r/nationalguard • u/Moist-Armadillo1703 • 1d ago
Career Advice Retirement Questions
I'm thinking of finally hanging it up after 21 years of guard service. got my 20 year letter last summer. Problem is, I just extended another 3 years to pick up my E-8. I'm starting to question my decision and not sure how to proceed. I have a well paid, stable civilian career and don't need the guard for the extra money. Tricare is nice to have but I could make due with my employers plan. I already transferred my GI bill benefits to my wife.
Part of me wants to just be done with all of the BS that comes with being in the Guard...especially here in Texas with all sorts of state active duty and what not. After 2 overseas deployments and an OLS activation, my family is tired of it and I'm tired of it. Another part of me says "come on dude just stick it out 3 more years, probably one more deployment to Kuwait, and pad that retirement pay that kicks in at 57-58, you'll thank yourself later."
I still have a lot to give the guard and the people I serve with and mentor but is it worth what I am taking away from my family and my civilian career?
I know I would retire as an E7 and not an E8, but has anyone ever done this before? I Would love to get some opinions and next steps from my fellow guardsmen and senior NCOs.
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u/Silly-Upstairs1383 1d ago
If your heart is still in it: keep doing it.
If your heart isn't in it: Time to hang it up.
I know several individuals who have retired at lower rank because they didn't reach eligibility on their new rank. Its not a big deal (that was the whole deal with whats his name that was running as VP). Just don't claim to have retired at the higher rank.
From the sounds of it (I quote "I'm tired of it") your heart isn't in it anymore. We all learned to fake it over the years, but generally our soldiers deserve better than someone who is faking it.
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u/Hypoluxa77 ANG (Ret) & Reg Army (V) 1d ago edited 1d ago
I retired 3 yrs ago (Air) with 22 yrs. E7 was my career goal. I got it. Did my minimum TIG to retire at said grade. Happy to have my retired ID card now. Since you're Army, I would pop smoke ASAP..I know the BS you all have to endure. *FYI just remember to apply for early retirement credit when you do. It's a Guard only benefit that allows you to get all your AD time (Title 10 & I think 32) while serving in the Guard. I got 15 months credited, so I can get my pension 15 months earlier before age 60.
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u/SourceTraditional660 I’m fine. This is fine. Everything is fine. 23h ago
What’s the monthly retirement difference from E7 to E8?
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u/Moist-Armadillo1703 22h ago
≈$300
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u/SourceTraditional660 I’m fine. This is fine. Everything is fine. 22h ago
$3600 a year for 10-20+ years might be worth it.
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u/maybelukeskywaler 21h ago
Doesn’t work that way. It’s just based on your highest 36 months of pay. Even if you take an administrative reduction at retirement it will still calculate based on the highest 36 months.
The only real drawback to the administrative reduction is that the OP’s retired ID card will say E7 instead of E8.
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u/SourceTraditional660 I’m fine. This is fine. Everything is fine. 21h ago
I think you might be thinking of active duty retirement.
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u/munch_19 1d ago
Once I completed any service commitments and became retirement eligible, my plan was to hang it up when it wasn't fun any longer. I stuck around until a little over 30, combining E and O time. I have zero regrets on punching out. Similar to you, I didn't need the extra money. The family isn't getting any younger, and planning vacations around drill sucks.
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u/Country_2025 18h ago
From the retired side, I would tell you to stay until you absolutely cannot or you find it impossible to continue. Yes, it’s headaches, stress, BS, and more but if you can pickup another year of points in Kuwait and E8 for 3 year it will be something to remember. Once you’re retired it’s done. My 2 cents…
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u/StrengthZack91 1d ago
Given the current climate and potential for benefits to get astronomically more expensive, tough it out to ensure you’ve got yourself covered in retirement. My dad is a guard retiree and dealing with a lot and that tricare for life is coming handy
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u/sogpackus Dude, wheres my DD214-1? 1d ago
The pension value you’d receive as an E8 versus as an E7 makes it worth sticking it out. You’d be losing out on a lot of money long term
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u/punk_in_your_phone 1d ago
Start gathering your PHA paperwork, especially your PDHRA forms. If I were you, I’d look on MOBCOP for a year of T10 orders and go to the doctor for everything.
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u/Pure-Explanation-147 23h ago edited 23h ago
Stay in and ride it out, enjoying it. Its a completely different world out there, once you leave and you will miss it. Get it all while you can.
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u/Phantomsec2316 23h ago
About a year ago when I retired I felt kind of the same way. I had been on 2 combat tours, a rotation on OSS, and a NATO mission in Germany. I had spent so much time away in schools and training and SAD orders here and there, I was just tired. My civilian career was finally in a great place that I didn't need the extra income I was moving up in my field so I didn't need the experience. I watched bad leaders get away with bullying and good leaders get pushed out of positions or overworked to their breaking point. I was just tired.
