BRS Comparison

Compare retired pay estimates under the Blended Retirement System (BRS) to those using the legacy High-3 system. If eligible to opt-in, use this comparison to make an informed decision on opting into the BRS or staying in the legacy High-3 system.

Access to the BRS Comparison calculator requires a CAC or DS Logon. This allows a service member's personnel data to populate the calculator fields for a personalized estimate of retired pay. Sign up for a DS Logon here.

The opt-in period for Blended Retirement System (BRS) ended effective December 31, 2018, for most military members.

There are some exceptions for the following members:

Break in service - If you have a break in service, rejoined after the 2018 calendar year opt-in window and still meet the less than 12 years of service criteria or have fewer than 4,320 retirement points, you will have 30 days to choose the BRS or remain in the legacy retirement system.

Individual Ready or Standby Reserve - If you are a BRS-eligible member of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) or the Standby Reserve who entered paid status for the first time after 2018, you may receive a one-time BRS opt-in extension. Once in paid status, you have 30 days to opt into the BRS.

For more information see the BRS fact sheet or consult your personnel or finance office for more information.

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Featured: Reunion

The return home from combat can often leave servicemembers feeling out of place with the most important people in their lives - their families.

"In deployment, Soldiers grow accustomed to a new lifestyle and a new 'family' - those buddies that bond together to defend each other," said Maj. Ken Williams, 14th Military Police Brigade chaplain. "This lifestyle change is prolonged and becomes familiar, i.e., the new normal."

The families also change while the Servicemember is deployed.

"The family is a system," Williams said. "When one family member is absent, the whole system changes. All members of the family adapt to a new 'normal' way of life."

When the servicemember returns, the family may feel uncomfortable with each other, and the servicemember may withdraw from the family.