical retirement paths with TSP integration, COLA projections, SBP costs, and state tax optimization.
Understanding Military Retirement Systems
High-3 vs BRS
High-3 uses a 2.5% multiplier per year of service applied to your highest 36 months of base pay. BRS reduces the multiplier to 2.0% but adds a TSP match up to 5% of base pay plus continuation pay at 12 years. For a 20-year career, High-3 provides a 50% pension while BRS provides 40% plus TSP savings.
Reserve/Guard Retirement
Reserve component retirement is based on points accumulated throughout your career. Each year of satisfactory service earns at least 50 points (15 membership + 35 drill days). Active duty days after January 28, 2008 can reduce the eligibility age below 60 by 90 days per qualifying period.
COLA and Lifetime Impact
Military retirement pay receives annual COLA adjustments tied to CPI. Over a 25-year retirement, even a 0.5% difference in COLA rate compounds into tens of thousands of dollars. REDUX receives reduced COLA (CPI minus 1%) until age 62, significantly lowering lifetime income.
Legal References
High-3 formula
10 U.S.C. § 1409Final Pay
10 U.S.C. § 1406REDUX
10 U.S.C. § 1409(b)Reserve retirement
10 U.S.C. § 12731Medical (Ch. 61)
10 U.S.C. § 1201TRUSTED BASE INTEL. SINCE 1966.
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