In many Army Reserve jobs you'll have the opportunity to earn professional and trade certifications. Nationally recognized, these certifications can help you succeed in your civilian career and even give you an edge over civilians seeking the same jobs.

The Army Reserve helps Soldiers find civilian jobs through the Partnership for Youth Success program (PaYS). This program gives Soldiers in the Army Reserve priority consideration for jobs at select companies all over the country, including many Fortune 500 companies. Available to qualified Army Reserve Soldiers who complete Basic Combat Training (BCT) and Advanced Individual Training (AIT), the program features employers such as Dell, Southwest Airlines and the NYPD.

Army Reserve Soldiers who complete 20 years or more of qualifying service are eligible for retirement pay at age 60. The amount of retirement pay you earn is tied to your Unit Training Pay and increases with the number of years served. While you collect retirement pay, the amount you earn increases periodically through cost-of-living adjustments.

As a Soldier in the Army Reserve, you are eligible to participate in a 401(k)-type retirement savings and investment plan. The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is sponsored by the Federal Government and offers the same type of savings and tax benefits that many corporations offer employees. An optional program, TSP enables you to contribute up to 100 percent of your basic pay each pay period, up to the limits established by the Internal Revenue Code. If you contribute to the TSP from your basic pay, you may also contribute from 1 to 100 percent of any incentive or special pay (including bonus pay) you receive. TSP contributions are either tax-deferred or tax-exempt, which means that the money you contribute is taken out of your pay before Federal and state income taxes are withheld, a feature that regular savings accounts cannot offer.

The Army Reserve is committed to taking care of Soldiers — whether they're enlisted or retired. Army Reserve Veterans are entitled to many great benefits that can help them pay for college, finance homes, purchase life insurance and find good jobs.