Service members who entered service after 1 August 1986 may select between two retirement plans(1) commonly called "High-Three" and "Redux."(2) The primary differences between the two army retirement services programs are a "career-status" bonus and pay differentials.(3)
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If an enlisted service member invests a significant portion of his career status bonus, the Redux  army retirement services plan will result in a greater future economic value than the High-Three plan. Suppose an enlisted Redux participant can afford to invest his entire career status bonus after he pays the appropriate income taxes. From the $30,000 bonus, suppose that he invests the maximum of $10,500 in the TSP  army retirement services.(9)

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The Redux army retirement services plan begins to yield lower future values than the High-Three plan when the enlisted member invests $8000 or less in a TSP account. With an $8000 investment, the Redux member would have greater value for the first ten years of retirement. In the eleventh year, the value of his retirement program would be very similar to the accumulated pay difference between High-Three and Redux army retirement services.