Posted on Oct 9, 2023
If a 1LT resigns to become a warrant officer and achieves CW4 or CW5 rank before retirement, do they retire as 1LT or CW4/CW5?
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Retirement
Posted 1 y ago
Responses: 5
They would retire as a CW4/CW5. Federal law (10 USC § 7311*) requires that you have 10 years of active service as a commissioned officer to retire as one. As the individual would be a 1LT, it is highly doubtful that they meet that requirement.
If somehow, they DO meet that requirement, then they would be in one of those ‘special situations’ that really depends on “how are they only a 1LT with 10+ years of commissioned service?”
Keep in mind there is a difference between “what grade you retire at” and “how much is your retired pay”. Since you are under “High-36” (unless you're part of the "theoretical" crowd that is under "final pay") it is “the highest 36 pay rates throughout your entire career”.
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* 10 USC § 7311 - https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/7311
* https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN3140_AR600-8-24_FINAL.pdf
If somehow, they DO meet that requirement, then they would be in one of those ‘special situations’ that really depends on “how are they only a 1LT with 10+ years of commissioned service?”
Keep in mind there is a difference between “what grade you retire at” and “how much is your retired pay”. Since you are under “High-36” (unless you're part of the "theoretical" crowd that is under "final pay") it is “the highest 36 pay rates throughout your entire career”.
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* 10 USC § 7311 - https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/7311
* https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN3140_AR600-8-24_FINAL.pdf
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If you are talking about pay, you still should get your high three, which should be in the CW rank. Even O1E max pay is $5682. A CW4 at 20 makes about $8087.
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I always heard you retire at your highest rank. Truth or not, I can't be sure so I'd take COL Randall C. word on it. What I never understood was if a Lt was higher rank than a CWO and who was required to salute who first.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
t would still be the CWO that would salute the 1Lt. Based on Experience and CWO or even an NCO would have more military background and experience than most junior officers but that still doesn't change where they fall in the chain of command or rank structure. one friend of mine i worked with though was a MSgt as an enlisted man, had to get an age waiver to be commissioned a 2Lt and actually went all the way up to the rank of a full Colonel which is the rank He retired in. The unit I was in at that time ALL our officers were former NCOs which sure worked out very well.
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CPT (Join to see)
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter - Everything you have said is true. Saluting never bothered me though. In one country's army everyone begins at E1 (except for staff corps officers) and goes up from there.
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COL Randall C.
Vic, you are correct, but they still have to meet the requirements to retire at that grade.
Assume they were an O3 with over ten years as a commissioned officer (requirement to retire as a commissioned officer). They resign and become a Warrant and get promoted up to W-4 before retiring. Since they meet the eligibility of retiring as an officer (10+ years of active service), they would retire as an O3.
However, their "high-36" would start with the months they were paid as a W-4, then as an O-3, then W-3, etc. until 36 months is met.
Assume they were an O3 with over ten years as a commissioned officer (requirement to retire as a commissioned officer). They resign and become a Warrant and get promoted up to W-4 before retiring. Since they meet the eligibility of retiring as an officer (10+ years of active service), they would retire as an O3.
However, their "high-36" would start with the months they were paid as a W-4, then as an O-3, then W-3, etc. until 36 months is met.
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