Should I retire as a W3 (Reserve), or E7 (Active Duty)?

As an Army enlisted reservist who transitioned to active duty as a Commissioned Officer and spent 28 years serving, the math simply does not work out unless you plan to live until you are well over 100 years of age. Quite frankly, not many of us are that fortunate. Also, considering that if you've done 17 years already, and the Army has impacted your body medically, you will be eligible for VA disability. A lot of us don't consider this aspect of their service, but it is certainly important. This is a benefit that you earn/have earned as a product of your service. Your retirement plus whatever disability you qualify for, will add to your retirement income. Just following some simple math, 2023 VA disability rates at 30% with spouse is approximately $560 per month; 50% is $1160 per month and 100% disability is twice that. (This could account for the $6K to 10K or more annually you are concerned about - - just request and keep a copy of your medical record.) When you tack that possible disability income to your $33K retirement for the rest of your life, mathematically, it makes no sense to wait - - the result is simply not worth the effort, or in other vernacular - - the juice is not worth the squeeze. Thanks for your service and good luck with this decision.

Don't judge me, here. Just passing on info for you to consider.
When you retire from "Active" duty, Uncle Sugar can drag you out of retirement.
He can't do that to a "Reservist".

What is the guarantee that you will ever see WO3? What are your chances of making E7 in the next three years, I'd take the money and run.

I worked for a CWO 2 for a couple years. he was getting ready to retire after twenty plus years. He had the option to retire at CWO2- orE-9. At that time his pay would have been more for E-9. Last i heard he worked another twenty plus years all the while getting his retirement and medical. Worked for him.

I believe you have to do 7 years as a reservist to add to your military time to get your retirement later

You need 20 years ACTIVE to draw immediately.

Can you get WO after you get 20 active? Or are you going to hit the age limits of WO?

I haven't done the math for your situation but intuitively mathematically
SOONER is better than later.
MORE is better than less.

So the question is.............. does MORE (better) later (worse) out weight LESS (worse) sooner (better)?

OK, I'll do the math for you, that's not that hard actually (for me anyway). I'll have to make some assumptions though.

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IDEALLY........... the best outcome would be 20 active so you can draw immediately, but then at best bump your pay scale with CWO pay and draw once you locked in your WO time.

However, I think the biggest down side is I believe you need to hold a commissioned status for 10 years to "retire" as commissioned.

Anyway, let me get to crunching those numbers.