Can I serve fifteen years in the Reserves after my active duty contract expires, and still retire at twenty years with a pension?

If you retire in the reserves all you need is 20 years total but you can't pull you pension or get your health insurance until age 60. Now if you do any active time while on reserves they will use a formula and cut your time off age 60 but health insurance doesn't start until age 60. I pulled my retirement at 58 and 7 months. Not sure how they calculate because I had more time on active but it is what it is.

Ignoring the details it call comes down to your points. You get points for all sorts of duties. You get points for going to medical appointments, you get points for non duty on-line training (in 4 hour increments) you get points for funeral details ,you get points for coming in hand helping around the unit (change of command inventory).

GET THOSE POINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Turn in your DA1380's for payment.

Giving the complications of switching from active duty to the reserves, why not just stay on active duty?

I went in at 17, did 24 years all active duty both as enlisted and as an officer and retired at the young age of 41, got full retirement immediately, and didn't have to worry about points, waiting until I was 60 to draw a pension.., etc etc.

Stay active if possible.

One Of The GREAT Benefits Of The Reserves, They Actually Promote You Based On Your Proficiency ... When I Served 1961 - 1965, Promotions And Money Were Invisible Commodities..... And "YES" You Can Retire From The Reserves & Draw A Pension

SPC (Join to see) Here are two previous posts. Please use the search feature for the other posts.

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-will-my-retirement-be-calculated-if-i-have-a-mix-of-active-and-reserve-time

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/regarding-a-20-year-retirement-is-there-a-combination-of-reserve-and-ad-time-in-service-or-does-it-just-go-off-active-duty-time

MSG gave a complete answer as for points. CPT is correct, points count from education credits, funeral honor details and mobilization. Every 90 days of active duty is support of presidential recall rolls back your retirement date from age 60. ALSO, since it is a deferred retirement. You can buy back ANY active duty and mobilization time toward a Federal retirement. Therefore, you can double dip that time towards a second retirement. Secondly, apply for you VA disability upon separation from active duty, you can drill and receive disability pay. There is a payback each year, but recommended. Let's say you are 30% rated, approx 600 per month. You drill for 60 points over the year (= 2 months), you have to pay back the VA 1200 OF THE 7200, PLUS you keep your drill pay 6500-7000 annual drill pay (E5 > 4 years). Lastly, a huge benefit for being a reservist is the supplemented Tricare Reserve Select healthcare (for non-Federal employees).

Ah also be sure you continue to drill past 20 years until they send you an official 20 year letter. I did 6 active and 25 Reserves, I actually didn’t get my 20 year letter untll I had almost 23 years.

If you do that your pension would be about the same as about 6 years of Active Duty. In the Reserves you are only required to do 2 weeks of AD a year(15y x 2w=30/52). You can go to schools, when available, volunteer for Advance Party duty or "Man Days" which are single days of Additional duty to perform some kind of job, work or training. The other option is to apply to enter the AGR program; Active Guard Reserve. You are on active duty, assigned to a reserve unit to insure deployability if the unit is called to AD; like during the Gulf Wars. Generally 76Y40/50, Trainers/Master Trainers, Unit Clerks, according to a units needs. Bn/Bde/Div HQ's are more diverse needing E7-E8's in all the S & G Sections (1-4). You are expected to be self motivated, stay physically fit and technically proficient. I know a soldier that did 3 yrs RA AD, 5 yrs in the Reserves, then 20 yrs more AD as an AGR; he gets about the same as 24 yrs AD. When you get 20 or more AD years you qualify for full pension and medical upon retirement. He says the bad part is you're seldom near a AD military Base as reserve units are located everywhere. Contact a local Reserve recruiter for the latest info.

I did 13 years active duty, but could not finish 20 years because my late wife developed a medical problem that was not comparable with my active duty career. I received a hardship discharge in my 13 year of active duty. Two years after I was released by the active duty army, my wife stabilized and I applied for a spot in the National Guard. I was accepted and because of the regulation requiring someone to do at least 8 years of reserve duty to qualify for a pension. I ended up doing at total of 8 years in the guard. I now collected a pension based on my active duty time of 13 years and my national guard time of 8 years. Basically, my answer to your question is YES you can do what you are contemplating, because I am living proof your idea is feasible.

MSG did an OUTSTANDING job of answering. I had 11 years active and went into the Reserves. I retired out of the Naval Reserves as a CPO (E-7) with 25 years 6 months and 9 days. The key to the reserves is going on extra ATs (Active training/duty) and any other duty you can get orders for (in the Navy, Ships need Engineers, especially an MRC, and you get a point for every day your on orders. Getting orders was very easy for me). I did a year active duty in the Army (I was in the ARNG got activated in 2001) and did another year activation in the Naval Reserves. My civilian job payed me while I was on orders, so I did as many extra drills and any other thing I could get orders for (I was going to college also, and many times instructors will let you take your homework and test on line while on orders) In the end I retired with close to 6700 points (6772 to be exact, but I was ALWAYS gone, and divorced) I’m hoping with my active time in the Reserves it will knock some time off of my wait time for my retirement check. Remember to go to VA and register. I am service connected, and had to have several surgeries for injuries I had on active duty. I get any medications I need for “free” (It cost me 25 years) also. You should qualify if you have any medical issues acquired on active duty (you won’t need Military medical if you qualify for VA. 50% disability or more is the magic number, and Veterans Choice was a game changer THANK YOU PRESIDENT TRUMP). This is where I say keep up with your medical records, and make copies. I use my civilian medical (BlueShield) for my family, and I use VA for my self. Let me be very honest with you, IF you have 15 years of active duty, do the other 5 years. I got off of active duty because I went from making $18000 a year as a single E-5 to making over $100000.00 in the civilian world. I retired from the State of California as a Correctional Officer (as a California Correctional Officer making over a $100,000 is VERY EASY with overtime, and it’s NOT a choice). I loved being in the Military, but it DID NOT PAY THE BILLS, for me it was a money thing. My Military skills transferred very well to the civilian world. Make your decision wisely, because you may only get one shot to get it right. Good luck, and best wishes.