Blended Retirement System
The Blended Retirement System (BRS) is the military's modern retirement plan for the uniformed services. It is designed to provide retirement savings opportunities to a larger number of service members by combining elements of the legacy pension system with benefits similar to a private-sector 401(k) plan. Any service member who joined on or after January 1, 2018, is automatically enrolled. Service members who joined before January 1, 2018, had a 12-month “opt-in” period.
- Defined Benefit (Pension): A lifetime monthly annuity for Service members who complete at least 20 years of service. This provides a secure, predictable retirement income based on years of service and the average of the member's highest 36 months of basic pay.
- Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): A defined contribution plan where the government contributes to your retirement savings. The DoD automatically contributes 1% of your basic pay and will match your contributions up to an additional 4%, allowing all BRS members to build a portable retirement nest egg.
- Continuation Pay: A mid-career retention bonus offered to members who have completed 12 years of service in exchange for an additional service obligation. This one-time payment is a financial incentive designed to help maintain force readiness in critical skill areas.