RankLabPractice Questions →
AFH 1 · Chapter 11 · Section 11.8

Retirement Benefits

Part of Communication · 4 sections · ~1497 words · WAPS PFE study material

📝 Practice 3,000+ WAPS questions on RankLab — free for E-5 and E-6 prep.
Try Free →

Retirement Benefits — Eligibility and Waivers

Enlisted Retirement Eligibility

Enlisted = 20 Years TAFMS
Enlisted members are eligible to retire if they have:

- 20 years of Total Active Federal Military Service (TAFMS)

…and there are no restrictions per DAFI 36-3203, *Service Retirements*.

Application Required

Enlisted Must Apply
Enlisted members MUST apply for retirement, otherwise they will separate on their date of separation.

Officer Retirement Eligibility

Officer Eligibility
Officers must have:
  • 20 years of TAFMS
  • PLUS 10 years of total active federal commissioned service

to be eligible to retire.

Waivers to Retire

Waiver References
DAFI 36-3203, Tables 3.1 and 3.2, identify restrictions to retirement.

Waivable Restrictions

Waivable Restrictions
Some restrictions, such as not completing an active duty service commitment, may be waived if the member can provide sufficient justification to show:
  • The waiver is in the best interest of the USAF, OR
  • The member is experiencing an extreme personal hardship uncommon to other military members

Approval Not Guaranteed

Approval Not Guaranteed
Not all waivers are approved, so applicants should include detailed evidence to support their requests.

Retirement Benefits — Application, Place, DIEUS

Application Submission Window

12-Month / 4-Month Window
A retirement application can typically be submitted through the myFSS website:
  • Up to 12 months before the desired retirement date
  • No less than 4 months before the desired retirement date

Special Programs

7-Day/3-Day Programs
Airmen applying for retirement under the 7-day or 3-day option program may be able to submit an application more than 12 months in advance.

Reference

7-Day/3-Day Reference
DAFI 36-2110, Chapters 5 and 7, outline information on those programs and the applicable exceptions.

Eligibility Review First

Eligibility Review Required
Before submitting any application, the member must request an eligibility review through the myFSS website.
Eligibility Response
The system will provide an automated response of the member's retirement eligibility status and identify any restrictions or waiverable conditions at the time of submission.
Application After Review
After receiving the eligibility results, the member may submit their application through the on-line submission process in myFSS.

Place of Retirement

General Rule
In general, a member retires at the current duty station and may travel to a home of selection anywhere in the United States.

Overseas Member with Outprocessing

Overseas with Outprocessing
If the member is overseas, the member retires at that location when outprocessing facilities exist, and the member and family proceed to the final home of selection.

Overseas Member without Outprocessing

Overseas without Outprocessing
When outprocessing facilities do not exist at the overseas location, the member may request travel to a separation processing base in the United States.

Retiring Overseas Permanently

Retiring Overseas Permanently
If the member elects to retire overseas and live permanently in that country, he or she must comply with command and host government residency rules before the date of retirement.

Date Initially Entered Uniformed Service (DIEUS)

DIEUS Determines Plan
The Date Initially Entered Uniformed Service (DIEUS) normally determines which retirement pay plan applies to a member.

What DIEUS Is

DIEUS Definition
DIEUS is the date an individual was initially enlisted, inducted, or appointed in a Regular or Reserve Component of a uniformed service as a:
  • Commissioned officer
  • Warrant officer
  • Enlisted member

Fixed Date

DIEUS Fixed
The DIEUS is a fixed date that is NOT subject to adjustment because of a break in service.

Retirement Benefits — Final Basic Pay and High-3 Plans

Final Basic Pay Plan

Final Basic Pay Eligibility
Final Basic Pay plan eligibility:

- Entered Service prior to 8 September 1980

Pay Formula

Final Basic Pay Formula
Pay formula:

- 2.5% times the years of service times basic pay

Cost of Living Adjustment

Final Basic Pay COLA
Full inflation protection based on Consumer Price Index.

High-3 Plan (1980-1986)

High-3 (1980-1986) Eligibility
High-3 plan eligibility:

- Entered service between 8 September 1980 and 31 July 1986

Pay Formula

High-3 (1980-1986) Formula
Pay formula:

- 2.5% times the years of service times the average of the highest 36 months of base pay

High-3 Plan (1986-2017)

High-3 (1986-2017) Eligibility
High-3 plan eligibility:

- Entered the service between 1 August 1986 and 31 December 2017

Pay Formula

High-3 (1986-2017) Formula
Pay formula:

- 2.5% times the years of service times the average of the highest 36 months of base pay

Cost of Living Adjustment

High-3 COLA
Full inflation protection based on Consumer Price Index.

