How many "retired reserve" members received a certificate of retirement?

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 11:55:39 -0400

At the point of retirement from active reserve status to retired status [either because of becoming eligible for retirement or mandatory retirement date] each service member has an option to become a gray area retiree which links their retired salary to the active duty salary at the time of their retirement; but, subjects us to recall to active duty.
I have learned from other RallyPoint members that they received Certificates of Retirement from their respective services [US Navy and US Air Force] at the end of military reserve component service.
I expect the US Army and US Marine Corps also provide Certificates of Retirement; but, I have never seen one.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Capt Christopher Mueller Capt Seid Waddell CW5 Private RallyPoint Member SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSgt Private RallyPoint Member SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Robert George SP5 Robert Ruck SCPO Morris Ramsey CPL Eric Escasio SPC Private RallyPoint Member SrA Christopher Wright SPC Margaret Higgins

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jun 16 at 2015 12:08 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 12:08:26 -0400

I had not heard of a Certificate of Retirement for Reserve Component service members before today. When I hit my mandatory retirement date in 2008, I contacted US Army Reserve personnel to coordinate out-processing as I had out-processed at every transition point since 1974. I was told that I was not authorized to out-process which shocked me. I was able to take my orders which transferred me to the retired reserve to Fort Myers so that my wife and I could turn in our cards - my CAC card and my wife's dependent ID card and exchange them for pink Retired Reserve cards. At some point I elected to be a gray area retiree which enables my salary to increase with the active duty salary so that when I begin to draw my retirement it will be based on the same pay scale as my active duty counterparts. My retirement pay will be 52% of an LTC over 38 since I have 7515 retirement points [based on just under 19 years of active federal service plus reserve service points].
Quote from April 30, 2015 Congressional Research Service report Military Retirement: Background and Recent Developments
"The actual calculation parallels the active duty system but requires adjustment to reflect the part-time nature of reserve duty. For example, consider a reserve component lieutenant colonel with 5,000 points who joined the military in January 1980, and transferred to the Retired Reserve in
2000 after completing 20 qualifying years of service. In 2015, he turned 60 years of age and became eligible for retired pay. The process for calculating his retired pay is to divide the total points by 360 to convert the points to years of equivalent service (5000 / 360 = 13.89). Next multiply the equivalent years of service by the 2.5% multiplier (13.89 times 0.025 = .3472). Using the Final Basic Pay option, the 2015 pay base for a lieutenant colonel with 35 years of service (20 years of qualifying service plus 15 years in the Retired Reserve) is $8,762.40 per month. Multiplying the pay base by the retired pay multiplier ($8,762.40 times 0.3472) produces a monthly retirement annuity of $ 3,042 per month."
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx Maj Marty Hogan PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Margaret Higgins SSG William Wall MSgt Jason McClish AN Christopher Crayne LTC Bill Koski Sgt Trevor Barrett SPC Tom DeSmet SGT Charles H. Hawes LTC Wayne Brandon SGT Private RallyPoint Member

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2015 3:26 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 15:26:17 -0400

Although most who retire at my rank are provided with a great send-off, because I am in the IRR, I decided to perform the retirement protocol officer duties myself. So, I contacted the Army Retirement services office and asked that they request a standard retirement packet (Certificate, POTUS Letter, SecDef letter, Army Chief Letter and Congress/Senate letter), I submitted a request to my Governor and notified my Army Branch Chief of my retirement. I believe that if you don't ask, you probably won't get it because the people responsible for getting these for you don't do their job.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2015 4:39 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 16:39:13 -0400

1986 is a LONG time ago. But, I don't think I received a certificate of retirement until I turned 60 and exited the grey area.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jun 17 at 2015 12:46 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 12:46:34 -0400

LTC Stephen F., I received two certificates; for going into the Retired Reserve and another when I was actually retired. Hopefully, you've seen what they look like!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 17 at 2015 2:24 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 14:24:00 -0400

I did and a flag in a box, then they proceeded to eff up my SBP, bastards. I was AC and did not read the question well.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 17 at 2015 2:58 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 14:58:34 -0400

Yes on the front end and when I turned 60. The question did remind me of my first achievement medal that showed up in my In-Box. Love the style points.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2015 9:07 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 21:07:01 -0400

Yes, I did. Signed by Bush 43.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2015 9:10 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 21:10:13 -0400

By the way, LTC Ford, the USCG passes them out, too. Hell, Obama doesn't know we exist either, so all is forgiven!!!

Response by COL R. Bruce Chisholm made Aug 20 at 2015 2:45 PM

COL R. Bruce Chisholm — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 14:45:06 -0400

I received a box with certificates, a flag, a coin and lapel pin six months after retirement in 2013. The Presidential signature was that of George W. Bush. For the record, USAR, President Bush had been out of office for 4.5 years. It sort of spoke to the entire 31 year career, though.

Response by LTC Peter Hartman made Aug 23 at 2015 7:05 AM

LTC Peter Hartman — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 07:05:57 -0400

I will find out next summer when I put in for the reserve gray area retirement.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2015 9:34 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 09:34:51 -0400

I found out I was officially retired accidentally, when I was looking for something on the HRC website...

