It’s the cut off date that always kills me. I had four single year GWOT tours but only one (after 2008) applied to lower my retirement age. It sucks to be old but reminds me of this…Haven’t seen this posted here yet.
This can be a game changer for reservists, particularly naval aviator reservists that can’t be hired into the reserves off the street.
I hope as many people as possible write their representatives to express their support.
www.duffelblog.com
Personally, I understand the delay in light of the government need to curb costs, as we're no longer putting in the same time commitment as the active component and are afforded the flexibility to pursue a civilian career; however, I do heartily agree with the bill's argument that it is only fair that reservists that had time from their active component years should be able to count that time toward early retirement, consistent with those that went directly to the reserves. But I'm not going to hold my breath, as much as it would benefit me.I know it won't happen because of the cost increase but I think people should be paid a pension immediately after 20 years based on their points calculations.
I've never understood why a reservist couldn't pull retirement pay until age 60 (or whatever age they "bought down" during the GWOT).
I know it won't happen because of the cost increase but I think people should be paid a pension immediately after 20 years based on their points calculations. You earned 17 years worth of points in your career that went over 20 calendar years? Thats 42.5% (or I guess 34% now) of your high 3. Thanks for your service.
The flip side of that is all the unpaid "patriot time" outside of drill weekends and the sometimes exorbitant out of pocket travel costs and requirements as you get more senior. You may not have to move, but traveling regularly to remote US places or coast to coast each month because reasons is a sacrifice.Simply put, the vast majority of us don't do anywhere near as much as our active duty brethren while serving. In my 14 years in the reserves I did three active duty stints and quite a bit of drilling, training and exercises that got me to 42.6%* by the time I retired with just 13 years actually on active duty.
But in that time I only moved once by choice and was able to have a full civilian career (buying back my mil time for retirement to boot) with few of the downsides of an active duty career. So I get why we get our retirement when we do, and I am also lucky/happy that almost all my active duty time as a reservist was post-2008 and counts for closer retirement though I lost out on 90 days for my first due to the FY reset that wasn't fixed until after that.
*Your figure was awfully close to my actual one, I didn't realize my time was that close to 17 years active duty .