Topic

Military Retirement & TSP

Military retirement has two halves. The pension: your High-3 average pay × a multiplier (2.5%/yr under legacy High-3, 2.0%/yr under BRS) × your years of service. And the Thrift Savings Plan: under BRS the government matches up to 5% of your basic pay — free money you only capture by contributing at least 5% yourself.

Calculators for this

Military Retirement Estimator

Your pension under High-3 or BRS — High-3 average × multiplier × years of service.

TSP Growth Modeler

Project your Thrift Savings Plan with the BRS match — and the free money you'd miss under 5%.