Job Security
Our #1 goal is to take care of our Airmen. An Airman's job and pay are guaranteed and include regular opportunities for advancement. A career in the Air Force guarantees you have a job. A guaranteed job means guaranteed income, with no chance of strikes or layoffs.
This chart shows the trend in unemployment rates for persons 25 years and older by educational attainment to show you a comparison of what your current unemployment risk is in the civilian job market compared to the security of an Air Force career. You indicated your current education level is High School.
Medical Care
Our Airmen receive excellent rates, comprehensive medical includes health, dental and vision care, plus full pay and allowances for sick days and low-cost life insurance up to $400,000. And if you're ever temporarily disabled due to illness or injury, you'll still receive a salary. Family members may receive medical care at military or civilian facilities through various options for little or no cost.
| Medical Care Category | Programs | Eligibility | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Care | TRICARE Prime Plans | (1) Active duty service members and their families, (2) Retired service members and their families*, (3) Activated Guard/Reserve members and their families, (4) Non-activated Guard/Reserve members and their families who qualify for care under the Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP), (5) Retired Guard/Reserve members at age 60 and their families*, (6) Survivors, (7) Medal of Honor recipients and their families, and (8) Qualified former spouses. | A managed care option offering the most affordable and comprehensive coverage. |
| Health Care | TRICARE Select Plans | (1) Active duty family members, (2) Retired service members and their families, (3) Family members of activated Guard/Reserve members, (4) Non-activated Guard/Reserve members and their families who qualify for care under TAMP, (5) Retired Guard/Reserve members at age 60 and their families, (6) Survivors, (7) Medal of Honor recipients and their families, and (8) Qualified former spouses. | A preferred provider network available to all non-active duty beneficiaries. Most freedom of choice. |
| Dental Care | TRICARE Active Duty Dental | Active Duty Personnel | You get most of your dental care at military dental clinics. If you need care outside of a military dental clinic, how you get care depends on where you live. In the United States and U.S. Territories if you need to get dental care from a civilian dentist, you'll use the TRICARE Active Duty Dental Program. |
| Dental Care | TRICARE Dental | (1) Family member of an active duty service member (2) Family member of a National Guard/Reserve member, OR (3) National Guard/Reserve Member who isn't on active duty or covered by TAMP. | The TRICARE Dental Program covers: Exams, cleanings, fluorides, sealants, and X-rays, fillings (including white fillings on back teeth), root canals, gum surgery, oral surgery and tooth extractions, crowns and dentures, orthodontics and braces. Additional benefits for enrollees with chronic conditions and special needs |
| Dental Care | FEDVIP Retiree | Retired Service Members | Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) is a voluntary, enrollee-pay-all dental and vision program. It is sponsored by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and offers eligible participants a choice between ten dental and four vision carriers. |
| Vision Care | TRICARE Vision Care | Active Duty Personnel | Your vision benefits, including eye exams, depend on: (1) Who you are, (2) Your TRICARE plan and (3) Your age. |
| Vision Care | FEDVIP Vision Coverage | (1) Family member of an active duty service member, (2) National Guard member or their family (3) Reservist or their family, (4) Retiree or their family, and (5) TRICARE For Life member. | FEDVIP vision plans vary in coverage and cost. They may include routine eye exams, eyeglasses, and contact lenses. |
Blended Retirement System
The best kind of career ensures that you can eventually leave it and live comfortably in retirement. Your Air Force career is designed from the beginning to help you save while not sacrificing your daily comfort while you work. Using the Blended Retirement System, service members get:
1. Retirement Plan
The DoD automatically contributes 1% of your basic pay to your Thrift Savings Plan after 60 days of service. You'll see matching contributions at the start of 3 years through the completion of 26 years of service, and...
You're fully vested- meaning it's yours to keep - as of the beginning of 3 years of service and goes with you when you leave.
2. Mid-Career Continuation Pay
A mid-career financial incentive is paid to Airmen who are enrolled in the Blended Retirement System (BRS). It is in addition to any career-field-specific incentives or retention bonuses.
Calculated by (monthly basic pay * 2.5) - tax withholding = net continuation pay. You must elect to receive it before starting your 12th year of service.
NOTE: You must commit to serve an additional 48 months (concurrent with other service commitments). If you do not complete the obligation, you must repay all or part of your CP. *Title 37 USC, Sec. 373 and DoD Financial Management Regulations, Vol. 7A, Chap. 2.
$ 9,987
What this means for me: If I serve at least 12 years, achieve standard promotions and reach an E7 pay grade, I could receive a one-time estimated continuation pay of $9,987.
TIP: People tend to spend what they make. The secret to building wealth is to be disciplined on saving. Remember, time is your friend if you let it be. One tip is to understand the opportunity of investing your bonus. Think about it in these terms: If I invested $9,987, assuming I earn the average long-term return of the stock market, I could have $65,745 by the time I retire at age 65*. Using this thought process on all your spending can lead to building long-term wealth. A good rule of thumb is to invest at least half of your bonus. *Assuming an enlistment age of 18.
3. Full Retired Pay Annuity for Life
Calculate your retired pay base by averaging the highest 36 months of basic pay. You'll gain this monthly annuity for life after completing 20 years of service.
Individuals with traditional civilian pensions receive a fixed amount each year for life and start collecting them at age 65 to receive the full pension amount.
Individuals with Air Force pensions or annuities receive a full cost of living adjusted pension, meaning it is adjusted each year for inflation (~2% long-run average), starting when they retire from the Air Force, which could be as early as age 38. Look at the chart below to see the difference this makes over your retirement.
What this means for me: Assuming I serve 20 years achieving standard promotions reaching an E8, I could receive an estimated annuity of $29,965 per year at age 38. This annuity is cost of living adjusted (COLA) for 2% annual inflation** building to $51,240 per year at age 65*.
*Assuming an enlistment age of 18.
**2% is the U.S. Federal Reserve's long-term benchmark for annual inflation.
TIP: Set goals and understand how much you need for retirement. Reinvesting $1,500 per month until your actual retirement at age 65 could grow to roughly $1.4M assuming an enlistment age of 18 and average 7% rate of return which is the 30 year average of the S&P 500.
NOTE: The longer you stay in the Air Force and the higher the pay grades you achieve, the more your yearly retirement annuity will be. It works out to ~2% per year you serve.
