What is the retirement process for the National Guard?

MSG Pat Colby - Well thank you very much.

MSG Davis;
If I have not yet received the packet from state but the 20-letter and RPAS statement is coded in iperms, can I go ahead and submit the DD 2656 through my command or do I have to wait for the packet from state (which is being sent to the unit). Also I have been excused from future drills as I have started a new job and the commanders sayas that since I have cleared CIF there is no need for me to attend the drills, however the readiness NCO seems to think that I need to attend drill no matter what. Any advice.

SGT Robert K. -

1. RE Drill: Unless you get something in writing from your Commander authorizing your absence from drill ... Attend Drill or you risk being the victim of a miscommunication between your Cdr and his staff. Since there appears to be miscommunication already between them, that does not bode well. Since you turned in your TA-50 you can't go to the field but you can provide home station support and get a few more retirement points.

2. RE: "submit the DD 2656 through my command" ... You can but if they are not "on top of it" you could fall through the cracks. This late in the game, you need to contact your unit and kick and scream as to the location of your packet. Failing that ... and I'm not saying this is a fix ... you could prepare both the 2656 and a DA 200 (Transmittal Record) and give to your unit but have whoever you give/send it to sign Block 11a of the DA 200.

You could email it to their .mil accounts as well so long as there is no issue with them requiring an original signature. The email will be your record but people delete emails or don't read them or what have you.

3. Survivor Benefit Plan ... Don't do it, it sucks (my opinion). Save and invest your money wisely.


DA 200: http://www.apd.army.mil/pub/eforms/pdf/a200.pdf

Thank you