Air force prior service had 5 active air force and 12 reserve, now in the Army for the last 3 years says he can retire now?

SSG Dennis Mendoza — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 19:00:35 -0500

Can that service members literally retire after doing the air force for 5 active years then 12 reserve years and currently the last 3 year active Army. He keeps mentioning that he can drop his retirement packet at anytime if he wants. Is that true?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2021 7:06 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 19:06:09 -0500

Lol no. Definitely not. That's an example of someone who is confused about Reserve vs Active retirement. He could transfer into the Reserves and get a 20 year letter and be referred to as a "Gray area retiree", but he can't draw that retirement till he's in his 60s

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Feb 4 at 2021 7:28 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 19:28:38 -0500

SM might be at 12 years towards an active retirement but could retire from the reserves or national guard but will not see anything until close to 60.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 4 at 2021 7:46 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 19:46:51 -0500

I've got beach front property for him in AZ! Reserve time when counted countless than Active time, Thats why most Reservist's can't retire with pension till age 60

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Feb 5 at 2021 5:43 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 05:43:51 -0500

He can drop it, but it will land nowhere.

Response by LTC John Griscom made Feb 6 at 2021 9:08 AM

LTC John Griscom — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 09:08:52 -0500

Good question, but no pay until 60 years old, Can have commissary and PX access.

Response by 1SG Alan Boggs made Feb 6 at 2021 7:47 PM

1SG Alan Boggs — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 19:47:45 -0500

If the soldier has a "20 year letter" (notice of eligibility to recieve pension). Yes the soldier can "drop his letter" at anytime regardless of what his current ETS date it. The soldier will not receive pension until his RPED (Retirement Pay Eligibility Date) which can be before age 60 if he has qualifying time deployed for OIF or OEF.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Feb 6 at 2021 9:20 PM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 21:20:28 -0500

NO, its takes 20 years total service NOT 15 as You describe. With what You describe 5 more years Reserve as a minimum then get a 20 year letter telling You that You are now qualified to retire. You will NOT however be able to collect retired pay until You reach age 60 . Until you are 60 Your a "Gray area Retiree" which means You can draw some benefits but NOT including pay yet ! A person that had spent all that time on active duty of course could collect right away and waiting on age would not be a factor. Which ever is done it takes 20 years service as a minimum always be it active duty, Reserve or Guard ! Incomplete years where for example You didn't complete all You required drills would not count towards retirement as a year of service. Points are awarded for each year or service and added up to let You know the standing. Don't assume anything if Your not sure contact a MPC, Military Personnel Center and ask. One year of active duty also involves a lot more hours and days than Reserve thus more points. Point are for days worked only NOT just being in a Reserve or Guard unit. On active duty You are in 365 days a years, Guard and Reserve usually a lot less. ie 2 weeks active duty plus drills, usually two weeks worth. Yu are then paid on a percentage of the days worked plus point for a good year provided You completed the annual requirements. Regulations spell it all out completely, You may want to check those, they are available to read on line. It does not differ from service to service, its standard.

Response by SSG Omar Ruiz-Canales made Feb 14 at 2021 7:09 AM

SSG Omar Ruiz-Canales — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 07:09:12 -0500

oh wow... he must have gotten on the Barracks Lawyers advisory forum.. This person is Lucky if he has a total of 9 years active duty service, unless he deployed sometime during his Reserve time.. and even then it is unlikely that he's come anywhere close to retirement time

Response by CW4 Melissa McLawhten made Feb 15 at 2021 8:30 AM

CW4 Melissa McLawhten — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 08:30:10 -0500

He would qualify if he served his reserve time as an AGR. That time would count toward an AC retirement, and he can start drawing retirement pay right away.

Also, (as everyone else has mentioned) he meets the minimum requirement to get a 20-year letter for regular reserve retirement at age 60 (less any qualifying time for mobilization). That means he can hang up his uniform. That alone may be what he means by "retire", because he would be a gray area retiree, even though he is getting no pay or benefits for a few years. He still would need to process a retirement packet in the last year before he eligible to draw retirement pay.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Feb 15 at 2021 9:45 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 09:45:38 -0500

Throwing BS flag on this one. Reserve years don’t compute the same as Active Duty years. Personnel experts can figure it out, but I’m not seeing 20 good years in your post.

Response by SPC Robert Hendrickson made Feb 15 at 2021 2:57 PM

SPC Robert Hendrickson — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 14:57:23 -0500

if SM has enough retirement points due to the reserve part and all the drills/duties done correctly then that might happen. but do research to make sure. With HRC and central commands at a high busy time. Make sure, and also that is a choice to be made by the SM … Have a safe career choice even in spite of circumstances

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2021 10:21 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 10:21:31 -0500

Officially, yes as long as he has 20 year letter, but will not get money until the service member turns 63 or 65 whatever the age is now.

