How many RallyPoint members are in a Retired Reserve Status?

2015-06-15T15:00:02-04:00

[Update] At the time of transition off active reserve status to Retired status we have an option to become part of the gray area Retired Reserve. Gray area retired reserve are subject to recall to active duty. The gray area status enables our retired salary to be based on the salary in effect when we begin drawing retirement with COLA adjustments later. Those who elect to have their retirement pay frozen in the year they transition off the active reserve rolls so that they will not subject to recall in anything short of a general mobilization akin to WWII.
Personally the thing that bothers me most about being a member of the retired reserve is that if I die before I am fully vested as a retired military service member then I am not authorized any burial benefits. Specifically I can not be buried or interred at a national military or state cemetery with military honors. Secondarily my wife is not authorized any burial benefits if she predeceases me. [I understand as a disabled veteran I could be buried in one of the VA managed cemeteries]
I understand Congress has the full authority to make and change laws and accept that my post 9/11/2001 mobilization will probably not be be credited to reduce my retirement age. I also understand and fully accept that my just under 19 years of active federal service was not in a specialty authorized early retirement.
The military services and Congressional oversight make decisions for the best of the nation's military as they foresee manpower and end strength requirements.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jun 15 at 2015 3:01 PM

2015-06-15T15:01:06-04:00

My Retired Reserve ID card expires the day before I turn 60 next year in roughly 16 months.
As far as I remember my retired salary is based on my final salary because I entered active military service in 1974.
1. I think there is a point where salary is based on top three salary years which benefited those former NCOs who were commissioned and later caught up in one of the Reduction of Forces [RIFs]. They were authorized to return to their previous rank but would retire at their highest rank if they stayed in to retirement. Does the highest 3 salary year rule apply?
2. At the time of transition off active reserve status to Retired status we have an option to become part of the gray area Retired Reserve. Gray area retired reserve are subject to recall to active duty. The gray area status enables our retired salary to be based on the salary in effect when we begin drawing retirement with COLA adjustments later. Those who elect to have their retirement pay frozen in the year they transition off the active reserve rolls so that they will not subject to recall in anything short of a general mobilization akin to WWII.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2015 3:03 PM

2015-06-15T15:03:29-04:00

The answer was yes from July 1986 until Dec 2002. Then changed to no.

Response by SGT James Hastings made Jun 15 at 2015 3:44 PM

2015-06-15T15:44:16-04:00

I was discharged in 1953. I didn't serve long enough to retire but I think that being wounded in combat and receiving disability payments from the Army qualify me for burial. I'm not worrying about my physical body after I'm dead since my eternal soul won't be in it any more.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jun 15 at 2015 4:07 PM

2015-06-15T16:07:58-04:00

Yes - But no ID card.

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Jun 15 at 2015 4:32 PM

2015-06-15T16:32:02-04:00

I don't understand the choices in relation to the question...

Where is this recorded as a fact? I'm not clear at all why you think this is true?
"... if I die before I am fully vested as a retired military service member then I am not authorized any burial benefits" - this needs more clarification or to be stated differently.

This is straight off the Arlington Site -
Establishing Eligibility
Arlington National Cemetery's eligibility requirements for burial and inurnment are different from other national cemeteries that are maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Eligibility for in-ground burial at Arlington National Cemetery is the most stringent of all U.S. national cemeteries. However, most veterans, who have at least one day of active service for other than training and an Honorable Discharge, are eligible for above-ground inurnment.

What does "fully vested" mean?

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 15 at 2015 4:57 PM

2015-06-15T16:57:33-04:00

Funny thing, perhaps a leftover from the old system. My retired ID card has an expiration date on it vs. indefinite. Guess they expect me to die before 65. The BVAR folk said it was a requirement but didn't know why.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jun 15 at 2015 5:06 PM

2015-06-15T17:06:39-04:00

Clarifying question -- I am in the IRR as of 2011, though I did not technically retire from the military. Do I get an ID card for this? Or is this something different? Thanks in advance.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jun 15 at 2015 5:18 PM

2015-06-15T17:18:40-04:00

Retired Reserve Officer for exactly 2 more years - Red ID with no expiration date - it is INDEF

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Jun 16 at 2015 12:50 AM

2015-06-16T00:50:02-04:00

Active Duty retired, subject to recall by SecArmy.

Response by MSgt Jim Wolverton made Aug 11 at 2015 4:26 PM

2015-08-11T16:26:09-04:00

I don't even know if I understand fully the implication here. Are you saying that you are reitred from the reserves and are just waiting for 60 or whatever the age is to finally get those retired benefits?

Response by LTC John Shaw made Aug 20 at 2015 2:31 PM

2015-08-20T14:31:31-04:00

Almost there... Sep 2016 I will be a grey area retiree.

Response by SFC John Birks made Aug 20 at 2015 2:39 PM

2015-08-20T14:39:24-04:00

I'm in the retired reserves, I know I'm also subject to recall. But beyond that I'm clueless..

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2015 5:00 PM

2015-10-23T17:00:48-04:00

I am generally reserved since the inception of downvotes.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2015 10:19 AM

2015-10-24T10:19:56-04:00

I wasn't sure I'd make it, but finally reached the age to draw retirement... WHOOHOO

Response by SFC Kenneth Highland made Oct 24 at 2015 6:30 PM

2015-10-24T18:30:35-04:00

GOT MY PINK CARD THE OTHER DAY, I WILL DRAW MONEY IN 8 YEARS BECAUSE OF 9-11-2201 OVER SEAS SERVICE. I AM JUST COUNTING THE DAYS DOWN. I HAVE 15 YEARS TOTAL ACTIVE SERVICE BETWEEN THE USMC AND VaANG.

Response by TSgt Gwen Walcott made Apr 2 at 2016 6:36 PM

2016-04-02T18:36:15-04:00

?? VA has told me that retirement isn't a requisite for burial benefits for either the veteran or his/her spouse. Something that came up in a discussion that I had recently with them as well as when my mother died (preceding my father, who is NOT a retiree) and is buried in the National Cemetary in Phoenix, AZ