Regarding Retirement, how does the Army Reserve Retirement differ from Active Duty? How about AGR?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 15:48:51 -0500

So I'm a 68W SGT(P) waiting on an ALC date. When my contract is up I will be sitting at 10 years TIS. I want to do the 20, but unless I can somehow manage to swing Ft Huachuca and retire out of there it seems highly unlikely, (I have a son I have shared 50/50 physical custody with who lives in Tucson. 1hr45mins away from Huachuca)

Currently I am a DA Select recruiter working out of Tucson, Az. set to ETS Feb 2021. My question is how does my 10 years TIS roll over if I were to switch over to Army Reserve and how does the retirement differ Active Duty? Should I look more into applying for AGR?

I have a basic understanding of the good year/bad year for AR, but not sure how my 10 years Active Duty plays a part.

I have a few years left but I don't want to be caught up last minute. Appreciate the insight and advice.

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Jan 11 at 2018 4:01 PM

1SG Dennis Hicks — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 16:01:02 -0500

As someone that had almost 11 years AD before moving over to the reserves I can say this. Each year of AD will be 365/366 points in the Reserves. so you add that to your weekend Battle assemblies every 4hrs equals 1 point so for a MUTA 4 you get 4 points, each day on AD orders for schools or Annual training is 1 point per day. You used to get points I believe it was 1 point for every 5 hrs of correspondence courses. Also any additional AD either for training or AT is 1 point. You need a certain number of points a year I believe its 48 for a good year (I have been retired for 5 years so I may not be 100% correct) So in reality you need 10 more good years in the Reserves to be considered a gray area retiree. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND NOT RETIRING UNTIL YOU GET YOUR 20 YEAR LETTER IN YOUR HANDS AND ALL YOUR POINTS CHECKED AND DOUBLE CHECKED. Reservist Normally get the retirement pay at 60 unless they did AD deployments after Jan 2008 then for every 90 days on AD in each Physical year you get 90 days off your pay date (Earlier pay). You can only stay until you are 60 if you are not MRD'd earlier due to rank or PULHES. Normally a Reservist will have around 3500 points at 20 years I have around 7500 due to AD time and 20 years in the Reserves. Hope this helped but there are some better and more knowledgeable folks on here that may steer you better. I haven't a clue about AGR but the NCO's I know so its cut throat for promotions and postings.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2018 6:08 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 18:08:03 -0500

I think these 1SG Dennis Hicks did a great job of explaining the retirement system so I'll just comment very quickly on the AGR system. I was AGR for Reserves 9 years when I was enlisted. Some folks say it's the best kept secret in the Army, but it's not without it's unique challenges (for some stuff you belong to the Active side of the house, other times the Reserve side, at times you feel like a red headed step child). On the Reserve side you aren't guaranteed to stay in one area of even one state. When I first came into the program there were folks staying in the same position for around a decade. From my understanding they don't allow that anymore. Your PCS timeline is closer to that of your AD counterparts. I had 3 duty stations in 9 years. If I would have stayed in there's a good chance I would have picked up my E-7 and I would have been PCSing again very soon. My first two assignments were in the same state (although not a state I necessarily wanted to be in), but the last one was on the other side of the country. The NG AGR system works differently though. From what I understand there are ways to directly transition from AD to the Reserve AGR system without any break in service, but I believe with the NG AGR system you have to be a member of your respective state's NG before you can apply to those positions. I could be wrong on that last part though so don't take my word on it.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jan 11 at 2018 6:24 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 18:24:49 -0500

Under some of the newer retirement rules I would not know the particulars, but going off the older high three system for the Guard. Every completed active RYE year is worth 360 points, so your 10 good years are worth 3600 points, now how long you stay in, what grade you are at, increases in pay and rank over time frame will change what you will receive at age 60.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2018 11:31 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 23:31:27 -0500

I recommend looking into the new retirement system that went into effect this year. Some things may have changed in regards to your references.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2018 1:03 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 01:03:33 -0500

