Posted on Mar 3, 2020
Are there any pitfalls for a gray area retiree (O5) currently in the Retired Reserve transferring back into Select Reserve (TPU) as enlisted?
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Any pitfalls for a gray area retiree currently in the Retired Reserve transferring back into Select Reserve as enlisted? Total of 25 years prior service including USNR enlisted service and subsequent USAR service as officer. Would SM retire a second time when hit MRD or at age 60? Any other issues or concerns with pay, rank, benefits or retirement?
Edited 5 y ago
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 7
I'm not an expert on the Reserve Component, but why in the world you want to return to active duty or reserve duty at a lower rank? Why not look into ways you could be recalled to active or reserve duty at your current rank. I know some folks who were recalled from the retired list after 9/11 because they volunteered. Retired rated officers were recalled to take on staff jobs requiring rated experience thus allowing younger aircrew members the opportunity to return to flying. Before DOPMA, twice-passed-over officers kept their reserve commission and served on active duty as NCOs to finish out their 20 years of service and then retired at the highest pay grade held. Consequently, you might see Tech Sergeant with Command Pilot Wings. He would later retire with 20 years total service as an O-4 (twice passed over for O-5).
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CPT Lawrence Cable
Just to point out a regulation that one needs to consider when taking this action, you have to have 10 years of commissioned service to retire as an Officer. If not, you would retire at your high three enlisted years.
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LTC (Join to see)
depending on age, you have to ask yourself: is the time, risk and hassle of being an E4 for a couple more years worth the couple hundred extra points that will add $30-40 a month to your retirement check? Now if you can stay another 8-10 years and rack up another 700-800 points it might be worth it.
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LTC (Join to see)
True - good point about the nominal increase in retired pay - the bigger incentive for TPU versus Retired Reserve is the difference in TriCare premium payments.
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I had someone in OIF2 with me who retired as an O4 (about 10 years earlier) and enlisted as an E5 just to deploy. When you retire the second time you get retired at the previously held rank when it's higher
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LTC (Join to see)
Reminds me of a fellow E4 when I was in the Navy who tried to map out his career with the goal of staying an E4 for as long as possible.
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LTC (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) - back in the day, it was not uncommon to see guys in the ARNG who had been E4s for decades. When I first got commissioned, I had a fuel handler who had been an E4 for nearly 39 years.
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MAJ Byron Oyler
LTC (Join to see) - There is something to be said for allowing people to continue doing something they like and are good at.
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LTC (Join to see)
MAJ Byron Oyler - agree. up or out is a stupid policy. If a soldier is happy being an E4/E5 and is good at his/her job they should be able to stay in as long as they want. If you want to retire at MRD as an E4 with 30 years TIG, more power to you.
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