Effects of the Blended Retirement System on United States Army Reserve Participation and Cost

This analysis of the new Blended Retirement System (BRS) finds that it can sustain U.S. Army Reserve participation relative to the legacy system if continuation pay (CP) is set at optimized levels. The analysis also predicts CP cost and the percentage of reservists opting in to the BRS. CP levels affect the likelihood that currently serving members elect the BRS, thereby affecting the time pattern of cost to the Army.