Don’t plan to stay 20 years? You continue to own your TSP account even if you leave the Uniformed Service. This is always true of your contributions and their earnings, and once you are vested, it is also true of your Service’s contributions and their earnings. If you separate from the service before reaching military retirement, you have a variety of options to consider: 

• You can keep your funds in your TSP account and continue to control how they’re invested.
• You can transfer your TSP to another eligible employer retirement plan for that job you land after service. 
• Or you can cash out of your account—but keep in mind, there are significant penalties for cashing out your TSP before you reach the minimum TSP withdrawal age.