Since I'm under CSRS, I haven't paid into SS in quite some time. Well....at least not from my civilian pay. I do have SS witheld from my reserve pay, but it's not enough to meet the minimum qualifications for "substantial earnings", therefore, I get no credit for paying that money in to SS. As a teenager prior to joing the AF, and then during my 4.5 yrs active duty, plus for a very short time afterwards, I did pay into SS, so I have the basic 40 quarters for minimum qualification. When I'm 62, I'll be able to draw maybe $250-$300 SS. Not much, but better than a kick in the pants. That'll be enough to put some gas in my boat to go fishing. The main thing I'll be looking forward to with regards to the reserves will be the retirement pension. Don't need the Tricare, but could use it I suppose if I wanted to. If we live near a base, we'll use the commissary. But...the pension is the biggie as far as I'm concerned. We'll be OK with the CS pension, TSP & IRAs, but the military pension at age 60 will be the icing on the cake for us. At that point, my wife will be OK no matter what happens to me due to the dual survivor benefits of the 2 pensions and we'll have all the income we need to live pretty well and money for the extras like travel etc. As much as I cussed having to give up a weekend every month for 32 years, now that I'm near the end, I'm really glad I hung in there. For now, while I'm still participating, I get $600 for the weekend drill (UTA) every month and now with my new unit, I get a free plane ride (C-130) back to my home state once a month & usually get to go visit my mom, sisters, daughter, grandaughter, best bud etc. It's only 1 hr 15 mins. from the base to my hometown! The flight from Milwaukee to Fayetteville, NC on a C-130 isn't exactly luxurious, since I'm sitting in a web seat & jammed in with a bunch of other yo-yo's, but again...it's free!