Time in Service will no change for your pay calculations, but your time in service or Retirement Year ending date will. Essentially for every point you have in the reserves that equates to one day on active duty for retirement purposes. Access your HRC points statement add up all the years then divide by 365 that will tell you how many credible years of active federal service you have (points detail will also give you the current year) Subtract that number from 20 and you'll know how many more years you need to qualify for an active duty retirement. Most reservists get 48 mutas in a year 14 days for AT and 15 bonus points for 77 points a year. for ten years you are at 770 points plus six months for basic training 6*30= 180 + 770 = 950 add about 300 points for each year you were mobilized (365-77). So if you have 10 years in the reserves you probably have 1000-2000 points or between 3-5 years of active federal service meaning you'll need 15-17 more years to retire with an active duty retirement.
AGR for pay and retirement is exactly the same as active duty.

Reserve Retirement is quite a bit better than active duty retirement considering, but you don't start collecting until you are 60, less one year deployed (with stipulations). Unless you will be about 50 when you hit retirement age active duty is a much better financial option.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2018 1:41 AM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 01:41:15 -0500

Thank you leaders for all your responses. It has definitely given me a better understanding and a lot to think about and discuss with the family.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2018 12:26 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 12:26:13 -0500

1st SGT Hicks did a good, job, I cannot comment on how or if the blended retirement affects the Reserves, but in the reserves it is points multiplied by your rank and years, you can claim retirement at age 60 unless you have AD time, but i would get your retirement section to calculate that for you, allot of rules on what counts, how it counts etc. You have to wait until 60 for your health insurance.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2018 8:28 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 20:28:22 -0500

Don’t have the time to respond to all of your questions at the moment, but I may be able to offer some insight. I’m currently an AGR Medic. Send me a contact request and I’ll try to answer your questions as best I can.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2018 3:03 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 15:03:14 -0500

If I understand what you're asking, here's the basics of what you are looking for based on the legacy retirement system:

1. 10 years Active + 10 years USAR (~75 points/year) = ~30% Base Pay upon reaching retirement age (~60).
2. 10 years Active + 10 years USAR AGR = 50% Base Pay upon retirement
3. If want to stay close to Tucson, USAR AGR is not for you. There are a lot of opportunities for AGR Medics, but you will PCS every 3-5 years.
4. Another option to consider is AZ NG AGR, but then I believe you are on state retirement, so you would need to speak to someone with more NG knowledge.

Long story short, if being close to your son is important, then USAR TPU would be your best bet.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jan 17 at 2018 3:54 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 15:54:51 -0500

I had 10 years credible service including an AGR Tour. The Army ignored me when I completed the tour. They also ignored doing a MedBoard just to screw me. Point is that the Army Board for Correction of Military Records used the AGR Tour to give me 10 years Active and thus a Disability Retirement

Response by SGM Gerald Fife made Jun 29 at 2020 3:20 PM

SGM Gerald Fife — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 15:20:58 -0400

Let's get right to the bottom line. Ten years is ten years. That being said, you need 10 more "good" years. How ever long it takes you to get those 10, could take another 20 years to get those 10 years to add to the first ten years. From AD to retirement is 20 years you get your pay at that time for the pay grade you are in. In the Reserves, depends on call ups, etc., but most Reservists will get retirement pay at age 60. The age 60 pay is based on the current pay scale in effect at the age of 60. You can have 20 or more good years when you reach that age of retirement so it will be a percentage of the basic pay schedule you'll receive under Title 10 retirement. It has been awhile since I retired through the Reserve program, 25 years ago this August. The best perk of the ones you receive is Tricare for Life. You will receive that when you begin your Medicare program. For all the "fine tuning" of how it works talk to the, hopefully they are still there, there may be some AGR that know the answers, civilian techs are the ones to see. If you go AGR, I believe you can retire after 10 years doing that deal and get you pay after the 20. If the job is likeable, retire after the AGR and go civilian in the same job, if it can be done for that job. Bottom line is to go talk to the people you need to and ask them the questions. In this forum you will receive so much information, your head will spin off. Sometimes TMI, too much information, is just that. Good luck in all your endeavors. (Sometimes we old guys ramble a lot, but we got the job done) My photo is an old one, you wouldn't want to see a new one.