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Compare your retirement pay under the Blended Retirement System (BRS) and High-3 legacy plan. Get accurate monthly and annual estimates based on the current DoD pay tables.
Models Final Pay, High-3, CSB/REDUX, and BRS (active or Reserve/Guard points), then layers in the VA disability offset and compares CRDP vs CRSC after tax. Estimates only. Confirm with DFAS or your finance office before you make elections.
50% x $5,200 base.
VA compensation is tax-free but you normally waive an equal amount of retired pay for it (the VA waiver). Concurrent receipt (CRDP or CRSC) can restore some or all of that. This is the highest-value part of the tool.
Not eligible. CRSC needs a combat-related disability rated 10%+ (check the box and enter the combat-related amount).
Sources (reviewed July 2026)
Estimates in today's dollars. Excludes COLA growth, TSP investment returns, Chapter 61 disability-retirement caps, the SBP-DIC offset, and TERA/early-retirement adjustments. Only one retired-pay system applies to you based on your service entry date. This is not financial advice. Confirm every figure with DFAS.
See the monthly pension each system produces from the same service. Which one applies depends on when you entered service.
Entered service before Sep 8, 1980. Uses your final basic pay.
Entered Sep 8, 1980 – Dec 31, 2017. Uses your highest-36-months average.
Only if you took the $30K Career Status Bonus at 15 yrs. Reduced multiplier + reduced COLA; recomputes to the High-3 amount at age 62.
Entered 2018+ (or opted in). Lower pension, but adds government TSP (auto 1% + up to 4% match) — a portable balance the others don’t get.
Defined-benefit (pension) estimate only, in today's dollars. It excludes BRS TSP growth, disability/CRDP/CRSC, SBP, and COLA differences. Only one system applies to you based on your service entry date. Confirm with DFAS or your finance office.
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The BRS combines a reduced pension multiplier (2.0%) with automatic and matching TSP contributions up to 5%. Ideal for members who may not serve a full 20 years.
The traditional military pension uses a 2.5% multiplier against the average of your highest 36 months of base pay. Available to members who entered service before January 1, 2018.
Based on 2026 active duty pay tables for E-5 through O-10
Project your TSP balance with government matching and compound growth
Understand SBP costs and how they affect your net retirement income
See how VA disability compensation interacts with retirement pay
Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay calculations
Compare BRS and High-3 outcomes to make informed decisions
Active duty members become eligible for retirement after 20 years of creditable service. Under BRS, you receive 40% of your High-3 base pay at 20 years, increasing 2% per additional year. Under the legacy High-3 system, you receive 50% at 20 years, increasing 2.5% per year. Both systems provide annual COLA adjustments, though BRS uses a reduced COLA formula with a catch-up at age 62.
Members medically retired with fewer than 20 years receive either a percentage-based or disability-based calculation, whichever is higher. The calculator accounts for all these scenarios.
Free, no sign-up required. Compare BRS vs High-3, layer in VA disability and state tax, and email yourself a copy.