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

I see I'm coming to the party late , but yeah you got you got the ball in hand , for gosh sakes do not pass or punt run with that sucker all the way home " stay with your E-7 Grade" , Tomm is promised to none of us . Peace Out

If it were me, I would try the E-8 AGR board , or even shoot for E-9. I would also look at do you really want tp stay on aftet 20 years. But if you are looking at doing something else collect the active 20 year check in 2 1/2 years because that’s about 20 years of retirement checks you will never make up aftet 60.

I’m not going to do all the calculations. TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN.

The comments from others to this question are very well done and the analysis reflects educated assessments. Like hearing from actual financial counselors who care about answering the Soldier’s question. Well done.

I did 31 with 6+ years active and 25 reserve. Retired at 58 yrs old as a W4. Could have done 4 more yrs with the 2 yr WO waiver. Check your point total since that is where it gets interesting. Your 38 and 3 yrs later you make W2, then 6 yrs W3. Now you are 47 or 48. 6 yrs later you make W4 at 53. That is if the system is the same as it was in 2005. WO is the absolute best rank in the military bar none! Nothing better so go for it! I may be bias!

I was in almost the the exact same situation as you. Called up for 18 month mobilization in September 2004 as an E6. Made E7 in January 2005 and summer '05 MILPERS Message needing SR deployed NCO'S to volunteer to stay on AD to retire from AD. Was credited for 13.5 years total active federal so 6.5 to 20 and retire from AD at 49. Could have easily made E8 in reserves and had lots of points too. Long story short took the AD time and retired in 2012. At 20 years 4 months. Was credited for 713 reserve points so got 22 yrs 4 mos which gave me 55.63 % retired pay from day 1. Knew the S1 well and got a GS job 3 weeks after retiring. As GS and retired from AD you only have to work 10 years Civil Service and be age 56 to retire. November 2012-November 2022=10 years and age 59 so RETIRED AGAIN! Now barely 60 and two federal retirements and VA disability =never working again. If I stayed reserve I would be barely picking up my first "gray area" retiree check! God doesn't promise any of us a set number of days or years so take advantage of the earlier retirement and start a 2nd career while you're still young! 2 retirements is an advantage that few people ever have an opportunity to achieve. Retiring as an E7 has no shame whatsoever. Look at it this way=if you're 95 years old on the first of whatever month what's going to happen?!
YOU'RE GETTING YOUR MILITARY RETIREMENT AND DISABILITY! In other words get it as soon as possible and retire as enlisted.

You are absolutely right about your retirement and the law could change that you might receive it until 62 or older or if you die before you can receive it you will not receive any retirement at all . I retired as E7 and have been collecting that retirement since 1989. Yes, you will receive more but as you can calculate that you will have to wait for another twenty years or more to receive your retirement. It also depends on what your goals are that you are pursuing. I am 73 and I don't regret me retiring at the age of 38. That meant I receive 22years of retirement that I enjoy along with the other money I made with my other occupations, and it was fulfilling to know I had something to fall back on if the economy or job market fell out. Hope this helps and God bless you for your service and serving our country.

ahhh no brainer!!!! Take the doe now....your still young enough to start a second career. the 10 + years your collecting will more than make up for any loss in waiting

Looks like I’m joining the party late. I was in your shoes exactly. I was an AGR SSG who put in a packet for WO. Got accepted as a TPU guy; but as soon as I graduated from my basic course, I dropped a CAD packet. I retired 10 years later as an active duty W3…it was a hard call, as I wanted to compete for W4, but I decided my job prospects on the outside were better in my 40’s than they would be in my 50’s. I had a great Army career and I have 0 regrets.

Just thinking of the song "Take the Money and Run!" Retire now and hook yourself up with a GS Job and double dip! I did and really liked the idea that I was making almost the same pay I was making and had my retirement money too!
if you retire out after the GS job then you'll most likely be make double in retirement then trying to retire as a Warrant plus you would be making double the pay by age 60 as well that will hold you over until age 65 then "Boom" hit the Social Security.
During your GS working time put as much or your military fund into retirement plans, if you can live off your GS pay and save your military retirement or 30,000 a year for 20 years that is just 600,000. However, if you use that money in other retirement plans who knows how much you can earn, you could be adding an extra 1,000 to 2,000 a month on top of your military pay, GS pay and SS! that could be close to 7,000 to 8,000 a month, plus you'll have a large bank of funds just in case of emergencies.