Retired military....

[GentleBen]

Congratulations on your retirement. Welcome to the ranks of the double dippers.

[boracayjohnny]

James, welcome to the ole farts club. While the young bucks run around chasing the cat, we sit on the porch and bark.

[ToolMaker]

Thank you for your service!

If you had anything to do with thermal imaging, I may have made the prototypes!

[69camfrk]

Originally Posted by GentleBen

Congratulations on your retirement. Welcome to the ranks of the double dippers.

Unfortunately, being a Guard technician, even though I was full time, wore the uniform every day, deployed with and the same as my active duty counterparts, I will not collect any retirement until age 60. So pretty much they are hoping you die before a pay out. I am considered a "grey area" retiree. My retirement is based on my civil service time, my thrift savings plan, and my military retirement. The reserves and guard do have a program called "AGR" which is active guard/reserve, where you draw the same paycheck as active duty, get to retire at 20 and draw full pension. Unfortunately, when I joined the guard, we really didn't have those slots, and by the time any came around, I was too deep in the civil service part of it, and had "bought back" my military time which adds years to my civil service retirement. It's complicated, but hopefully that explains a little..

[Barn Babe]

Congratulations and thank you for your service!

[Bill]

Originally Posted by 69camfrk

Unfortunately, being a Guard technician, even though I was full time, wore the uniform every day, deployed with and the same as my active duty counterparts, I will not collect any retirement until age 60. So pretty much they are hoping you die before a pay out. I am considered a "grey area" retiree. My retirement is based on my civil service time, my thrift savings plan, and my military retirement. The reserves and guard do have a program called "AGR" which is active guard/reserve, where you draw the same paycheck as active duty, get to retire at 20 and draw full pension. Unfortunately, when I joined the guard, we really didn't have those slots, and by the time any came around, I was too deep in the civil service part of it, and had "bought back" my military time which adds years to my civil service retirement. It's complicated, but hopefully that explains a little..

Wait. I think I forgot to carry a 7. I was told there would be no math here.

[boracayjohnny]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

Wait. I think I forgot to carry a 7. I was told there would be no math here.

It's .gov which, quite often, only knows the confusing and complicated way.

[69camfrk]

Originally Posted by boracayjohnny

It's .gov which, quite often, only knows the confusing and complicated way.

Well, at least you know what I'm talking about. One would almost have to sit down and put it on paper because it is the system it is. And Bill, you carry the 9, divide it by two, times it by double naught, and subtract 3 to the 5th power. That is how it works.

[99 pewtercoupe]

Congratulations and thank you for your service

[GentleBen]

Originally Posted by 69camfrk

Unfortunately, being a Guard technician, even though I was full time, wore the uniform every day, deployed with and the same as my active duty counterparts, I will not collect any retirement until age 60. So pretty much they are hoping you die before a pay out. I am considered a "grey area" retiree. My retirement is based on my civil service time, my thrift savings plan, and my military retirement. The reserves and guard do have a program called "AGR" which is active guard/reserve, where you draw the same paycheck as active duty, get to retire at 20 and draw full pension. Unfortunately, when I joined the guard, we really didn't have those slots, and by the time any came around, I was too deep in the civil service part of it, and had "bought back" my military time which adds years to my civil service retirement. It's complicated, but hopefully that explains a little..

So, how many points will you have for retirement purposes at age 60? Those total points, divided by 360, will determine your years of service. This would then be in addition to your CSRS payout - hmmm, does this make you a double dipper?

A better question is what is your TriCare status? Will you have to pay a premium or have a deductable? Regardless, it is less expensive than ACA (aka Obamacre).

[69camfrk]

Originally Posted by GentleBen

So, how many points will you have for retirement purposes at age 60? Those total points, divided by 360, will determine your years of service. This would then be in addition to your CSRS payout - hmmm, does this make you a double dipper?

A better question is what is your TriCare status? Will you have to pay a premium or have a deductable? Regardless, it is less expensive than ACA (aka Obamacre).

Even while in the guard full time, I was on Blue Cross, Blue Shield. We have to pay full price for insurance just like all federal employees. I have around 4200 points which will not give me a full AD retirement. Considering how they use the guard and reserve now, you are sort of getting the shaft a little. The reserve select tricare was only available to part timers, and I've only been part time since March. Only 3 drills worth. The past almost 16 years has been full time. Even though technicians pull the load of the air guard, we were never even allowed to have an enlistment bonus either, while our part timers were getting around 20k. Also, CSRS has been gone for years. Obviously, there are people retired under that program, but it changed to FERS (federal employee retirement system) in the 80's. It is not nearly as good a system and my TSP is considered part of it. That said, there are people who have never contributed a dime to that, and are going to be screwed at retirement. If the market completely tanks, all of us could lose our ass though.

At least though in my new job, I can work past 60 if I need to. The guard kicks you to the curb regardless at 60, and they seem to be working to get people out earlier than that. Being a dual status technician where your civilian job is directly tied to a military position, you are an injury away from being shown the door. My knees after all these years playing military are all to hell, and if you get any type of waiver or exemption for PT, they start looking at you like a 3 week old head of lettuce that has been sitting in the sun. Not that you can't do your job, but you can't be a track star the way they want. At 50 years of age, it was worrisome for me. That was one of the driving factors for me to take another job and retire from the military portion. After 20 years, you have to sign a "retention" letter every year. While I was retained for another year, it didn't seem logical to me to do the part time thing. My enlistment was up in June before the drill for that month, so I dropped paperwork.

[Kerrmudgeon]

Congratulations James, on retirement and making it through in one piece.

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by JRD77VET

A sincere heartfelt Thank You for your service



Jeff

YES, I ditto the above.....

[dwjz06]

Congrats sir thank you for the years of service.

[Aerovette]

We owe you big time and I apologize on behalf of the people in office that insist on treating you all like aging old dogs.

[69camfrk]

Originally Posted by aerovette

We owe you big time and I apologize on behalf of the people in office that insist on treating you all like aging old dogs.

Well, I guess in the scheme of things we are the aging old dogs. But we have a lot of experience and know how. Most AD folks retire between 38-45 years old, and have had office jobs for probably more than 75 percent of that. Technicians are valuable because of system knowledge, and being in the same job for years. We have very limited mobility in less physically taxing jobs, and it really breaks you down after so many years. But when you are a little broken you pretty much are cast aside. One of my younger technician brethern in his 20's hurt his back on the job and can't do sit ups anymore, well, unless he wants to end up in the hospital. Solid mechanic, reliable, and they just want him gone. Fortunately, he was offered a job on the other side of base, and is leaving too. Obviously not retiring, but the guard is losing a valuable player....Since he hurt his back on technician status (while wearing the uniform, mind you) he will get nothing but an adios...