Choose a Pay System

• 1). Use the final pay system if you joined prior to September 8, 1980. With this method, use the amount of your monthly pay at the time of retirement.
  
  
• 2). Choose the High 36 system if you joined between September 8, 1980, and August 1, 1986. The High 36 is the average of your three highest years' pay.
  
  
• 3). Use either the High 36 or the career status bonus system (CSB) system if you joined after August 1, 1986. This choice, called REDUX, allows you to choose the method that produces the higher pension amount based on your years of service and active-duty salary.
  
  

Calculate Your Pension

• 1). Multiply each year of service by 2.5 percent if you are using the final pay system. This means 20 years will net you a monthly pension equal to 50 percent of your final monthly pay, and 30 years will net you 75 percent of your final pay.
  
  
• 2). Calculate the average of your highest 36 months' pay if you are under the High 36 (also called the High 3) system. Multiply each year of service by 2.5 percent, and then multiply the resulting percentage by your highest 36 months' average to determine your pension amount.
  
  
• 3). Multiply your first 20 years by 2.0 percent if you are under the CSB/REDUX system. Then, multiply each year over 20 by 3.5 percent. This means that 20 years of service will net you 40 percent of your High 36 average, and 25 years will net you 57.5 percent of your High 36 average. Once you reach the age of 62, your benefits are adjusted to equal the amount they would have under the High 36 system.