Spiritual Minded Military Wyoming Army National Guard: What Benefits Do Guard Members Get After 20 Years—The Retirement Reality Protocol

May 12, 2026

You have been in the Wyoming Army National Guard for 15 years. Maybe 18. Perhaps you had a lucky 20. You've completed the drills. You have completed the annual trainings! You have deployed. You are alerted to floods and fire, as well as civil emergencies.

You've heard the word "retirement." You've heard that you'll receive a pension. Someone else told you that you need to wait until 60. You heard from another person that you won't receive anything until then.

At the end of 20 years you can't tell what you might get. The Guard has never provided any clarity. The briefings for retirement are confusing. The documents are written in a government style.

You are not alone. The majority of Guardsmen don't know what their retirement benefits are. The enemy thrives on confusion and will not allow you to plan.

This is the answer you've waited for.

"The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance." — Proverbs 21:5

THE QUESTION NO ONE ANSWERS

After 20 years of service, a member of the National Guard is eligible to receive retired pay at age 60 (or 55 in special cases). The points, rank, and retirement system determine the amount of retired pay.

However, retired pay is not the only benefit!

Once you have achieved 20 qualifying years, you also become eligible for:

TRICARE Retired Reserve (before 60 years old)
A TRICARE Prime (or Select (after age 60)) enrollment is required.
Travel on military aircraft – on a space-available basis (savings may apply).
The privileges of the commissary and exchange.
Veterans preference for federal employment
Qualification for a VA home loan is already yours, but it is a continuity (earlier, it was yours, but it is still yours).

The Retirement Reality Protocol provides detailed information about each of these benefits.

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THE 20-YEAR QUALIFYING SERVICE

Not all years count the same. You need 20 "good years" to qualify for retirement.

A good year requires the following:

At least 50 retirement points
Points come from: drill weekends, annual training, correspondence courses, membership points (15 per year)

What does not count as a good year?

Years with less than 50 points do not count toward the 20-year requirement
You can have 20 total years but not 20 "good years." Only good years count.

How to check your points:

Request your Retirement Points Statement from your unit administrator or through the HRCAPPS portal
Review it every year. Errors are common. Fix them early.

The enemy wants you to assume your points are correct. The enemy wants you to avoid checking. The enemy wants you to be surprised at 20 years that you do not actually qualify.

Check your points. Check them every year.

"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?" — Luke 14:28

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THE THREE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS

If you are a new retiree, you are a member of one of three retirement systems.

System One: Final Pay (Pre-8/8/1980)

Your retired pay is based on your final basic pay at retirement. Simple. Generous. This is not the case for most Wyoming Guardsmen.

System Two: High-36 (joined between September 8, 1980, and December 31, 2017)

Your retired pay is figured on the average of your 36 highest months of basic pay. This is the typical system for the older Guardsmen.

System Three: Blended Retirement System (enlisted or entered active service on or after Jan. 1, 2018)

Your retired pay is based on the High-36 average, but with a lower multiplier (2.0% instead of 2.5%). The BRS also covers government matching of the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).

The BRS matters. You have a TSP if you're in BRS. If you're not contributing, you should be. The government contribution is up to 5% of your base pay. That is free money. The enemy does not want you to take note of it.

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HOW YOUR RETIRED PAY IS CALCULATED

The math is not complicated. The Guard makes it sound complicated. Here is the simple formula.

For High-36 (the most common):

Step One: Calculate your total retirement points (including 15 membership points per year)
Step Two: Divide your total points by 360 (retirement points-to-years formula)
Step Three: Multiply by 2.5% (the multiplier)
Step Four: Multiply by your high-36 average monthly basic pay

Example: 7200 total points ÷ 360 = 20 years. 20 years × 2.5% = 50% multiplier. 50% ×

5,000 average basic pay = 2,500 per month at age 60.

For Blended Retirement System:

Same formula but with a 2.0% multiplier instead of 2.5%. Example: 7200 points ÷ 360 = 20 years. 20 years × 2.0% = 40% multiplier. 40% ×

5,000=2,000 per month.

The difference is significant. BRS gives you less pension but includes TSP matching. The TSP is yours to keep even if you do not retire. The pension requires 20 years.

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THE AGE 60 RULE (AND EXCEPTIONS)

You do not get retirement pay at 20 years. You get retired pay at age 60.

Why? Because guard retirement is different from active duty. Active-duty retirees get paid immediately. Guard retirees wait until age 60.

The exceptions:

For every 90 days of active duty (Title 10) performed after January 28, 2008, your retirement age is reduced by 90 days
For active duty performed during a contingency operation, your retirement age may be reduced
You can receive your full retired pay as early as age 50 (if you have enough active duty time)

What this means for Wyoming Guardsmen:

Most of your drill weekends and annual training do not count toward early retirement
Deployments do count
State active duty (floods, fires, civil unrest) does NOT count toward early retirement

The enemy wants you to be confused about when you get paid. The enemy wants you to assume you get paid at 20 years. The enemy wants you to be frustrated when you learn the truth.

Know the truth. Plan accordingly.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." — Ecclesiastes 3:1

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TRICARE BENEFITS (THE HEALTHCARE YOU ACTUALLY NEED)

It's good to have a retirement package. Healthcare is essential.

Prior to 60 years of age: TRICARE Retired Reserve

For the retired guard members that meet the age requirements (when they turn 60) but have not reached 62 years of age.
You have to pay premiums for this coverage.
Expensive, but more affordable than civilian insurance.

Those 60 and older: TRICARE Prime or Select

TRICARE eligibility: Once you reach age 60.
Select options include Prime (HMO-like) or Select (PPO-like)
Premiums also are significantly lower than TRICARE retired reserve's.

The TRICARE gap:

The time between retirement and age 60 is a costly period. Health insurance is required. There is an option of TRICARE Retired Reserve. Employer coverage is an option. If you have conditions resulting from your military service, you can seek VA benefits.

Plan for the gap. The enemy wants you to overlook the chasm. The enemy wants you to be caught off guard by healthcare expenses.

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Conclusion

Wyoming Army National Guard, you asked what benefits you get after 20 years.

The answer is retired pay starting at age 60 (or earlier with qualifying active duty). TRICARE after age 60. TRICARE Retired from the reserve before age 60. Commissary and exchange privileges. Space-available travel.

The Retirement Reality Protocol is not complicated. Know your points. Know your system. Know your timeline. Plan for the gap.

The enemy wants you confused. The enemy wants you to leave benefits on the table. The enemy wants you to stumble into retirement without a plan.

Do not let the enemy win. Know your benefits. Plan your retirement. Secure your future.

The Remnant does not transition. The Remnant re-enlists.

Spiritual Minded Military
We don't rank, we reign.

THE LITTLE GENERAL DOCTRINE

THIS IS NOT A SUGGESTION. IT IS A DIRECTIVE FOR THE ELITE 1%. [BY ORDER OF THE LITTLE GENERAL]

15-YEARS DRUG-FREE | WORLD CHAMPION | VETERAN

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