Can I start my retirement in Korea on an unaccompanied tour with HAAP?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 16:29:37 -0500

I have orders to Korea, 12 months unaccompanied, 3 months after I arrive I will be within my retirement window (as I can drop a packet). I cant drop one now, and I cant get my orders deleleted now.

So can I drop it there after I arrive? I took the return to last duty station option. So I am returning to my current AO.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2023 4:38 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 16:38:27 -0500

Contact one of these three gentlemen... they are very knowledgeable in Military related questions/issues.

Response by COL Randall C. made Feb 23 at 2023 5:02 PM

COL Randall C. — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 17:02:56 -0500

You actually might be able to do it now (didn't see if you were referencing the new retirement window or not). As of 1 JAN 23, the Army has a new pilot in place that allows you to request retirement up to 24 months in advance.
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* https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Documents/ChangeOfMission/latest.pdf

latest.pdf

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2023 6:00 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 18:00:28 -0500

Yes you can, you're not on assignment, a HAAP is just an offer. But your retirement date is going to be at least 12 months after you arrive and you're going to automatically FSTE to the retirement date and retire out of Korea.

Response by GySgt Kenneth Pepper made Feb 24 at 2023 10:45 AM

GySgt Kenneth Pepper — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 10:45:35 -0500

Retiring OCONUS (Hawaii) had many disadvantages for me. If you intend to retire within a year or so of arriving it will affect your ability to line up job interviews, which affects where you will be moving to, etc.,
I would recommend trying to get as near as possible to where you intend to live after retirement. Transition is tough enough. Anything you can do now will help make it easier.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2023 2:33 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 14:33:26 -0500

https://www.hrc.army.mil/PrintPreview/Milper/22-493

You can drop a retirement packet up to 24 months per MILPER 22-493. It's a pilot program thing they're trying to see how many people will file 2 years out to see if they want to keep it. So no later than 9 months, no earlier than 24 months you can file on RA.

HRC Homepage

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2023 4:39 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 04:39:02 -0500

Just to be clear, if you drop your retirement in Korea, you stay in Korea to retire. Wherever you are when you submit retirement, you are stabilized there upon approval.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2023 5:49 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 17:49:40 -0500

Maybe I should rephrase. I want to stay where I am at. But because I am on assignment pending orders, I have to go this summer, even tho I can drop my retirement this fall. Its a 1 year unaccompanied. So basically I will arrive, after about 4 months then be elgible. That would put me 24 months out per the new milper.

Is there anything from preventing me from getting the approval while in Korea even though I would PCS back to my current location to complete the remainder of my service?

It is a weird situation. It would be so much easier if they would just let me and my family stay and work on getting on with the next part of our lives.