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

Retire as a E-7. Than wait till 60. U'll have the money to make it on the outside. Plus putting cash aside till you retire at 60-65.

Retire as soon as possible then get a civilian job and then retire again and then collect social security. Me, This is what I did. OR, Go to the reserves and hope you live long enough to collect retirement.

I say retire as a W3 (Reservist) Your status as an Warrant Office and retiring as a W3 money wise is great. I retired last year 2021 as an E7 with 37yrs of service; 8yrs Active Duty, 2yrs National Guard, and 27yrs Reservist. I was at Retirement age 60, and I walked with Retirement Pay in pocket. Go as long as you can go, and do what you do Soldier.

Actually that is not exactly true. Any title 10 and 32 points count towards your active duty retirement. If you already have 15.5 years you only need to do another 4.5 years of title 10 or 32 AD service to reach a 20 year retirement. Do some DC tours or even get on some deployment tours to finish out your 20 as a WO. AD retirement as a W-3 with over 25 years is quite significant and much better than an E7 with 20. Think the long game and remember it will go by very quickly. You could even get some of those 1 year title 32 orders. Those ALL count towards AD retirement.

It's a matter of whether you want the most money, or how you will feel about yourself with what you've done with your life. When I got out, back some 24+ years ago, an E7 barely made some 36k a year, and that included jump pay. Today, and E7, averages 68k - back in my time, when you retired, you would have received half of your base pay, if my math serves me right, today, that's $2870 per month. You're 38, you have 22 years before hitting 60, so that's 264 months, 264x2870 = 757680. You have to decide what you will earn as a Chief for the 22 years until 60, and what you will make at retirement, and guess, only guess how long you might live and figure out the difference. Hope this makes sense. I don't have all the details. I had to do similar math equations for my civilian life at least twice now, and for me it has been my best choice to decide on what was best for me and my family and how I would feel about myself in the future. In both instances, different decisions were best, stay longer, and get out early. So choose wisely.

I am not going to go the route of the financial numbers, I agree with COL Cudworth, stay the course, retire as AGR and take the money right away. You may even surprise yourself and get promoted again. I recommend staying AGR and taking the full-time retirement. I know someone that turned down a promotion to COL, so he could stay on tour and get enough AFS to retire as an LTC. So, he gets a full-time LTC retirement now instead of COL retirement at 60.

SSG Ryan You are at a similar point where people are when deciding to collect Social Security at 62 - FRA or 70. They keep dangling the carrot and see who bites! Col. Cudworth spelled out the $$$ facts, assumptions and what ifs!

From my personal Career right after the 1st Gulf they pushed a Riff and offered anyone with 15+ 3 choices: 1. Stay in and pray you get promoted to CW-3 or face forced out with nothing. Many of my flight school buds took this chance - unfortunately they didn't get W-3 as the Army decided only advanced aircraft pilots were worthy - So bye - bye with nothing but memories! 2. Lump sum buyout and no further benefits period. The problem with this one was Taxes. The Fed & depending upon your state ate close to 45% thus leaving most with 6 months or less to live off while frantically searching for work. (Remember - Due to the Riff you're now competing with everyone else for those lucrative Fed jobs and or Civ gigs) or 3. An early retirement at reduced % with full benefits for life. I chose door #3 and have never regretted it! Hope this helps.

There are things to consider. If you take the 20 years and run, you should be young enough to complete another career before retiring. For example, I retired from the Army National Guard with 13 years active and 13 years reserve status. I was also able to teach for 25 years plus my state gave me 5 years credit for active military service. When I retired at 62, I collected my military and teaching retirement plus my Social Security. I live very comfortably in my "Golden Years."

Col Cudworth used the word "math" , , , that is the key. Do your math with someone who knows the ins and outs. When I decided to take early retirement from Social Security, I got with my local SS Agent who went over the math. In my case, it paid me more to retire early. My check was smaller by a bit, but extending the math out to the average lifespan of a male, I would draw more from SS in the long run than I would waiting 10 years and drawing a larger check for the short run. It was nice that for a few years I was drawing half of my SS and still working full-time plus drawing my military retirement all at the same time. Also, I know of many people who decided to stay for the long haul only to die before they could collect.

One thing the military taught me was the 6 Ps. Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

Take the Colonel's advice and do the math for your particular case and brain storm to consider all the aspects.

Good Luck!

I would stay on track for the 20 Year active retirement course. If the math serves me right, you need 4.5 years to go for the 20. Then you start collecting retirement immediately which is about 50% of your basic pay. At the age of 38 means you will have to wait 22 years to collect retirement from the reserves. Remember on reserve status your paid by a point system and making CWO3 will not come close to active duty retired pay. Being a SSG right now you have room for SFC or MSG. But the overall choice is yours that fits your agenda the best Best of luck on your decision.

Retire as an E7 in three years and start a new career! The old saying about a Bird in Hand fits well in this scenario. Life is fragile and nobody can guarantee they will be around to celebrate their 60th birthday. At 38, you can start and complete a new career and retire with whatever benefits you receive for the 22 years of work! You don't need to run the math... Just use the DIMS Factor (Does It Make Sense). The new career salary plus your retirement check should keep you loaded up with fine wine and great cigars! LOL