What are some differences between in-service benefits and retirement benefits between serving 20 years versus 30 years in the Army?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 17:00:13 -0500

To clarify what benefits can one expect by serving 20 years versus 25 years versus 30 years? Is there a max age to serve in the Army? Career tracker for enlisted only goes up to 30 years but online I read one can serve until age 66 if approved by SECDEF (68 if approved by the president).

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Jan 1 at 2024 5:47 PM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 17:47:47 -0500

The people who get approved for over 30 tend to be those who were enlisted and then became officers. There's a minimum time to serve as an officer to retire as one; I believe it is 10 years and if you need extra time on active duty and all is well, that can happen. A few E-9s have been approved but that's really rare as I understand it. As for age...we had some reservists on active duty in their early 60s during Desert Storm. Things change depending on the needs of the service

Response by COL Randall C. made Jan 1 at 2024 6:20 PM

COL Randall C. — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 18:20:06 -0500

*chuckle* - I applaud your future planning and confidence at this stage of your career.

There are a number of different things that come into play when determining the maximum amount of time you can serve in the military before you're forced to separate and it will largely depend on your rank (there are a few other factors that will impact, but rank is the primary one). For the vast majority of individuals, it's going to be less than 30 years.

For enlisted, the biggest item is going to be your Retention Control Point* and the breakdown is the following: E1-E3 : 5 years; E4 : 8 years (10 for promotable E4s); E5 : 14 years; E6 : 20 years; E7 : 24 years; E8 : 26 years (28 for those scheduled for or graduates of the SGM Course); E9 : 30 years

You mentioned age, and that's another limiting factor - regardless of your RCP, if you hit your age limit, you'll be pointedly invited to leave. There was a time the Army was enlisting people up to age 42 (back in 2006), but in 2011 they lowered the maximum enlisted age to 35, so without an age waiver, the oldest a new recruit would be when they are shown the door is 65.

On the officer side it's very similar with one caveat - it's based on commissioned time, so if you were enlisted for a number of years and then became an officer, you could go beyond 30 years (with is the max an O6 or promotable O5 can go to).

As to benefits ... well, it's pretty much all the same - you'll accrue retirement at the same rate .. UNLESS you were part of the REDUX crowd in which case they start getting a higher pension percentage each year when they hit 20.

There is a significant attrition of the force when they reach 20 years - you leave, start pulling a military pension immediately (for a regular army retirement) and start in on a second career where if you just earn equal to what you were making equates to a 50% gross income increase for many. Those that love being in the military usually are the ones that stay until your Uncle Sam tosses you out.

Does that clear it up?
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* Army Retention Program Procedures - https://api.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/2023/09/29/2befbd52/da-pam [login to see] 1001-c.pdf

da-pam-601-280-20231001-c.pdf

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jan 2 at 2024 12:12 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 00:12:17 -0500

You are opening a hypothetical can of worms. You are trying to lock on hard answers to hypothetical situations and it all depends on the context.

Can you serve to 30?
Generally yes but it depends on whether you meet the requirements
The main issue is ensuring you check the boxes for your mos in regards to progression, retention and promotion. If you don’t do well, score well I’m evaluations or promote you I’ll end up hitting the max time in service for your rank.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2024 7:48 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 19:48:17 -0500

I was removed at 62 promptly. :)

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jan 3 at 2024 8:05 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 08:05:45 -0500

A lot of great responses. One additional point is that and E9 can serve over 30 if they are selected for assignment as a Senior Enlisted for a General Officer. The age limit still applies. There are more minute details but the gist of it all is there.

Now that you know, let go and focus on the heart and now. For anyone to stay beyond 29 requires motivation, drive, the willingness to lead, the ability to lead and follow. So for now just get through your first time period. Hoooah.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jan 3 at 2024 8:24 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 08:24:15 -0500

My apologies, I did not answer the root question. There is only one difference in benefits year to year beyond 20, that is the amount that your pension increases by based on the years of service. That in itself is a formula depending upon when you served.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2024 8:12 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 08:12:01 -0500

You get more money based on length of service and retirement computation formula in use when you retire. (Congress has changed it before, and can change it again.) If you retire as O-6 you may receive some special treatment as a courtesy, but core benefits the same.