Response by SSG Brian Lovins made Oct 25 at 2015 4:49 PM

SSG Brian Lovins — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 16:49:44 -0400

I did receive a box with certificate, lapel pin, flag and some decals, etc. Let me tell you how my retirement happened, after years of fighting the medical side and signing endless counselings for being a P3 and never getting a PEB board initiated, non duty injury so no MEB, even though I had friends waiting just as long for an MEB, Anyway I went to the IG and after 3 weeks and a couple calls from the IG I received another counseling statement in my email which gave me 3 options. Admin Retire since I was over 18 years and not at 20, Fill out a packet for PEB (AGAIN) and write a letter basically begging to stay in, or do nothing and get administratively discharged with nothing. I opted for the retirement, being completely fed up with the system. I figured I would have to go to some sort of briefings, etc for retirement. The next day I received another counseling statement verifying my decision and a 4187 requiring my signature, along with a message to return my TA-50 immediately as my retirement date was Oct 30th, These emails began on Oct 20th. Yep 10 days from decision to done, not even a phone call from the commander or 1SG that I dealt with on a regular basis. No thanks, no good luck, no Final thank you at formation. This all happened during the gov shutdown 2 years ago. I just disappeared from the unit like dust in the wind. Oh the guard ETS'd me in DEERS also so I had to take my orders showing retirement to the local Navy base and they had to make some calls to get everything fixed in the system. Sorry for the rant but still kind of ticks me off that the senior leadership was so indifferent to my retirement, I know the battalion admin NCO put in for the retirement box for me, he is a friend of mine and made the comment that he worked on it for a while.

Response by SGT Digno De Jesus made Feb 22 at 2017 12:54 PM

SGT Digno De Jesus — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 12:54:04 -0500

I retired 2004 after serving 30 yrs of service Army National Guard who do i contact to receive my Retirement Certificate.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Feb 25 at 2017 12:02 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 00:02:21 -0500

I not only received a retirement certificate, I received two of them one I was presented the other one came later in the mail, (one would have been fine) My wife also got a certificate for Her support, i received a certificate from the President also thanking Me for My service and was presented a United States Flag with certification it had been flown over the US capitol in honor of My retirement from the United States Air Force.

Response by CPT Joshua Dumont made Apr 2 at 2017 7:44 PM

CPT Joshua Dumont — Sun, 02 Apr 2017 19:44:02 -0400

I received none of the retirement swag... only a new ID card.

Response by SGT Angel Valentin made Jul 29 at 2017 11:56 AM

SGT Angel Valentin — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 11:56:30 -0400

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Sep 19 at 2017 8:17 PM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:17:43 -0400

I received retirement orders. The other document I received is the deposit notice showing pay going into my bank account.

Response by LTC Bill Koski made Sep 20 at 2017 10:19 PM

LTC Bill Koski — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 22:19:13 -0400

LTC Stephen F. I am back from hiatus. Yes, I received a certificate of retirement, along with a flag, folded......not quite neatly though. I just spent $42.00 at the BX for a flag frame and now have it in my office. I still don't like being retired, but am accepting it. Working for the military is rewarding and making me feel like I'm still part of the team.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Sep 21 at 2017 5:48 AM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 05:48:04 -0400

LTC Stephen F. I received a Certificate of Retirement; a Certificate of Appreciation from the President; a letter from President Obama; Certificate of Achievement from the Chief Army Reserve; a letter signed by the Sergeant Major of Army, Chief of Staff of the Army, and Secretary of the Army; and a box with a flag, CD, and Pin on or about February 1, 2012 when I retired from the active Reserves. I've received my official retirement orders on August 11, 2017 for reaching age 60 on October 23, 2017. I received a lot of things (pictures provided below). I was told by my fulltime staff that they had to request all of these items as part of my entire retirement packet that was submitted up through the channels, so Stephen it probably had a lot to do with who you were assigned to at the time of retirement. My fulltime staff at the 89th Sustainment Brigade took very good care of me.

Response by LTC Hillary Luton made Sep 22 at 2017 1:47 PM

LTC Hillary Luton — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 13:47:23 -0400

I was in a different situation. I was TPU from 82-04 and AGR from 04-15. Because I retired while I was on AGR status (technically refradded because I did not have 20 Full-time years), I am currently in the Retired Reserve. I did have an official retirement ceremony and received a certificate of retirement, Letter from the President, letters from senior leaders, a Letter from a past President, a coin from the SecArmy, and so on. Did I take it upon myself to make sure all of the requests were put in for these forms. Yes, I did. And I was fortunate to have the assistance of a very knowledgeable AG NCO. If you are retiring, you really need to take it upon yourself to request what you want and/or have earned.

Response by SSG Jaime Ramos made Jan 3 at 2018 5:51 PM

SSG Jaime Ramos — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 17:51:08 -0500

I am retiring this year, yes as an E6...what can Enlisted members expect, or better yet, request?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2018 4:10 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 16:10:19 -0400

I requested retirement in VPC. How long does commander have to respond/ signoff?

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2018 5:20 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 17:20:05 -0400

I don’t know about an option to be a grey area retiree. A grey area retiree is some who is retired but not yet reached the age to collect their retirement check. Right?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2018 5:33 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 17:33:27 -0400

I never saw a Certificate of Retirement for the Army Reserve, but I got a Honorable Discharge certificate from the Reserve.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Mar 20 at 2018 5:44 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 17:44:31 -0400

I received a letter on my birthday telling me that I was officially retired. 24 yrs service plus 17 I R R.

Response by LTC David Brown made Mar 20 at 2018 8:18 PM

LTC David Brown — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 20:18:16 -0400

I recieved a certificate of retirement.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made May 3 at 2018 4:45 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Thu, 03 May 2018 16:45:29 -0400

My mail comes to me addressed as such: Margaret C. Higgins U.S. Army (RET).

Response by SGT Robert Whatley made Mar 12 at 2019 12:33 PM

SGT Robert Whatley — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 12:33:05 -0400

Recieved a certificate that was it still proud of my service