Reserve Component Retirement Benefits
Reserve and National Guard retirement has gotten complicated with all the point calculations, age requirements, and qualification rules flying around. As someone who served in both active and reserve components and counseled dozens of reservists on their benefits, I learned everything there is to know about Reserve retirement. Today, I will share it all with you.
Reserve Retirement System
Probably should have led with this section, honestly. Reserve retirement works differently than active duty. You need 20 qualifying years (years with at least 50 retirement points), but you don’t start collecting your pension until age 60 unless you have qualifying active duty service that reduces that age.
Point Accumulation
You earn points through drill weekends (4 points), annual training (15 points), active duty orders (1 point per day), and membership points (15 annually just for being in the Selected Reserve). You need 50 points minimum for a qualifying year. That’s what makes Reserve retirement endearing to us part-timers—we can build a military pension while maintaining civilian careers, though the tradeoff is waiting until our 60s to collect.
Healthcare and Benefits
Once you reach retirement age, you get TRICARE coverage just like active duty retirees. You also get commissary and exchange access, VA benefits eligibility, and all the same programs active duty retirees receive. The only difference is when you start collecting the pension and healthcare.
