Crossing the finish line... running, walking or crawling... (Reserve Retirement Process)

[Chida]

For those a few years over the line, any advice on things I should do as I complete the final lap? Do you regret not topping up non-pay points your last year?

-I did PME (Air War College) courses in my final year to boost up my points. I only did the easy courses (no papers to write). I got an extra 19 points this way, worth an extra $19 per mo in retirement, most likely, so whatever. I was IRR my final 4 years and averaged 86 points per year.
-Definitely download or otherwise secure whatever documentation you can to prove your service. Once you're out of the system it will be difficult or impossible to obtain.
-I signed up for $250k life insurance for my life and $100k for the wife via MOAA's Leaving the service guaranteed issuance. You're allowed to sign up within 120 days of retiring and it's a good rate. Need to be a MOAA member, though. I signed up for the lifetime membership and they send me their magazine every month which is a good way to stay informed about the goings-on in DC that affect retirees. I'd recommend it.
-If you have any lingering issues with pay or decs, make a claim before you retire because once you are out, it becomes difficult/impossible. For example: I figured out they should have paid me an affiliation bonus some 10 years prior, so I made a claim about 1 year before retiring and it was paid. Much easier to get leave paid out well before retiring, if you have any still on the books. Also had some missing decs and got those corrected and in my record.

 

[vxc961]

-I did PME (Air War College) courses in my final year to boost up my points. I only did the easy courses (no papers to write). I got an extra 19 points this way, worth an extra $19 per mo in retirement, most likely, so whatever. I was IRR my final 4 years and averaged 86 points per year.
-Definitely download or otherwise secure whatever documentation you can to prove your service. Once you're out of the system it will be difficult or impossible to obtain.
-I signed up for $250k life insurance for my life and $100k for the wife via MOAA's Leaving the service guaranteed issuance. You're allowed to sign up within 120 days of retiring and it's a good rate. Need to be a MOAA member, though. I signed up for the lifetime membership and they send me their magazine every month which is a good way to stay informed about the goings-on in DC that affect retirees. I'd recommend it.
-If you have any lingering issues with pay or decs, make a claim before you retire because once you are out, it becomes difficult/impossible. For example: I figured out they should have paid me an affiliation bonus some 10 years prior, so I made a claim about 1 year before retiring and it was paid. Much easier to get leave paid out well before retiring, if you have any still on the books. Also had some missing decs and got those corrected and in my record.

How’d you manage to stay IRR for the last four years? I thought they were trying squeeze out guys from that? Like kicking you to standby S-2 after a year in the IRR or something? Well done and congrats though!

 

[Chida]

USAFR, what they call PIRR (participating IRR) has 2 programs: Civil Air Patrol Liaison (what I did) and Academy/AFROTC Admissions Liaison. Might also be Funeral Honors detail, but I don't know. But yeah, straight IRR (what USAFR calls NNRPS or non-participating non-ready personnel section) is impossible as they only give you 15 points and disallow any other points by reg. So at most you can be IRR for a portion of 1 year and a portion of the next to keep getting good years. I think they kick you out (or are supposed to) after 1 or 2 bad years.

 

[Chida]

I know Navy has Admissions Liaisons for USNA. Do they also staff it with IRR?

 

[vxc961]

I know Navy has Admissions Liaisons for USNA. Do they also staff it with IRR?

Not really. I did Navy admissions and funerals for years while in the IRR, but maybe 10 years ago or so the Navy did the “you get one year in the IRR-ASP, then you get booted to the standby reserves and can’t earn any points”. So, I don’t think there’s any way somebody can spend meaningful time in the IRR and make it to retirement.

 

[snake020]

Not really. I did Navy admissions and funerals for years while in the IRR, but maybe 10 years ago or so the Navy did the “you get one year in the IRR-ASP, then you get booted to the standby reserves and can’t earn any points”. So, I don’t think there’s any way somebody can spend meaningful time in the IRR and make it to retirement.

maybe if they did < 8 years active and were within their MSO, but they'd have to affiliate with SELRES or VTU to get to 20.

