I know that question sounds ingenuous, but stick with me for a few paragraphs. I want to know if you’re getting all the wisdom you’re seeking, and what’s missing from the “official” resources.
The WordPress Jetpack plugin includes search data and blog statistics. You’d expect the data to be full of phrases like “military financial independence“, but lately it’s been all about Reserve retirement. For example, here’s a three-month summary of the top 15 search terms and views since I’ve had the blog on its new host:
- 555 Navy Reserve retirement calculator
- 182 Air Force Reserve retirement calculator
- 84 Reserve retirement calculator
- 65 military Reserve retirement calculator
- 57 Navy Reserve retirement pay calculator
- 53 The Military Guide
- 48 National Guard retirement
- 47 The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Retirement
- 38 military Reserve retirement pay calculator 2012
- 33 Air Force Reserve retirement calculator points
- 32 Naval Reserve retirement pay calculator
- 31 Reserve retirement calculator Navy
- 31 Reserve military retirement calculator
- 31 Reserve retirement pay calculator
- 26 Air Force Reserve retirement pay calculator
These are just the search terms that WordPress can see, and these are just the people who searched directly from the blog instead of through Google or Bing or some other source. In fact, if you Google the phrase “Navy Reserve retirement calculator”, my post on calculating a Reserve retirement is the #2 result of over 32,500 hits. (NavyReserve.com is still #1.) Even “Air Force Reserve retirement pay calculator” is #2 of over 380,000 results– ahead of the ARPC, DFAS, and DoD pages on the topic. If I was the SEO guru for those organizations then I’d be a little embarrassed. I’d also be inquiring about advertising rates on The-Military-Guide.com.
But anyway, I’m gaining the impression that people are trying to learn more about Reserve retirement.
I wrote that post nearly a year ago. Blogger geeks refer to this as “long tail keywords”, and they’re quite profitable for search engine rankings and advertising. It’s also tremendously flattering. (Thank you!) I appreciate the support, folks, but gosh, are the other official U.S. government websites not providing what you’re seeking?
I’m ready to write a new post about Reserve retirement. Tell me what answers you’re seeking and what you want to read.
Related articles:
This is the post: Calculating a Reserve retirement
Should you join the Reserves or National Guard?
Navy Reserve retirement credit for ROTC summer training
Reserves and National Guard: Tricare Reserve Select and Tricare Retired Reserve health insurance
The Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan
Reader questions on Reserve retirement Tricare and points
Military retention update: “Should you stay or should you go?”
The regulation for calculating an active-duty pension
Retiring on multiple streams of income
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Nords-
I am not currently researching this; but I did research it quite a bit before and after joining the reserves. Your input proved invaluable. I am grateful.
I suspect the reason for the searches relates to the excess of “loose” or unclear information regarding this subject (as an example, the 15 membership points issue drove me nuts for a while…far too many sources inadvertently claiming these points disappear if not necessary for a good year). I appreciate the tenacity you have demonstrated in the past when trying to get to the bottom of such issues (the “Tricare prior to 60″ is a prime example of your git-r-done attitude). Kudos and thank you…
V/r,
LB
Thanks, Leftbucket!
That was a good question about Tricare before age 60. (http://the-military-guide.com/2012/12/13/reader-questions-on-reserve-retirement-tricare-and-points/) I learned a lot from it, and it’s getting its fair share of traffic too.
I don’t know anything about the reserves, but I suspect there are many active duty who are ready to be out sourced….I know my Air Force nephew is certainly looking at transitioning.
On the other hand
What do you know about the 40 mile rule for TriCare Prime? Does it look like that circle will continue to shrink? Since a main reason we moved to Kansas was for health care (Standard was not accepted by many doctors in Flagstaff), I am concerned the circle will force all of us to standard. What is the word?
That’s another good question, Jan. I’ll have to look into how “40 miles” came into play.
I suspect that MOAA will be on the front lines of a Congressional e-mail campaign if DoD tries to shrink that circle.
Here you go, Jan:
http://the-military-guide.com/2013/01/31/40-miles-for-tricare-prime-or-maybe-tricare-standard/
I’m beginning to think that Tricare Prime’s days are numbered. Still in years rather than months, but probably not in decades.