Use our free retirement calculator to estimate your monthly and annual payments.
All active duty servicemembers and Reserve Component (RC) members are eligible for military retirement as long as they meet certain requirements. However, the eligibility for RC military retirement differs from that for active duty military retirement, so we have different calculators for each group.
Calculate active duty military retirement pay on this page or simply click the “Active Duty” button under “Status at retirement” on this calculator.
Across the Reserve Component, the eligibility for retirement is the same for all members.
Members of the Reserve Component include:
If you’re in the Reserve Component, you must earn 20 qualifying years of service to qualify for retirement. To have a qualifying year in the RC, you must earn 50 points, commonly referred to as a Good Year.
Additionally, as part of the RC, you cannot claim retirement pay until age 60 unless you serve enough active duty time to earn an early Guard/Reserve Retirement. Since the military
Reserve members earn points for various activities, such as drills, training, and active-duty service. For every day of active-duty service, you’ll receive one point. Read our detailed Guard/Reserve point guide here for a full breakdown of how to earn more retirement points.
Each point contributes to your retirement pay calculation. To find your points statement, use the following table.
| Reserve Component Branch | Where to Find Your Points Statement |
|---|---|
| Army National Guard | Go to IPPS-A Landing Page (army.mil). Select “HR Professional,” then select “View Retirement Points.” |
| Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard | Go to https://www.my.af.mil. Navigate to the Virtual Military Personnel Flight (vMPF), select “Self-Service Actions,” select “Personal Data,” and click “ANG/USAFR Point Credit Summary Inquiry (PCFARS).” |
| Army Reserve | Review your “Chronicle Retirement Point Statement DA 5016” at www.hrc.army.mil. Select the “My Record” tab to review. Note: CAC card required. |
| Marine Corps Reserve | Review your “Career Retirement Credit Report” at https://mol.tfs.usmc.mil/mol |
| Navy Reserve | Review your “Annual Retirement Point Record” (ARPR) at https://www.bol.navy.mil/ARPR/ |
| Coast Guard Reserve | Go to https://portal.direct-access.us. Click “My Reserve Points Statement” under the “Employee View” menu. |
At retirement, the total number of accumulated points is divided by 360 to convert them into equivalent years of service. This figure is then used in the retirement pay formula, which varies depending on the military retirement plan you are eligible for.
Outside of the eligibility requirements and how pay is calculated, most retirement benefits are fairly similar between active duty members and members of the Guard/Reserve. To learn more about the impacts on your military retirement pay, like how to figure out your retirement plan and how taxes will affect your retirement pay, see the following links:
The biggest differences between active duty and Reserve military retirement come down to the points system and when you are eligible to receive retirement pay and other benefits. While active duty service gets you access to military retirement faster, aspects of active duty service may not interest you. Whereas being in the Reserves will give you access to those strong VA benefits, but also allow you the opportunity to seek professional growth in the civilian workforce sector.
Hi Aaron, Just plug in your numbers: High-36 Retirement: (total number of points / 360) * average highest 36 months of pay * 0.025 Blended Retirement System: (total number of points / 360) * average highest 36 months of pay * 0.02 That should give you a rough estimate. You can also contact your branch of service’s personnel or human resources office and they should be able to provide you with a retirement estimate. Keep in mind any estimate will be made with the most recent pay tables, while your actual retirement will be based on the three most recent pay tables at the time you retire. So, it’s very likely your retirement pay will be higher than any provided estimates. Best wishes!
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