Doc Jargon: Terms of service vary from years to lifer status

Photo By Collen McGee | Doc Jargon, cutting through the jargon that is the U.S. Army.  

FORT RILEY, KS, UNITED STATES

06.15.2023

Story by Collen McGee 

Fort Riley Public Affairs Office

Dear Doc Jargon,

I’m a bout to get married and come with my wife to Fort Riley where she’s stationed. She said that we’d have to decide if she should be a “lifer.” I’m not exactly sure what that means but I know it has something to do with retirement.
Can you shed some light on life around here?

Sincerely,
Entering Army Spouse Life



Dear Spouse Life,

You are right that the term “lifer” has something to do with retirement. It used to be that to earn any sort of retirement benefit, a Soldier had to serve at least 20 years. That was considered a “life sentence.” Soldiers who served or strives to serve 20 or more years were called lifers.

There are still plenty of Soldiers who are serving more than 20 years. However, they no longer have to wait until then to earn at least partial benefits. So, the idea of being a military lifer isn’t gone, but it isn’t an all or nothing sort of deal any longer either. To learn more about the new retirement system, talk to the folks over at financial management section of Army Community Service,. They can help you and your spouse figure out all the options, lifer or not.

Sincerely,
Doc Jargon

• Date Taken: 06.15.2023
• Date Posted: 06.15.2023 09:12
• Story ID: 447235
• Location: FORT RILEY, KS, US