What percentage of service members stay in for 30 years?

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 18:57:53 -0400

Is there any data on how many device members stay in and retire at 30 years. Is this organized by service?

Response by PO1 H Gene Lawrence made Jul 19 at 2019 7:01 PM

PO1 H Gene Lawrence — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 19:01:43 -0400

When you find out this interesting information could you post it?

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2019 7:09 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 19:09:05 -0400

I can tell you that less than 20% of Air Force personnel stay to a 20 year retirement. That was one of the driving factors behind the new blended retirement system. Attaining rank also plays a part bc only E-9s and O-6 and above can attain a 30 year active retirement due to up or out rules. I am speaking to active AF only, there are some tweaks to this for the Air Guard.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2019 7:39 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 19:39:31 -0400

Not sure about data. but I'm sure the numbers would be low. I stayed in for 21 years and some change.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Jul 19 at 2019 7:39 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 19:39:35 -0400

28 years 7 months
Only retired as I was in an authorized position, requested by the Div leadership to stay and ordered by a Sgm with 9 years on station to PCS to an undesirable location because “all senior NCOs must move after 5 years on station”

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 19 at 2019 8:10 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 20:10:14 -0400

God knows, I would've had it been possible, certainly...just didn't happen, despite all the genuinely best effort in the world, even if too late, which i still kick myself for, I assure all of you...and which still gets to me, admittedly, at times, honest...I mean, I know there's absolutely zero I can do to change it, I entirely realize that...I just wish it'd have all gone right, so I actually could've, that's all I'm trying to say...I mean, the sun shines, the world revolves, I'm trying to find comparable ways to volunteer and contribute...I just wish the whole thing had just gone right, I really do most days, truly, you know?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 19 at 2019 8:14 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 20:14:34 -0400

I think I read 2 out 5 will retire at 20 years.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2019 8:41 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 20:41:53 -0400

26 years and counting for me.
Don't think I will make it that long, though.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2019 9:04 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 21:04:26 -0400

My educated guess is about 5%

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2019 12:40 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Jul 2019 00:40:19 -0400

I have been in the reserve components since the 17th of February, 1994. I went in as a specialist e-4 and I was commissioned in August of 96. Being in the National Guard and not being a brown noser kept me from making captain for quite a long time. I took a 3-year promotion delay and I made captain after switching to the Army Reserve. In the Army Reserve, I was able to progress to Major and Lieutenant Colonel when I was supposed to. I currently have 25 and a half years in. I'm a lieutenant colonel almost a year ago and I will get out when I am age 59. I am 56 and 1/2 right now. I should be able to get out early because of deploying for one year after 2008. Thumbs up for those of you who put in your 20 years or more and I feel sorry for those who are stuck with the Blended Retirement System. It was the 20-year retirement that kept me in all this time.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2019 12:53 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Jul 2019 00:53:35 -0400

Read somewhere that about 17% of service members stay till retirement. Not sure how many of those go to 30 years.

Response by CWO3 Dave Alcantara made Jul 20 at 2019 5:30 PM

CWO3 Dave Alcantara — Sat, 20 Jul 2019 17:30:49 -0400

I stayed in for 27 years. Would have stayed for 30, but....

Just went through a divorce, my wife had custody of our daughter and I wasn’t going to leave her without adult supervision. My detailer said my next billet was in Corpus Christi, TX. My daughter was in Vermont. I tried to discuss this with the detailer, who thought she had me over the proverbial barrel, I was up for W-4. She gave me the ultimatum of Corpus or retire in lieu of orders. My letter wa on her desk before she could have my orders printed up. Although upon occasion I have missed my service, I do not regret my choice.

Response by LTC Ed Gifford made Jul 21 at 2019 8:19 PM

LTC Ed Gifford — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 20:19:58 -0400

I was able to get 30 years as an O5. I left after 28 years of combined active & reserve time. Then I was able to go back for 2 years to the sand box as a retiree, it all counts!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2019 3:28 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 15:28:02 -0400

I enlisted in February 1983. I'm retiring in November 2019. I'll have 36 years in uniform, and will be retiring as an O5. How did I do it? I was prior service for almost six years, and have skills the Army needs. It can happen.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Aug 12 at 2019 3:57 PM

CSM Richard StCyr — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 15:57:58 -0400

I did thirty, it was fun up till the last year. Cumulative injuries caught up with me.

Response by CMDCM Will Lloyd-Owen made Aug 14 at 2019 4:03 PM

CMDCM Will Lloyd-Owen — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 16:03:18 -0400

Depends on the service. For Active USN it is 1% as only those who make E9 (Master Chief Petty Officer) can stay in for 30 years. There are exceptions in certain critical fields where an E8 (Senior Chief Petty Officer) has been allowed to stay past the 26 High Year Tenure (HYT) mark, but those are few and far between and I have never personally met any that were allowed to stay in until 30. I retired in NOV 2017 with 33 years. I was able to stay past 30 years because I was a Force Master Chief working for a 3 Star Vice Admiral. I could have stayed for another two years but 33 was enough for me as I had achieved every goal I had set out to accomplish. Hope this helps.

Response by SPC Lyle Montgomery made May 3 at 2022 10:59 AM

SPC Lyle Montgomery — Tue, 03 May 2022 10:59:36 -0400

I admire those who chose to make a career of the military but it was not for me. I did my 2 years as an Army grunt and decided that that type of life was not for me.