I'm curious about whether there are jobs that can continue or complement military pensions. I'm looking for options post-high school that provide financial stability, possibly leveraging military benefits. Any insights on how this works would be appreciated!
Multiple paths can allow you to continue receiving military pensions while working in the civilian sector or even within the federal government. Your military pension is a part of your earned retirement, and you typically won't need to forfeit it, regardless of your employment after leaving the service.
For instance, you can explore careers in the federal government. The government often seeks to hire veterans because of the special skills and leadership qualities they've developed in the service. Additionally, if you work for the federal government, you might qualify to have your military service count towards a federal civilian retirement.
Another popular route is to join the reserves or National Guard after active duty. You can continue earning towards your retirement while also benefiting from a part-time job that allows flexibility for other career or education endeavors.
If government jobs aren't appealing, plenty of private-sector companies value veterans for their unique skill sets and experience. You can potentially generate a healthy income in conjunction with your military pension. Companies such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Boeing, for example, have robust programs for hiring veterans.
However, if you want to pull from the pension before hitting the standard retirement age (typically 60), you may want to explore programs such as the Blended Retirement System (BRS) which allows you to begin drawing a percentage of your pension after 20 years of service, regardless of age.
In short, your military pension is a beneficial financial cushion that complements almost any post-military career path you choose to pursue. But when exploring career paths, keep in mind your personal interests, talents, and long-term goals, besides the financial aspects. Best of luck exploring your career options!
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