UNCLASSIFIED PERSONNEL AND READINESS 

Ms. Jeri Busch

Director of Military Compensation Policy 

Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of 

Defense (Military Personnel Policy)

February 14, 2017

The Uniformed Services

Blended Retirement System

The Blended Retirement System

Financial Literacy Education Commission

PERSONNEL AND READINESS

#blendedretirement
PERSONNEL AND READINESS 

2

The Uniformed Services 

Blended Retirement System

UNCLASSIFIED

Current members GRANDFATHERED as of Dec. 31, 2017 

Option to switch:

• Active: If less than 12 years of service

• Reserve: If fewer than 4,320 points

All new members after Jan. 1, 2018 covered by BRS

- Defined annuity becomes

• Legacy Retirement System 

– Defined annuity benefit computed as 

– Must serve at least 20 years

• Blended Retirement System, blends:

After 60 days After 60 days After 2 years After 20 years Retirement Age

Member’s TSP 

Contributions

DoD 

Automatic

1% into TSP

DoD

Matching 

TSP Up to 4%

Monthly 

Retired Pay TSP Earnings

The Military Retirement Benefit

2.5% X X

Years Served Retired Pay 

Base

2.0% X X

Years Served Retired Pay Base

85%

of all service members will 

get government-provided 

retirement benefits

Includes Lump Sum Option

Only 19% Active and 14% Reserve Qualify
PERSONNEL AND READINESS 

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The Uniformed Services 

Blended Retirement System

UNCLASSIFIED

Blended Retirement System Basics

Individual 

Contribution

Agency Automatic 

Contribution

Agency Matching 

Contribution

Total TSP Monthly 

Contribution

0% 1% 0% 1%

1% 1% 1% 3%

2% 1% 2% 5%

3% 1% 3% 7%

4% 1% 3.5% 8.5%

5% 1% 4% 10%

Defined Contribution

2.0% x x =

NOTE: Currently serving members who opt-in will see matching contributions immediately

Years of 

Service 

High-36 

Month 

Average of 

Base Pay 

Defined Benefit

• Basic qualifications for 

retirement do not change

• The pension is still the 

primary component of military 

retirement

Continuation Pay

• Mid-career incentive designed to maintain force retention

• Payable between 8 and 12 years of service

• Minimum is 2.5 x monthly basic pay (0.5 x for RC)

Monthly 

Retired Pay

For non-regular retirement, at age 60 or earlier with creditable active service

Lump Sum

• May elect lump sum of 25% or 50% at retirement

• Discounted present value from retirement to age 67

• At age 67, reverts back to full annuity
PERSONNEL AND READINESS 

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The Uniformed Services 

Blended Retirement System

UNCLASSIFIED

Implementation Timeline

2016

2017

2018

2016 2017 2018 

JUNE 1 DECEMBER

JANUARY

DECEMBER 31 JANUARY 1 DECEMBER 31

Leader Training 

Began

Eligible Opt-In 

Members Notified

Opt-In 

Training Begins

Last Date of 

Eligibility for 

Coverage Under 

Legacy 

Retirement 

System with 

opportunity to 

Opt-In to BRS

BRS Goes 

Into Effect

OPT-IN 

WINDOW 

Opt-In 

Period Ends

OCTOBER

Financial Counselor/ 

Educator Course 

Released

All New Accessions 

Covered Under BRS

Enacted by 

Congress

Online 

Comparison 

Calculator 

Available

FEBRUARY
PERSONNEL AND READINESS 

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The Uniformed Services 

Blended Retirement System

UNCLASSIFIED

Blended Retirement System Benefits

 Greater portability of retirement benefits

 Earlier savings for retirement

 No longer ALL or NOTHING retirement plan

 Covers more people

 Recruiting incentive

 Continuation Pay adds incentive to stay for full career

 Lump Sum option gives choices at retirement

 Encourages saving for retirement

Decision to opt-in is the member’s only – DoD has no preference
PERSONNEL AND READINESS 

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The Uniformed Services 

Blended Retirement System

UNCLASSIFIED

Questions

http://militarypay.defense.gov/blendedretirement

Jerilyn Busch

703.693.1058

jerilyn.b.busch.civ@mail.mil

Andrew Corso

703.693.1059

andrew.r.corso.civ@mail.mil