Has anybody entered Reserve duty status after active duty retirement?

PO1 Nathan Watts — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 00:03:38 -0500

So, within one year of retirement I looked into the reserves. I simply wanted to feel like I still connected with the military and what has been the better part of my life. Then I found out my retirement pay would have been screwed over, so it basically became a non issue.

Now, several years later, after having found RallyPoint, I can't help but wonder what other retirees did to fill that "itch..." Did any of you find a way into the reserves where it wouldn't mess with your retiree pay?

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Feb 9 at 2016 12:08 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 00:08:49 -0500

I am currently a retired reserve officer which is known as gray area retiree PO1 Nathan Watts. I turn 60 in October 2016 and will draw my first retirement check at end of month November. I thought the day might never arrive and I was very dissapointed when the mobilization credit to reduce retirement for each 90 days of mobilization was not backdated from Jan 31, 2008 to September 11, 2001.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Feb 9 at 2016 12:58 AM

PO1 John Miller — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 00:58:22 -0500

I suggest you talk to a reserve recruiter and ask about the feasibility of joining a Volunteer Training Unit, or VTU. These Sailors drill strictly for points to count towards retirement, and receive no pay. I was never a recruiter myself, but logic would suggest that since VTU's don't get paid it wouldn't hose your retired pay.

It can't hurt to ask, all they can say is no.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2016 5:59 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 05:59:52 -0500

We had a retired major join our reserve unit in 2000. He basically gets his retired pay but at the end of each year a point summary will show how much he worked militarily. He can either pay it back or just not get a check till it catches up with what he made. But he is also an air reserve tech, so he is civil service plus reservist. You can go until your 57, his date is 56 and half. So in that extra 16 years he has probably earned about 2200 more points and is now a Lt. Col. He will chose to give up his active duty maj. retirement and choose his Lt. Col retirement. Meaning instead of a 50 percent 0-4 retirement he will get a 75 percent 0-5 retirement at 60. Plus, he can buy back his military time to add to his civil service retirement. If you retire active duty then get civil service job, you can only buy back combat time. So ya, he will get a nice civil service retirement plus his military one. Just another avenue to possibly look into.

Response by BG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2016 8:14 AM

BG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 08:14:31 -0500

I would advocate that you find a local Reserve unit and join, or even lead, their Family Readiness Group. The uninitiated may think this sounds like hosting bake sales, but in reality they serve a vital function in identifying and resolving Soldier/ family issues. This is particularly true of units with often deployed members like Civil Affairs.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2016 8:32 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 08:32:15 -0500

PO1-I can't comment on the retirement pay; "Uncle" didn't let me stay around long enough on either side to get my twenty.

What I can say is that there are many veterans organizations which allow the "best of both worlds"...the feeling of being in a unit again, without all that messy tedium of filling out medical forms every twenty minutes, or finding uses for the NOSC conference room so you can get the "node phone".

I'm a member of my local American Legion post, and despite the un-deserved ignominity some people attach to that organization, we do quite a bit to support the local community, provide scholarships to local students, and promote veterans' issues and legislation.

Response by SSgt David Tedrow made Feb 9 at 2016 11:41 AM

SSgt David Tedrow — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 11:41:26 -0500

You could always consider the US Coast Guard Auxiliary as a way to stay connected and still serving your country. http://cgaux.org

Welcome to the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Official Web Portal

Response by COL David Turk made Feb 9 at 2016 1:19 PM

COL David Turk — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 13:19:42 -0500

There is another option. Some states have state militias. New York and California are two that I know of. These are state organizations that are supposed to fill in (admin) behind the National Guard if they are mobilized and deployed. I've had a very brief introduction to both. Rather than give any more information which may not be correct, I'd suggest you do an Internet search.

Good luck.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2016 8:21 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 08:21:35 -0500

I do not know the answer to your question. However, I feel compelled to point out that both the Active Duty and the Reserve soldier are in the same Army. So if one is retired how can one then serve in a pay status.

Really my thoughts are more from the quit separating the two.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Oct 16 at 2017 6:37 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 18:37:46 -0400

Your best option would be to look at your states military reserve force. Most states have them they do various things and back up the national guard when they are deployed.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Oct 16 at 2017 10:21 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 22:21:45 -0400

I did an AGR tour and then was a reservist for five years. Tbe Army then retired me on Disabilty RETROACTIVE to my release from AGR status. Lucky I didn't go to Iraq

Response by CSM Clifford Fargason made Sep 17 at 2018 6:00 PM

CSM Clifford Fargason — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 18:00:40 -0400

I have been in units where a soldier was getting disability compensation and they had to give up a data compensation for each drill, I would assume that retiree pay would go along those lines. I didget recalled to active duty after I retired, giving up the retired party want bad but at that time it took 90 working days to get your retired party started again once you got of active duty.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2019 12:52 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:52:29 -0400

http://www.sgaus.org

I realize you might not want this, however, this is the main body for the various state defense forces (SDFs)...I'd wanted to go into the NY Guard (NYG) by my wife and myself, however, I'm total perm disabled, and can't due to insurance rules...our dentist had wanted to go ARNG, he wasn't sure if it'd be for him, he went NYG at my suggestion, then found he was suited, and was released to go ARNG thereafter...you might find an SDF suited to what you're looking for...I'd also looked at USCG Aux, as well as Civil Air Patrol (CAP), and helping with JROTC units, as well as Navy Sea Cadets, you might consider those as well....

SGAUS – State Guard Association of the United States

State Guard Association of the United States

Response by SSG Mannix Brooks made May 12 at 2019 12:33 PM

SSG Mannix Brooks — Sun, 12 May 2019 12:33:31 -0400

I don't know about any itch to return but if WWIII breaks out then I'll be back (no choice) but aside from that let the current troops shine. I do try to choose jobs, when they are available, that directly support troops, but as a civilian only.

Response by SFC Donald Souza made Jul 28 at 2021 12:01 PM

SFC Donald Souza — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 12:01:22 -0400

I did 3 years active 11 years Reserve and 26 years in the National guard and 2 combat deployments. So you get 1 point a day on active duty you get around 76 points a year from the Reserve and guard your retirement is based off that point system