Military Pension Blended 2027
BRS Military: 2% × years × base = 40% at 20 yrs (vs 50% legacy). + 5% TSP match + lump sum continuation pay at 12 yr.
| Base pay | — |
| Years | — |
| TSP balance | — |
| Annual pension (2%/yr) | — |
| TSP 4% withdrawal | — |
| Total annual income | — |
| Legacy pension (2.5%/yr) | — |
| Pension reduction | — |
The Blended Retirement System (BRS) replaced the legacy 'High-3' pension for service members entering after January 2018. Trade-off: smaller pension (2% per year vs 2.5%) but gains TSP match + lump-sum continuation pay at 12 years.
BRS vs Legacy Pension
Legacy: 2.5% × years × base = 50% at 20 yrs, 100% at 40 yrs. BRS: 2.0% × years × base = 40% at 20, 80% at 40. BRS gives up 1/5 of pension but receives 5% TSP match + bonuses.
TSP Government Match
Automatic 1% contribution to TSP (regardless of your contribution). Matching up to 4% if you contribute 5%. Total 5% match value. Across 20+ years of career + investment growth, this compounds significantly.
Continuation Pay Bonus
Year 12 of service: lump sum of 2.5-13x monthly base pay. Service-specific rate. Encourages mid-career service members to stay. Average $20K-$50K bonus. Tax-advantaged if you roll into TSP.
Last updated May 2026. Sources: DoD Blended Retirement.