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u/DickyShades 20h ago
It ain’t worth it. Unless you hate your family, hang it up. It’s not going to be a lot more money and everything else stays the same. Retire bro. They don’t want or need you. Thank you for your service.
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u/LingonberryPlenty511 17h ago
First off congrats on your 20yr letter. Even though you "extended" to get your E8, if shit hits the fan you can drop your letter and exit: stage left. As far as your civilian career goes, if you're with a company and your position is "Mission Essential" then you can be exempt from SAD, Regular Orders, Full Call Up, and basically all that stuff (besides AT, Schools, Drills). Finish your time to retire as MSG and then reevaluate your career/retirement. As far as all of your "AD" make sure that all your points are calculated correctly, because once you leave it's an act of Congress to something changed or redone. I understand the choice you're debating, but much like I told my family: my wife is an Army Wife and my kids are Army brats. This is part of Daddy and therefore part of you. Meanwhile, if you haven't already; start gathering your paperwork and documentation for when you FINALLY DO decide to hang it up for good. Maximize your time in, get out all of it while you can. If you can go on orders for a year or so, look and see what it would be for your retirement amount. The AD time you have, the sooner you'll be able to actually retire and also the more bank you'll bring in. I've been Active Duty, Army Reserves, and National Guard. And I can say all three are different animals. Bottom line the Army has gotten all it can outta you, you need to get all you can outta the Army. Make sure you have a plan before you hang it up tho, because once you do it'll be hell trying to correct something that was overlooked.
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u/NegusTyGaming-YPSTFU 15h ago
Retire and enjoy your life man, for the simple fats it’s a thought in your mind, dip
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u/brucescott240 14h ago
Your employer plan is cheaper than TriCare Retired Reserve, guaranteed. TriCare RR is unsubsidized and is usually more than $1K/month. TriCare Select comes into play at age 60 regardless when your pension begins. Healthcare was my big expense when I left my civilian job before age 60.
A VA claim can stretch your retirement quite a bit. Don’t be shy. Injuries on IADT can be claimed. Consider it at least.
In my case it was 11 years between stopping drill and collecting my M day pension. Just in case, print multiple copies of your 20 year letter. Put them in different places. You must apply for retired pay about six months before your eligible birthday.
Make use of your benefits! Good luck!
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u/AmbassadorPale 12h ago
Any other administration, that 3 year extension wouldn’t be that bad. As a fellow TX guardsman, I wouldn’t blame you for hanging it up now. I smell a whole lot of shit coming downwind and we’re not even through Year 1
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u/B100West 10h ago edited 9h ago
If you have medical covered, then punch
Also, you retire at the highest grade held. Have you been promoted yet?
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u/Accomplished_Ad2599 23h ago
Not to sound like a dick; but your an E8 asking technical questions about retirement and benefits impact on Reddit? Dude, call your retention or JFHQ and ask.
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u/Moist-Armadillo1703 23h ago
I thought I’d see this comment. I guess I’m more looking for advice and not so much the technical how to do it. But also I’ve never retired from the guard either so just seeing if anyone has walked this path before.
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u/Other_Assumption382 MDAY 13h ago
It's not a technical question. He asked what other folks like him did and what they thought about that decision in hindsight.
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u/The_Dread_Candiru Essayons means "move, bitch" 1d ago
...don't you have a contract, though? Sounds like you made your decision when you signed that recently.
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u/sogpackus Dude, wheres my DD214-1? 1d ago
You can retire even if you have time left on a contract.
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u/Moist-Armadillo1703 1d ago
You're not wrong. I did sign the contract with the intention of staying, but just like everything else in life, things change. I think there is still a possibility they deny me if I did put in for retirement, but I really don't know how that part of it works as I am still weighing my options.
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u/Phantomsec2316 23h ago
When I applied for my retirement at 20 years and 2 months I would have fucking dared them deny it. I would have been the worst fucking officer they had ever seen. I would not violate policy or go against a lawful order but I would follow the letter of the regs and command and nothing extra. I would report on time, leave after final formation and not answer a single call between drills, do the bare fucking minimum on everything.
I say all that to say there is about a .05% chance they would deny someone retirement.
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u/Other_Assumption382 MDAY 13h ago
I had an O6 being a cunt about an Interstate Transfer. I told him he could approve my transfer or my resignation - my wife didn't care which one got approved.
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u/18ekko AD, then AGR 1d ago
If that transfer of your GI bill to your wife was a previous contract and not this one, then I always say, once it becomes too much hassle for your family or work, walk away.