Army Reserve

Active Duty or Army Reserve?

Learn the differences between serving on active duty or in the Army Reserve.

Earning a prestigious degree for free

See how the Army Reserve helped Captain Sandra Altamirano get into the USC Annenberg School of Journalism — and come out with zero student loans.

WATCH VIDEO

Army Reserve

ARMY RESERVE VETERANS

ARMY RESERVE VETERAN EMPLOYMENT AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS

The Army Reserve can help you find great jobs both during and after your term of enlistment. Retired Army Reserve Soldiers have access to veteran employment programs and benefits that can help you get ahead in life.

US Army Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) Program

The U.S. Army Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) is designed to help Soldiers prepare for a career after the Army. Soldiers participating in PaYS will be guaranteed a job interview with their pre-selected PaYS partner. The PaYS program links your Army Reserve Military Occupational Specialty to a participating civilian employer. Ask your recruiter for participating civilian companies in your area.

Learn More About PaYS

EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

Serve in the Army Reserve and advance your civilian career at the same time. Through this program, you’ll gain access to thousands of civilian employers who are Army Reserve friendly and value the skills, capabilities and leadership your bring to the workplace. To learn more, check out the Employer Partnership web site.

EARNING PROFESSIONAL TRAINING CERTIFICATES

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.

Explore Different Army Jobs Certifications

Army Reserve Retirement Pay

If you complete 20 years or more of qualifying service, you’re 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 reserve retirement pay, the amount you earn increases periodically through cost-of-living adjustments.

Army Reserve Retirement Savings Plan

As a Soldier in the Army Reserve, you are eligible to participate in a retirement savings and investment plan. The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is sponsored by the federal government and offers similar savings and tax benefits many corporations offer.

The Thrift Savings Plan is an optional program that lets you contribute up to 100 percent of your basic pay each pay period (up to the limits established by the Internal Revenue Code). Your 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, something that regular savings accounts cannot offer.

Veterans' Benefits and Employment

The Army Reserve is committed to taking care of our Soldiers — whether you are enlisted or retired. Army Reserve veterans are entitled to many great benefits that can help pay for college, finance homes, purchase life insurance and find good veteran employment.