This page provides links to authoritative sources for U.S. military reserve and National Guard retirement information. Always verify important decisions with official sources and your servicing personnel office.
Links open in new tabs and go to official government (.gov/.mil) websites when possible.
📜 Key Legislation (NDAA)
The National Defense Authorization Acts that established and modified reserve early retirement provisions:
| Law | Section | Description | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| NDAA 2008 (P.L. 110-181) | Section 647 | Established early retirement for qualifying active duty service (90 days = 3 months reduction, minimum age 50) | Jan 28, 2008 |
| NDAA 2010 (P.L. 111-84) | Section 647 | Added 12304b (preplanned missions) as qualifying service | Oct 28, 2009 |
| NDAA 2012 (P.L. 112-81) | Section 504 | Extended 12304b provisions and clarified qualifying service | Dec 31, 2011 |
| NDAA 2015 (P.L. 113-291) | Section 621 | Allowed 90-day periods to span consecutive fiscal years (previously had to be within same FY) | Oct 1, 2014 (FY2015) |
| NDAA 2017 (P.L. 114-328) | Section 514 | Further clarifications to reserve retirement provisions | Dec 23, 2016 |
⚖️ Relevant U.S. Code Sections
10 U.S.C. § 12731 - Age and Service Requirements
Primary statute governing reserve retirement eligibility, including the early retirement provisions (subsection f).
U.S. House of Representatives - Office of Law Revision Counsel
10 U.S.C. § 12301 - Reserve Components Generally
Defines various types of active duty orders including 12301(a), 12301(b), and 12301(d) - key for determining qualifying service.
U.S. House of Representatives - Office of Law Revision Counsel
10 U.S.C. § 12302 - Ready Reserve (Involuntary)
Presidential authority to order Ready Reserve members to active duty during national emergency. Qualifies for early retirement.
U.S. House of Representatives - Office of Law Revision Counsel
10 U.S.C. § 12304 - Selected Reserve Order to Active Duty
Authority for contingency operations. Includes 12304, 12304a (CONUS emergencies), and 12304b (preplanned missions).
U.S. House of Representatives - Office of Law Revision Counsel
32 U.S.C. § 502(f) - National Guard Duty
Title 32 duty for homeland defense when federally funded. Qualifies for early retirement when supporting a national emergency.
U.S. House of Representatives - Office of Law Revision Counsel
10 U.S.C. § 12739 - Computation of Retired Pay
How reserve retirement pay is calculated using the points system and High-36 or BRS formulas.
U.S. House of Representatives - Office of Law Revision Counsel
🏛️ Official Government Resources
DFAS Retirement Pay Estimator
Official Defense Finance and Accounting Service calculator for military retirement pay estimates.
Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)
Military Compensation - Retirement
Comprehensive overview of military retirement systems including reserve retirement rules and BRS information.
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Military Pay Calculators
Official DoD calculators including Regular Military Compensation, BRS comparison, and retirement calculators.
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Gray Area Retirees Information
DFAS guidance for reserve members in the "gray area" between qualifying for retirement and receiving pay at age 60.
Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)
Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Overview
Official information about SBP enrollment, costs, and benefits for military retirees and their families.
Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)
TRICARE Eligibility
Healthcare eligibility information for military members and retirees, including gray area and retired reserve members.
TRICARE
🎖️ Service Branch Resources
Navy Reserve Retirements
Navy-specific reserve retirement information including NDAA early retirement guidance and points accounting.
MyNavy HR
Army Gray Area Retirements
Army Human Resources Command information for reserve soldiers in the gray area awaiting retirement pay.
Army Human Resources Command (HRC)
Air Force Reserve Retirements
Air Reserve Personnel Center retirement services for Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard members.
Air Reserve Personnel Center (ARPC)
Marine Corps Forces Reserve
Official Marine Corps Forces Reserve website with information for Marine reservists.
U.S. Marine Corps
Coast Guard Reserve
Official U.S. Coast Guard Reserve website with information for Coast Guard reservists.
U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
National Guard Official Site
Official website for Army National Guard and Air National Guard members with news, resources, and information.
National Guard Bureau
📚 Additional References
Congressional Research Service Reports
In-depth analysis of military retirement legislation and policy from the non-partisan Congressional Research Service.
Library of Congress
VA Resources
Veterans Affairs resources - note that VA benefits are separate from military retirement but often used together.
Department of Veterans Affairs
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
The federal retirement savings plan available to military members. Essential for BRS participants.
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
Military Pay Raise History
Historical military pay raises - useful for estimating future pay table growth for retirement planning.
Office of the Secretary of Defense