Maximum Retirement Multiplier

75% Max at 30 Years
The maximum multiplier for 30 years TAFMS is 75% times the retired pay base.

Beyond 30 Years

Beyond 30 Years = 100%
However, members who serve beyond 30 years earn an additional 2.5% each additional year and can max out at 100%.

Other Retirement Considerations

Spouses Protection Act
The Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act allows state courts to consider retired pay as divisible property in divorce settlements.
Court Discretion
The law does NOT direct state courts to divide retired pay; it simply permits them to do so.
Pay Stops at Death
Retired pay stops upon the death of the retiree.

Retirement Benefits — CSB/REDUX and Blended Retirement System (BRS)

$30K Career Status Bonus (CSB) / REDUX Plan

CSB/REDUX Definition
Instead of retiring under High-3, these members chose to receive a $30K Service Bonus at 15 years of service in exchange for:
  • Agreeing to serve a minimum of another five years
  • Then retiring under the less generous REDUX plan

CSB/REDUX Pay Formula

CSB/REDUX Formula
Each of the first 20 years of service is worth 2% toward the retirement multiplier.
REDUX Beyond 20
Each year after the 20th is worth 3.5%.

30-Year Career Calculation

30-Year REDUX
A 30-year career is computed by:
  • 2% times 20 years
  • PLUS 3.5% for the 10 years beyond 20
  • Resulting in a maximum of 75%

Multiplier Application

REDUX Multiplier Application
The multiplier is applied to the average of the member's highest 36 months of basic pay.

REDUX Cost of Living

REDUX COLA = CPI Minus 1%
CSB or REDUX option: Annual cost of living adjustments of Consumer Price Index minus 1% are given based upon the Consumer Price Index of the High-3.

Recomputation at 62

Age 62 Recomputation
Retired pay is recomputed at age 62 so that REDUX and High-3 retirement salaries are equal, but REDUX cost of living adjustments for later years will continue to be Consumer Price Index minus 1%.

Blended Retirement System (BRS)

BRS Eligibility Date
Blended Retirement System (BRS) eligibility:

- Entered the service on or after 1 January 2018

BRS Pay Formula

BRS Formula
Pay formula:

- 2.0% times the years of service times the average of the highest 36 months of base pay

BRS Cost of Living

BRS COLA
Full inflation protection based on Consumer Price Index.

BRS Election Window

BRS Election Window
Members entering the service prior to 1 January 2018, who have:
  • Less than 12 years of service (calculated from the pay date), OR
  • Less than 4,320 retirement points (for ARC members) as of 31 December 2017

may enroll in the BRS.

BRS Thrift Savings Plan Contributions

BRS Auto + Match
Members enrolled in BRS will have a Thrift Savings Plan established that includes automatic and matching government contributions.

Auto Contribution Timing

BRS Auto Contribution Start
DoD begins an automatic contribution of one percent of base pay after 60 days of service (calculated from pay date).

Matching Contribution Timing

BRS Match Start
DoD begins matching contributions up to an additional four percent of base pay after 2 years of service (calculated from pay date).

Contribution Continuation

BRS Contribution Duration
Automatic and matching contributions continue until the member:
  • Separates
  • Retires
  • Completes 26 years of service (calculated from pay date)

BRS Lump Sum Election

BRS Lump Sum
Airmen retiring under the BRS are eligible to elect a lump sum payment of a portion of the Airman's retirement pay.

Lump Sum Form

DD Form 2656
Requests for the lump sum election are documented on the DD Form 2656, *Data for Payment of Retired Personnel*.

90-Day Submission Deadline

90-Day Lump Sum Deadline
Must be submitted to the retirement approval authority NLT 90 days prior to:
  • The Airman's retirement effective date for regular retirement, OR
  • The date upon which the Airman first becomes eligible to receive retired pay under the non-regular retirement program

Up to 4 Annual Installments

4 Annual Installments
Airmen have the option of receiving the lump sum payment in up to four annual installments.

M&FRC Counseling

M&FRC Pre-Election
Airmen should seek counseling from the Military and Family Readiness Center (M&FRC) prior to election.

Ready to test what you've learned?

RankLab has 3,000+ WAPS-style practice questions covering every AFH 1 chapter.

Start Free Practice →