If I have six (good) years in the National Guard, followed by 20 years active duty will my pension reflect 20 years of service? Or 26?

2018-11-27T23:22:49-05:00

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Nov 27 at 2018 11:29 PM

2018-11-27T23:29:41-05:00

Points earned from the Guard service should boost your pension when you attain age 60!

Response by SFC Andrew Miller made Nov 27 at 2018 11:54 PM

2018-11-27T23:54:08-05:00

I don't know what the actual formula is, but my two good years from the Guard added about .5% to my active duty retirement.

Response by MSgt Michael Bischoff made Nov 28 at 2018 12:04 PM

2018-11-28T12:04:49-05:00

Pay is based on actual time in service, so those 5 years should add on. Look at your current LES, what does it say for time in service for pay? That is what you will be based on upon Active duty retirement

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Nov 28 at 2018 2:23 PM

2018-11-28T14:23:05-05:00

I believe you just get credit for any active duty time during those six years, IET, AT, any full time schools, and any Federal active duty. for active retirement. those days divided by 365 will give you the amount of time it adds to your retirement. You get 2.5 percent per year served.

Response by Cpl Robert Thomson made Nov 28 at 2018 6:24 PM

2018-11-28T18:24:14-05:00

Should be 26

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 28 at 2018 6:29 PM

2018-11-28T18:29:42-05:00

I know that my pension will reflect 26 years of service. What I don't know is if my pension will be 50% of my base pay, or if it will be more due to my six years in the guard, or will it be adjusted from 50% to 65% once I turn 60.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 28 at 2018 6:43 PM

2018-11-28T18:43:01-05:00

You will receive an active duty retirement so only your 20 years will count. While your LES will say 26 years for pay, your retirement is based off your BASD. Any active time during your reserve period counts towards your active service.

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 28 at 2018 11:40 PM

2018-11-28T23:40:12-05:00

I had a similar experience when I moved from the Guard to AD Navy. Only your time on orders will be included in calculating your BASD but all of your retirement points count once you've attained retirement. For me, I gained active duty with 2.5 yrs added to me BASD, but once I hit twenty I'll effectively have ~22.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2023 9:46 AM

2023-07-31T09:46:19-04:00

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

Retired Pay Base
There are two methods for determining the retired pay base. They are the final pay method and the high-36 month average method. The final pay method, as the name implies, establishes the retired pay base equal to final basic pay. The high-36 method is the average of the highest 36 months of basic pay divided by 36. This is generally the last 3 years of service and is sometimes called high-3. The method used depends upon when the member first entered military service.

The method is determined by DIEMS (Date of Initial Entry to Military Service) or DIEUS (Date of Initial Entry to Uniformed Services). The date a member first entered uniformed service in any capacity establishes DIEMS. This date is fixed---it does not change. Departing the military and rejoining does not affect DIEMS.

Some individuals have unique circumstances that complicate determining their DIEMS. Here are a few examples:

The DIEMS for Service Academy graduates who entered an Academy with no prior service is the date they reported to the Service Academy, not the date they graduated.
Beginning an ROTC scholarship program or enlisting as a Reserve in the Senior ROTC program sets the DIEMS, not the graduation or commissioning date.
Members who entered the military, separated, and then rejoined the military have a DIEMS based on entering the first period of military service.
The DIEMS for members who enlisted under the delayed entry program is when they entered the delayed entry program, not when they initially reported for duty.
For those who joined the Reserves and later joined the active component, their DIEMS is the date they joined the Reserves.

Retirement

Military Pay and Benefits Website sponsored by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness