Is it possible to retire as an enlisted person from the military without working?

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warcry80

New member
I am currently an E-3 in the military and contemplating doing 20 or more years in the service. I am currnently married with no kids. Is it possible to retire as an enlisted person and not have to work afterwards? Maybe it would be possible to just work part-time after retiremen?

Or is this only possible when retiring from the officer ranks?
 
you can and working part time would be a good call it depends on what rank you make its not that great i have been told but you can live on it with extra income it should be ok.
 
No. Not unless you make E-8/E-9 and do the full 30. If you've got a family there's no way you can live on your retired pay.

As an Officer, O-5/O-6 with 25+ years you can do it if you're careful.

**********You do NOT get BAH after you're retired. Your retired pay is based on your average high 3 year base pay. Your retired pay is fully taxable. If you want Survivor's Benefit Annuity (to pass your retirement along to wife/kids in the event you die) that's deducted too.

Free medical? Hardly. Have you looked at the copays and deductibles on TriCare for Life?

You do not get free dental. You have to purchase dental insurance.
 
If you are very smart and careful with your money it is possible. Keep in mind that you will have to live a very frugal life both before and after retirement. But yeah it's possible. Good luck.
 
You could, but you would have to put in more than 20 years. Besides, assuming you are in your early twenties, you would retire in your early-mid forties. That is a lot of time to do nothing. Especially with a wife nagging you.
 
It is possible, but you will likely need another job. If you retire after 20 years, you'll likely be a SFC or higher. You'll receive 50% of your highest ranking base pay, plus BAH, free medical, dental, etc.

This means that as a SFC with 20 years in, you will be getting about $2000 in base pay each month in retirement as well as BAH. Let's say BAH was $1500 with dependents for your area. This means that you would be receiving about $3500 every month in retirement, minus taxes of course.

Although this isn't much, if you live simply and don't spend extravagantly, you can manage.
 
depends on how much money you need to live.

dad retired as tech sgt with three kids. mom always worked and he got job after retiring.
we weren't rich but was able to get a house after twenty years.
 
LOL it sounds like you said, retire after 20 years not working ! That's hilarious. Though I know a few NCOs who are giving it a try...

Yeah, you can live off a retirement check as long as you get to E8 and maybe do a couple a few years past 20. Trick is to live simply some place that is not expensive, like in the South, for instance. And make sure your future kids (if you have any) are aware you aren't planning to pay for their college. (Nothing wrong with that, in my book, if you do not have money lying around.)

You might want to work part time though, at least, depending on the standard of living you want. Also, a lot of young retirees get bored and end up going back to work anyways. My grandfather retired three times. Third time finally stuck. :)

And remember, your wife gets a vote here. :)
 
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