In most cases, Airmen and Guardians who have completed 20 years of active service are eligible to receive Retired Pay at the end of their career. The Date of Initial Entry into Military Service (DIEMS) determines which of the three retirement systems a service member falls under. Retired Pay amount and requirements depend on whether a service member qualifies for active duty retired pay or non-regular retired pay (Reserve Component).

In general, Service members who have accumulated 20 years of active service are eligible for Retired Pay when they retire from the military.

The active duty military retirement plan is a defined benefit plan that is based on the service member's years of service (YOS) and the basic pay being earned near the end of the service member's career. To qualify for regular retirement, the service member must complete at least 20 years of active duty or equivalent.

There are three methods for computing non-disability Retired Pay depending on the service member's Date of Initial Entry into Military Service. The highlights of these three retirement plans follow:

Final Pay Plan: For service members who entered military service prior to September 8, 1980, retired pay is computed using 50% of basic pay after 20 years of service plus an additional 2.5% for each additional year. For example, a service member who retires with 24 years of service will receive retired pay equivalent to 60% of final basic pay (50% +10% (2.5% x 4 years)). Final Pay Plan also includes a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) - usually annually.

High-36 Plan: For service members who entered military service between September 8, 1980, and July 31, 1986, retired pay is computed using 50% of the average of the "high-36" (36 months) of basic pay after 20 years of service, plus an additional 2.5% for each additional year. The example for a "high-36" participant with 24 years of service will be the same as the Final Pay Plan (50% +10% (2.5% x 4 years), however the multiplier (60%) is applied to the average basic pay for the highest 36 months rather than the final basic pay. As with the Final Pay Plan, the High-36 Plan includes a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) - usually annually.

Career Status Bonus (CSB)/REDUX: Service members who entered military service on or after August 1, 1986, have a choice of two retirement options: (1) retire under the "high-36" plan described above, or (2) retire under the provisions of the Military Retirement Reform Act (MRRA), commonly known as REDUX, and receive a $30,000 Career Status Bonus (CSB) after 15 years of service with an agreement to complete 20 years of service. This retirement system is completely voluntary.

For service members who elect the REDUX option, retired pay is computed using 40% of the "high-36" average basic pay after 20 years of service, with an additional 3.5% for each additional year. The example for an CSB/REDUX participant with 24 years of service will be a retirement pay equal to 54% of the "high-36" average basic pay (40% + 14% (3.5% x 4 years)). As with the other two retired pay plans, this plan includes a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) - usually paid annually - however, COLA is 1 percentage point less than the normal full Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase applied to regular retired pay programs.

A feature unique to CSB/REDUX is an adjustment to the retired pay computation when a service member reaches age 62. The first adjustment "resets" the multiplier to what it would have been under the "high-36" plan on date of retirement (60% in the example used), and the second adjustment applies the full CPI for every retirement year to compute a new base retirement salary. Future COLAs will still be at COLA minus 1%.

Note: In accordance with Section 631 of P.L. 114-92, Section 354 of Title 37, U.S.C., was amended to discontinue authorization of any new payments of the Career Status Bonus (CSB/REDUX) as of January 1, 2018. No new CSB agreement may be entered into after December 31, 2017, and, accordingly, no service member may elect a reduction in that service member's retirement multiplier (i.e., convert to the REDUX retirement plan) as a consequence of electing a CSB after such date. An agreement to elect a reduced retirement multiplier in exchange for a CSB made on or prior to December 31, 2017, remains in effect. Payments pursuant to a CSB agreement entered into on or before December 31, 2017, may continue to be made on or after January 1, 2018. Letters to notify currently-serving active duty members of their eligibility to make a CSB election was discontinued as of July 1, 2017.

Blended Retirement System: The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016, Public Law 114-92, enacted 25 November 2015, created a new retirement system for the Uniformed Services. This new retirement system will apply to all service members who enter the Uniformed Services with a Date of Initial Entry into Military Service (DIEMS) of 1 January 2018 or later. Referred to as the "Blended Retirement System," this new system is a combination of a defined benefit plan, similar to predecessor plans that pay monthly retired pay, plus contributions to the Federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).

The Blended Retirement System (BRS) combines elements of the legacy retirement system with benefits similar to those offered in many private-sector 401(k) plans. The following are the key features of the Blended Retirement System (BRS):

• Defined Benefit: Monthly retired pay for life after at least 20 years of service (so if you retire at 20 years of service, you will get 40% of your highest 36 months of base pay).  Retired pay will be calculated as follows: (Years of creditable service x 2.0%) x average of highest 36 months basic pay.

• Defined Contribution: Government automatic and matching contributions of up to 5% of basic pay to your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) account.
• Continuation Pay: A one-time, midcareer bonus in exchange for an agreement to perform additional obligated service.
• Lump Sum: An option to receive a discounted portion of your monthly retired pay as a lump sum distribution at retirement (25% or 50%).

Prior to retirement ensure DFAS Retired and Annuitant Pay has a registered email address for you in myPay, do not use your .mil account, it expires upon retirement. Use myPay to check and make changes to your pay account to include Retiree Account Statement (RAS) which includes monthly and yearly RAS, Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC), Pay Changes to include Allotments, Beneficiaries and Direct Deposit, Tax information to include Federal Withholding, State Withholding, and End of Year Retiree Tax Statement (1099R).

Access the My Air Force Benefits calculator to calculate your retirement pay:
https://www.myairforcebenefits.us.af.mil/Benefit-Calculators/Retirement

Defense Finance and Accounting Service site at:
https://www.dfas.mil

Air Force’s Personnel Center Retirement site:
https://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/retirement/

Blended Retirement System:
https://militarypay.defense.gov/BlendedRetirement/

Access the My Air Force Benefits Blended Retirement Calculator:
https://www.myairforcebenefits.us.af.mil/Benefit-Calculators/BRS-Comparison-Calculator 

Retired Pay Chart:
https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Retirement/

Gray Area (National Guard and Reserve) Retirees Now Have a New Avenue to Stay Connected: A New Kind of myPay Account:
https://www.dfas.mil/RetiredMilitary/newsevents/newsletter/Gray-Area-Retirees-New-Avenue-to-Stay-Connected/