 

[vxc961]

maybe if they did < 8 years active and were within their MSO, but they'd have to affiliate with SELRES or VTU to get to 20.

Yes. I’d you’re within your MSO you can get points, but I think the BGO (Blue & Gold Officer, aka Admissions Officer) is closed now and only available to those grandfathered in.

 

[Python]

Yes. I’d you’re within your MSO you can get points, but I think the BGO (Blue & Gold Officer, aka Admissions Officer) is closed now and only available to those grandfathered in.

Dumb questions, what’s MSO and how’s it different than BGO?

 

[Hair Warrior]

Dumb questions, what’s MSO and how’s it different than BGO?

Military Service Obligation
Blue Gold Officer

 

[subreservist]

Update.

Immediately after my b-day, I submitted my retirement with pay application. As I was CANREC for a bit, it subtracted a good number of years off due NDAA. As a result, I'll only be a gray area reservist for a little over a year before drawing pay on my next birthday.

I got good guidance on completing the application through the reserve retirement workshops offered: https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Caree...e-Retirements/Retirement-Transition-Outreach/

I sent my application to Millington with just regular first class mail - nothing special.

I think they received it either Oct 31 or Nov 1. This past Wednesday 11/6, I received and email stating my package was received.

Yesterday, my case was updated to "in process" and few hours later, I received another email of approval with my retired with pay orders (copy cc'ed to DFAS).

I'm shocked how quickly this was done!

You can submit the application up to a year out from when you expect to draw pay. I did it immediately at the 12 months out point, as I heard processing could take several months, and maybe it does depending on several factors we can't know of. But it was only a week for me!

My orders had the caveat that although I can get my pay, Tricare can't start until age 60.

I heard there was a proposal to allow reservist to get Tricare at the same time as their pay if eligible to receive prior to age 60, but it hasn't moved anywhere near being approved yet.

 

[taxi1]

I heard there was a proposal to allow reservist to get Tricare at the same time as their pay if eligible to receive prior to age 60, but it hasn't moved anywhere near being approved yet.

I think that is a dead duck under the Project 2025 plan.

Do you have a disability rating?

 

[subreservist]

I think that is a dead duck under the Project 2025 plan.

Do you have a disability rating?

Yep - it's high enough for me to collect both.

 

[taxi1]

Yep - it's high enough for me to collect both.

I do too.

That's also on the chopping block under Project 2025.

 

[subreservist]

Received email from DFAS - "Status Update on Retired and Annuitant Pay Submission RECEIVED".

I believe there's nothing left to do other than await the first payment which was told is 30-45 days after birthday, then 1st of the month from that point forward.

Also received my flag from the NOSC/NRA, which took forever! I retired to gray on July 1 and was told by the CCC that my flag was on the way then. Every few weeks, I would email about the status and would get told it's "on the way". Eventually, my emails got ignored and had to start cc'ing XO. Finally in September, the XO told me the FY funds were gone and couldn't be shipped until the next FY funds come in.

Sent another email at the end of October and finally got it 1st week of November.

 

[vxc961]

Received email from DFAS - "Status Update on Retired and Annuitant Pay Submission RECEIVED".

I believe there's nothing left to do other than await the first payment which was told is 30-45 days after birthday, then 1st of the month from that point forward.

Also received my flag from the NOSC/NRA, which took forever! I retired to gray on July 1 and was told by the CCC that my flag was on the way then. Every few weeks, I would email about the status and would get told it's "on the way". Eventually, my emails got ignored and had to start cc'ing XO. Finally in September, the XO told me the FY funds were gone and couldn't be shipped until the next FY funds come in.

Sent another email at the end of October and finally got it 1st week of November.

Congrats! Also, I’ve been waiting seven years for my flag! I called a few times right after retirement, but finally gave up.

In any case, I’m still gray area, so I appreciate you mapping this out.