Federal Warrior is an independent publication for the 2.2 million people who actually run the U.S. government — and the veterans, military members, and working Americans building toward the same kind of retirement security.
Federal service is one of the most complex employment systems in the world — and the resources explaining it are usually either too generic (written for everyone, helpful for no one) or locked inside agency intranets that only a fraction of employees ever learn to navigate.
I built Federal Warrior because I was tired of watching good people make preventable mistakes.
Mistakes that cost thousands of dollars. Mistakes that cost years of creditable service. Mistakes made during Open Season because the official plan comparisons are confusing, or during a PIP because nobody told them about their MSPB rights, or at retirement because they didn't realize their military service was never bought back.
Every one of these mistakes is preventable if you have the right information at the right time — clearly explained, honestly modeled, and delivered in plain English by someone who has actually walked this road.
That's what this site is for.
I'm a Post-9/11 GI Bill disabled veteran who transitioned from military service into federal civilian employment. I've spent the last decade inside the system — navigating GS/GG/NT pay scales, locality pay, TSP contribution strategies, performance reviews, clearance reinvestigations, and the hundred small decisions that shape a federal career.
Every topic I write about, I've either lived through, worked through with colleagues, or studied in depth because it affected my own financial plan or someone close to me.
I do not speak for any agency. I do not use government equipment, time, or information to run this site. Everything here is written on personal time in a personal capacity — the equivalent of what your most informed friend would tell you over coffee, if you happened to have that friend.
For anything that matters, always consult a qualified professional — an attorney, a CFP, a CPA, or your agency's ethics or HR office. Federal Warrior is a starting point, not a substitute. See the full Disclaimer.
There's no shortage of federal employee content on the internet. Most of it is bad. Here's how I try to be different:
Honesty about tradeoffs. Every financial decision in federal service involves tradeoffs — the Roth TSP vs. Traditional question, the buyback math, MRA+10 vs. waiting for full eligibility. I don't pretend any of these have universal right answers. I model them honestly and let you see the inputs.
Specificity over generality. "Maximize your TSP" is not useful advice. "Contribute at least 5% to capture the full agency match, then prioritize after-tax Roth contributions up to the annual limit if you expect your marginal tax rate in retirement to exceed your current rate" — that's advice you can act on.
Numbers, not vibes. Wherever possible, I use actual 2026 GS pay tables, current FEHB premiums, real FERS multipliers, and verified statutory language. When I don't know something for certain, I say so.
Non-political, always. Federal employment rules change across administrations. I focus on how the current system works — not whether it should be that way.
No upsells, no affiliate tricks. I don't earn a commission when you buy a product, choose an insurance plan, or rollover a TSP. I may eventually accept advertising or sponsorships, but they will never dictate content recommendations.
One publication can't cover everything a federal career requires. So I built three.
Career strategy, pay mechanics, benefits, workplace rights, and the long arc of growth through the GS scale, uniformed service, or any career building toward retirement. This site.
You are here →Federal retirement types (FERS, CSRS, VERA, MRA+10, Deferred), FDR, VDS, Social Security, SSDI, TSP withdrawal strategy, Medicare integration, and everything that matters once the paycheck stops.
Visit Warrior Retirement →The Integrated Disability Evaluation System, Medical Evaluation Boards, Physical Evaluation Boards, VA disability claims, appeals, and the process most service members navigate once in their lives — exactly when clarity matters most.
Visit Warrior Disability →Federal Warrior is organized into five pillars, each covering a major dimension of federal employment:
Start with whatever is on your mind today. Each topic stands alone. Browse around, bookmark what's useful, and ignore what isn't.
Federal Warrior is new. As I write this, only a handful of articles are live — but the architecture is built to scale to hundreds of deeply-researched guides across all five pillars.
If you find this site early, thank you. Bookmark it. The most valuable content is coming.
I read every message. This site gets better because of reader feedback.