US Air Force officials recently released a message to it’s Airmen discussing the rollout of the highly talked about implementation of the new Blended Retirement System (BRS) passed by Congress in the FY16 NDAA. These new changes will affect all new recruits. Below is the letter released.
Airmen of the United States Air Force:
On 1 January 2018, the Department of Defense will implement the new Blended Retirement System (BRS) enacted by Congress in the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act. As this implementation date gets closer, it’s extremely important for Airmen at all levels to begin familiarizing themselves with the new BRS as it will impact everyone. All Airmen accessed after 1 January 2018 will automatically be enrolled in the new BRS and those Airmen with 12 or less years of service as of 31 December 2017 will have the opportunity to “opt-in” to the new system if they choose. Whether you fall into one of these categories or supervise someone who does, education on the new system is paramount.
The first step will provide education for leaders at all levels on the basics of the BRS. This training is now available through the Joint Knowledge Online (JKO) BRS Leader Training Course (http://jko.jten.mil). We highly encourage all supervisors to take this 30-minute training to familiarize yourself with the BRS. Although geared towards leaders, the Leader Training course is available to all Airmen and we encourage anyone looking for additional information to take the course. Specific courses targeting newly accessed Airmen and Financial Counselors will be available in the future. A specialized course for Airmen eligible to opt-in to the BRS will be mandatory and will be available starting in 2017.
Airmen are our most important asset and preparing them for these impactful changes is a leadership priority. We are counting on and thank each of you for leading the way and taking care of our Airmen. For additional background information on BRS, please visit http://militarypay.defense.gov.
Deborah Lee James
Secretary of the Air Force
Mark A. Welsh III
General, USAF
Chief of Staff
James A. Cody
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
Click on MEMO for official letter.