Can someone explain national guard retirement? I've been told different things?

2LT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 19:41:42 -0500

2LT with about 4.5 years in, with 4 of those years getting E3, E4, and cadet. I plan to ride out the 20 years, mainly because you cant beat tricare over anything else. Here's the scenario:
20 years purely M-day without any deployments or rotations (to be conservative) and the only "active duty" time i get was BCT/AIT, BOLC, CCC, and maybe ILE...

I was told that once I REFRAD at 20 years, i will get a very small stipend equivalent to a MUTA 4 drill weekend every month until I'm 60, which then I'll get the active duty pension. I was also told I can continue to pay tricare reserve select until I'm 60 and then get the free tricare. By 6 years TIS, ill be eligible for the VA home loan (again, no deployments to be conservative)

Is there anything else I may be missing or mislead? This information came from our brigade recruiting and retention NCO. I appreciate your help!

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Dec 23 at 2025 10:24 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 22:24:00 -0500

As far as I know, there is no pay until 60 with 20 years and at least 50 points per year. People may be confusing the continuation incentive available with the blended retirement between year 8 and 12 of service. You can calculate your pay by dividing your total point you get for retirement. 100 points a year equal 2000 points divided by 360=5.56 years for pay. 2.5% x 5.56=13.9% of you top three average base pay. I assume you need to make Major at least to retire, current pay $10,509 a month, so about $1460 a month,
A 100 points a year is low for an Officer, BTW.