Reserve component blended retirement system options

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The Fiscal Year 2016 Nation Defense Authorization Act created a new military retirement system that blends the traditional legacy retirement pension with a defined contribution to Service members’ Thrift Savings Plan account. The new Blended Retirement System goes into effect on January 1, 2018.

All members serving as of December 31, 2017, are grandfathered under the legacy retirement system. No one currently-serving will be automatically switched to the Blended Retirement System.

Though they are grandfathered under the legacy retirement system, Active Component Service members who entered the military after December 31, 2005, and Reserve Component Service members who have accrued fewer than 4,320 retirement points prior to January 1, 2018, will have the option to opt into the Blended Retirement System or remaining in the legacy retirement system. The opt-in/election period for the Blended Retirement System begins January 1, 2018, and concludes on December 31, 2018.

All Service members who enter the military on or after January 1, 2018, will automatically be enrolled in BRS.

Here is the DOD-BRS Reserve Component fact sheet.