I know you don't get paid for IRR, but do you get retirement points? Is there any reason to be IRR beyond you have to or you want to?

You can still get enough points IRR to get the reserve retirement, but you are basically coasting on the active time you already have. 50 pts a year doesn't really add up to much of an increase in the retirement check.

Any inputs as to how similar the Navy or Marine reserve pay works? Is it the same?

Do you still have an ID with all the BX/Commissary benefits while IRR? My wife wants to know.

Yes, you can keep your ID card. If you are IRR and in the NARS, which stands for non-affiliated Reserve Service, you have a 2 year period in which to find a "IRR" job. If you don't my understanding is is that they will discharge you. I had more than 8 years to go and picking up a few hot standby's paid way more than the reserves. It was a hard choice but I really enjoy my down time and not commuting to the reserve squadron.

Thank you for your service to the nation. :)

14+ yrs AD, and 8+ yrs reserve, mostly on continuous active orders. I postponed the civilian job search until recently, and will get an "active duty" retirement [NOW, not at 60]. For me this was the right call, especially since I live 15 miles from my unit. The folks that commute to the reserves have a much tougher time managing family life. And if your civilian job takes you away from home also, that is killer.

Several former unit reservists maintain their affiliation/points-building by serving with the Civil Air Patrol, or as Air Liaison Officers (ALO). I think most of that work can be done in the local region, without needing to be gone from home. Occasional driving to meetings/interviews.

Just a thought, but either way, thanks for your service.

How many points do you need to qualify for retirement? I'll have 10 years AD in when I punch out and go Reserves; thanks!

Points & Retirement
 

You don't need points to retire; you need:

1. 20 total years. That's your active and Reserve/Guard combined.

2. A minimum number of years in the Guard or Reserve. When I became a Reservist, it was 6 years in the Reserve component. I don't know if that has changed or not.

The Importance of Points:

The more points you accumulate, the more money you get at age 60 when you draw your first retirement check (assuming you are not a full-time AGR guy). AGRs get their money immediately after retiring.

Formula:

A 20-year active-duty career is deemed 7200 days of work. Each day is 1 point.

When you retire from the Guard/Reserve, divide your total points by 7200.

That is the fraction of the regular active-duty retirement you will receive.

(BTW, I had 15.5 years when I punched--now have 25+).

Navy & Marine Reserve Retirement
 

Navy & Marines work the same way; it's Federal-Law driven.

You get Military Medical (space-available) when you turn 60.

By the Way: my comments previous were for paid-drilling guys. If you are IRR, you need the 50 points a year to make it a "Good Year." If you only earn 49, they all go away, and the year doesn't count for either your 20 total OR 6 in the component.

UAL, that's great info. Thanks!

I have read a lot written about regional pilots who also fly for the AF Reserve or ANG and how the combined pay is enough to live off...but what about the Army Reserves? Are there any regional folks here who fly for the Army Reserve?? If so, have you been comfortably been able to support yourselves with Army Reserve pay combined with the regionals? I have compared officer pay tables on the internet between the AFRes and the Army Res. and there seems to be a 10:1 ratio between to two. Am I looking at the wrong information.

Don't get me wrong, the pay would not deter me from serving my country, but I would like to know if I will be able to support my family and pay bills.

Thanks for any info.