Can you do 12 yrs of active duty and have 8 straight ADOS tours, can you get an active duty retirement?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 11:14:31 -0400

Response by COL Dana Hampton made Jun 12 at 2018 11:18 AM

COL Dana Hampton — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 11:18:41 -0400

In short, yes. That said, when you apply for ADOS, NGB requires you to submit your current RPAM showing your years of service. If you are close to approaching sanctuary (18 years), they generally will deny your continued ADOS. NGB doesn't want to buy another AD retirement.

It doesn't always happen this way, but it is the standard method to stop M-Day Soldiers from earning a 20-year retirement.

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made Jun 12 at 2018 11:38 AM

CW5 Jack Cardwell — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 11:38:51 -0400

ADOS is tricky. Doubtful if you can get ADOS for more than 180 days. ADOS orders can be stopped at anytime.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Jun 12 at 2018 11:48 AM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 11:48:33 -0400

Theoretically yes. But I don’t think it works that way anymore. Mostly due to funding. Getting funding for 8 years of ADOS could be tricky since it’s supposed to be a stop gap measure and not a permanent thing.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2018 12:59 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 12:59:26 -0400

Yes it is possible, no it is not likely.
Most strictly ADOS jobs are only funded for 12 months or less, and are dependent on funding year to year. A few long term funded ADOS programs like Counterdrug in the Guard will take people to 20 years, but require approval of a sanctuary application at 17.5 years.
If you are interested in an active duty retirement in the Reserves, you would be better off looking at AGR positions rather than ADOS.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2018 1:51 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 13:51:01 -0400

Theoretically, yes. You won’t get ADOS orders past 17 years, though, because that will grant you “sanctuary” status. About the only exception to that would be deployments. That said, if you got 17 years AD, then served to 25 years, that should equate to an AD retirement.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2018 3:47 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 15:47:32 -0400

Yep

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2018 6:09 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 18:09:08 -0400

This question is close to my heart as someone with 17 years and 7 months of Federal Active Service.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jun 12 at 2018 7:05 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 19:05:56 -0400

Yes and no, at one point they are going to see how many years you have and cut you off.

Response by COL Ardis Ferguson made Jun 12 at 2018 9:29 PM

COL Ardis Ferguson — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 21:29:53 -0400

The ADOS is limited by a 1079 rule, that’s like three years, then you come off of ADOS. I’m pretty sure you can’t get to twenty years using ADOS because that would set you up for a20 year active duty retirement. There is a lot of literature on the web about that

Response by MG Hugh Van Roosen made Jun 13 at 2018 5:42 AM

MG Hugh Van Roosen — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 05:42:09 -0400

If your active duty, from all sources, equals more than 20 years, you qualify for an AD retirement. But be sure to do the math. If you are pushing 60 or want to take a DoD civilian retirement, you might be in better shape going with the reserve retirement. That is my case. I qualify for both, but the reserve retirement is worth more per month (I have 27 years AFS and 39 years total). For most people, the AD retirement will make more sense, based on age.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2018 9:14 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 09:14:20 -0400

Just go AGR if you're interested in an active duty retirement. Don't bank on ADOS and the small chance of being approved for sanctuary. To me, AGR makes the most sense in your case because you can use your annuity right at 20 years AFS (retire) instead of having to wait until you reach age 60 (or slightly younger in certain circumstances). Good luck!

Response by Sgt Shawn Towne made Jun 13 at 2018 10:11 AM

Sgt Shawn Towne — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 10:11:21 -0400

Not sure, I was to the understanding that however many hours or days you did deployed from reserves added to active duty service time.

Response by LTC Stephen B. made Jul 2 at 2018 2:04 PM

LTC Stephen B. — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 14:04:17 -0400

As has been noted several times already - just about any time you reach 7,200 (360*20) AD retirement points, you are eligible for a regular retirement. However, you cannot do 8 straight years of ADOS - no more than 3 years ADOS in a 4 year window. Very few exceptions apply (National Guard counter-drug program). You can theoretically do 8 ADOS tours over 12 years and get the required points, but again there are restrictions in going into sanctuary and further restrictions on hitting that 7,200 necessary for retirement in an ADOS status - ADOS was never intended to be a career status, that's what the AGR program is for. You can return to Active Duty/Regular Army, but you agree to be assignable world-wide as any other Joe.