4651 to start retirement process?

MAJ Dan Marchik they’re telling you to sign it before you have your 20 year letter in hand? Personally I wouldn’t be requesting anything until I had that in my possession. Like SFC Jason Proseus has already said it’s a personnel action request. Be sure you’ve talked with retention regarding bothe your decision to retire and which retirement option 1) retired Reserve subject to recall between now and reaching age 60 or 2) out completely with the day you retire paychart in effect. No remember if you don’t have proof (the 20 year letter) and your short in 12-15 years when you apply for retirement you won’t be able to go back and get that last AT or UTA to get that proof. Be sure you have all your paperwork in order: Retirement transfer orders, retirement certificate signed by Chief if Staff of the Army, your last points worksheet printed out. Remember once your retired you no longer have access to AKO. Your DFAS password that you renew thru AKO isn’t available anymore either.

I've filled out a few of these in the past. It is the form used to transfer anyone to anywhere. Either voluntary, or involuntary. Your main responsibility is to fill out your personal admin information, and sign that you are willing to transfer. Your personnel people will get the rest of the information and signatures. Probably why, in your case, it needs to be filled out 7 months prior, is because they need to move it around to get those signatures, and add it to a packet that is dictated by the Personnel Actions Guide. You signing it initiates the actual processes that move you from a TPU to the gray area.