Response by TSgt Sean Tolle made Feb 25 at 2021 12:32 PM

TSgt Sean Tolle — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 12:32:02 -0500

I am literally retired hence my retired service military ID. Did 7 active, 4 reserves and almost 10 Air Guard. But you can not draw retirement until age 60 or possibly if you get a 100% disability rating ny VA but nit sure of the tukes.

Response by COL George Antochy made Feb 25 at 2021 3:08 PM

COL George Antochy — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 15:08:23 -0500

This is easy to answer. The years of creditable service for an active duty retirement calculation is the sum of years of active service (i.e., active duty or full-time National Guard duty) and any additional years computed by adding all reserve points, if any (except those for active service)and dividing by 360. Let's just make the assumption that this Soldier did not earn 360 reserve points each of his 12 Reserve years. So the answer is NO, he is not eligible for an Active Duty Retirement, but would be eligible for his 20 year letter, but more than likely would need to transfer to the Reserve Components in order for the 20-year letter to be issued. Since 2005 there is no requirement for last years prior to retirement to be in the Reserves. He would be a Gray Area Retiree not eligible for pay until age 60.
I would be more concerned with this Soldiers performance if he continues to mention that he can retire at any time.

Response by SMSgt Kevin Townsend made Apr 14 at 2021 5:03 PM

SMSgt Kevin Townsend — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 17:03:34 -0400

I spent 16 years as an Air Force Reserve Recruiter so I have some knowledge of this subject. There is no way for him to receive an active duty retirement unless those 12 reserve years were as a reservist on Extended Active Duty (EAD) (e.g. AGR or Active Guard/Reserve tour or 10 USC 678 EAD tour) and the total of all service is 20 full years of active duty. As for obtaining a reserve retirement at age 60, the LAST 8 years of service must be in a reserve component (effective 1 October 2002, and on, the eight-year requirement was changed to six years) so even though he has 12 years in a reserve component they are not the last years. If he has enough time left based on his age, he needs to do 6 more years of active participation in a reserve component so all his work won't go to waste.

Response by SSG George Duncan made Apr 14 at 2021 10:24 PM

SSG George Duncan — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 22:24:05 -0400

sounds like twenty to me?

Response by PO2 Lon Hebert made Apr 17 at 2021 8:01 PM

PO2 Lon Hebert — Sat, 17 Apr 2021 20:01:46 -0400

I did 6 years of USAF in COMMUNICATIONS CENTER SPECIALIST 29150 BUCK SGT out for 11 months the joined the navy I served another 15.5 years in the navy and was om 2 cruisers and 2 oilers. retired in april 30th 1993 with 21 years RM2(SW), USN, RET I served in Nam at the age of 18 and saw back home in 1971 how many of my friends were getting treated back home by the time I returned in cot 1972 it was the same way.

Response by MSgt John Taylor made Apr 19 at 2021 1:16 PM

MSgt John Taylor — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 13:16:38 -0400

Yes he can drop his package anytime, no he won't be approved

Response by PO2 Lon Hebert made Apr 23 at 2021 10:22 AM

PO2 Lon Hebert — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 10:22:21 -0400

I was active duty USAF 71-77 Then out for 11 months and went active duty NAVY 78-93 Then retired in on April 39th 1993 after 21 years.

Response by SFC Barbara Layman made Apr 25 at 2021 6:04 PM

SFC Barbara Layman — Sun, 25 Apr 2021 18:04:34 -0400

Well, the accurate response to your question "He keeps mentioning that he can drop his retirement packet at anytime if he wants. IS THAT TRUE?
Yes, he can drop it at any time. HOWEVER, he will be denied. Why, because as a reservist, in order to have a qualifying year for retirement, one must earn one point for each day of annual training (usually 15 days) and one point for every 4 hours of IDT (weekend drills) for a total of 60, minimum.

He will eventually receive a 20 year letter advising him that he qualifies for retirement and upon receipt can then 'drop his packet at any time.' He'll have to include that 20 year letter with his packet.

I had 18 mos WAC 65-66, Reserve time 75-80, Active ARNG 81-86, Active Army 86-89, and reserve time from 89-2002 at which time I was transferred to the Retired Reserve until 2007 when I reached age 60. On hip pocket orders until 2007 at which time I was retired on orders and began drawing my retirement pay and TRI-CARE benefits.

BTW, at age 65 one is automatically moved to TRI-CARE FOR LIFE & Medicare at which time an ID Card with NO expiration date is also issued.