Military pay, benefits &
retirement, made simple.

More military tools are in active development, see the roadmap below.

• 01Military-to-GS Salary TranslatorFederal bridgeMap your rank and time in service to the equivalent GS grade, then compare military RMC (pay + BAH + BAS + tax advantage) against the GS salary.Launch→
• 02Military Service Buyback CalculatorFederal bridgeEstimate the deposit to buy back active-duty service toward your FERS pension, plus the lifetime annuity payoff.Launch→
• 03Reserve Retirement Points CalculatorRetirementEstimate your Guard or Reserve pension from retirement points and good years. Covers High-3 (2.5%) and BRS (2.0%) systems, with optional age-reduction for qualifying mobilizations.Launch→
• 04BRS vs High-3 CalculatorRetirementCompare the Blended Retirement System (40% + TSP match) against legacy High-3 (50%) over your career. See whether the TSP match covers the pension gap at your pay grade and return assumption.Launch→
• 05Military Pay (RMC) CalculatorPayCalculate your Regular Military Compensation: base pay + BAH + BAS + the tax advantage, plus a civilian-equivalent gross salary readout.Launch→

• 012027 Pay Gap: Feds 0%, Military 5-7%The proposed civilian-vs-military raise gap, the year-by-year data, and the pension impact.Read→
• 02Military Buyback GuideHow buying back military service works, deadlines, and whether it pays off for your situation.Read→
• 03Navy DRP 2026: Civilian Employee GuideDRP eligibility, the $46,800 severance gap vs. VERA, and the financial decision Navy civilians face before the September deadline.Read→
• 04Navy Civilian Reduction 2026: 10/15/20% GuideWhat the 10–20% civilian workforce review means for each command, who is protected, and what every Navy civilian should do now.Read→

• 01$645 a Month: TRICARE Retired Reserve's Real 2026 CostTRR runs $645.90 single or $1,548.30 family per month in 2026, full cost, no subsidy. Who qualifies, the FEHB trap that blocks feds, and the age-60 payoff.Read→
• 02$1,490/Year Apart: House vs Senate 2027 Military Pay RaiseThe House wants 7% for junior enlisted; the Senate passed 3.6% flat. The per-rank dollar gap, why the House bill stalled, and what history says wins.Read→
• 03The FEHB 5-Year Rule: 4 Myths, Debunked With OPM SourcesYou don't need the same FEHB plan for 5 years. Spouse coverage counts, TRICARE counts, and breaks in service get skipped. The real rule, with citations.Read→
• 04Leaving the Military? The Money Blindside Nobody Briefs You OnTRICARE ends, BAH stops, and an $80K civilian offer can be a $30K pay cut. The 2026 healthcare options, deadlines, and salary math for separating troops.Read→
• 05Catch-62: The Military Buyback Trap That Cuts CSRS PensionsCatch-62 permanently cuts CSRS pensions at age 62 if the military deposit went unpaid. Who it hits, the $440/month surprise, and how to check your status.Read→

Should I buy back my military service time for FERS?

Buying back active-duty service adds that time to your FERS creditable service, which raises your pension and can move up your retirement eligibility. The trade-off: you generally must waive military retired pay, with disability retirements and most Reserve/Guard retirements as exceptions. For employees who will spend years in federal service, the buyback usually pays off — run your own numbers with the Military Service Buyback Calculator.

Can I collect military retirement and a FERS pension at the same time?

Often yes. If you do not buy back your active-duty time, military retirees can keep their retired pay and separately earn a FERS annuity for their civilian years. If you buy the time back into FERS, you typically waive military retired pay (disability and Reserve/Guard retirements are treated differently). The right choice depends on your years of service in each system.

How does my military rank translate to a GS grade?

There is no official one-to-one rank-to-GS chart, but your rank, years of service, and education map to a GS grade and step range. The Military-to-GS Salary Translator estimates the equivalent grade and compares your military Regular Military Compensation against the GS salary.

As a military retiree taking a federal job, should I keep TRICARE or FEHB?

You can be eligible for both. Many retirees keep TRICARE and suspend FEHB, while others carry FEHB for broader provider access or to coordinate the two. The best fit depends on cost, your providers, and family coverage — our TRICARE vs FEHB comparison walks through the trade-offs.

Is military pay really lower than civilian pay?

A fair comparison uses Regular Military Compensation — base pay plus BAH, BAS, and the federal tax advantage on allowances — not base pay alone. Once those are included, the gap is usually much smaller than the base-pay figures suggest.