Is there an age you're required to retire as an officer?

As I recall, General MacArthur was over 70 when the Korean War started as he was born in 1880.

mandatory retirement age for officers below flag rank is 62. 1 and 2 star mandatory is 64. 3 and 4 star is 68. Rickover and Hopper were probably the reason since the regs were changed by Congress in 2006. As an FYI, RDML Hopper retired in 1966 as a 60 year old Commander with 23 years service. She was recalled in 67, retired again in 71, was recalled in 72, promoted to O-6 in 73 and O-7 in 83 and retired again in 86. She was 82 at the time.

Yeah, Gen MacArthur was another case in point...read the one I just sent in on Adm Rickover, you'll get a real kick outta that one, promise....

Yeah, and that was the other one, Adm Hopper, I hadn't sent her Wikipedia page in, though I'd obv heard the story about her, as well....

COL John Hudson Sir, thanks for your service, no matter if the Service does not recognize it. Props for trying to make the star. It would have been my pleasure to serve with you.

I spent 26 years on active duty. I kept getting phone calls from my assignment officer CW5 Les Craig. A friend of mine. He was a PBO at Schinnen and was the 92B. First he says come back to the pentagon and be in charge of COMSEC. I said no Les. I spent my tour in the Beltway. Then he calls again and says how about Aberdeen. To be the senior TAC at Warrant Officer basic for Techs. I said Les I am not coming back. I was first a GS11 and then one year later a GS 12. Director of Logistics.

Dang, Craig! Must feel pretty good to know that someone out there still thinks so highly of you! Props! John

LTC Patrick Turner,

That was a great answer, thanks. I am 56 and have 26 years of service, but only 15 as an officer. I want to stay in as long as I can (which looks like 62).

BUT I don't understand about your volunteering for tours after you retired. Can you explain that?

Yes. I had MRD in 2003 and formally retired. In late 2004, I submitted a written request to the Army that although I was retired, I desired to serve on active duty as a RETIREE. In early 2005, I was given to understand that about 3-400 senior EM and Retired Officers were serving on AD in a RETIRED status. I volunteered for Iraq and was sent and ultimately, I served about 4.75 hours straight on active duty: 24 months in Iraq and AFG AND the remaining time at Fort Sill in Lawton, OK. In early 2009, I was accepted by a two star to return to AFG, still on AD but suddenly they wrote me in July 2009 and said they “had run out of money/funding and that my last day of active duty was 31 Aug 2009”. This happened. ANd this is how I volunteered for AD after retiring. Does this happen TODAY? I don’t believe so unless you are a medical doctor or highly needed MOS. I hope this answers your question.

Great Answer. Had no idea. I am now a JAG, was an 18 series when enlisted. Doubt they really need a lot of JAGs, but will keep my eye on it.

Thanks again.

Tim

The Military's "UP & OUT" philosophy is what drives the entire military boat. I read a very well thought-out paper titled, "The Professional Private" penned by a Senior Service School (war college) attendee back in 1970 or so who opined both sides of a question; Does allowing an individual to excel in the job choice they selected best and leave them there? He used a young under-educated Private "Garbage Grinder" as his example. This E-3 loved what he did, accomplished the job better than anyone else (who all hated the duty) knew his equipment inside and out better than others and cared little for advancement in rank and worked long hours with high morale and initiative. Well, that's good as far as it goes, until young PVT Garbage Grinder is taken out by threat action and no one else knows how to work the grinder or wants to get anywhere near it. Now there's a problem that affects everyone negatively with possible medical complications as the un-ground trash piles up. Homesteaders plug up the 'job-slot availability' promotion line, deadwood stays in place, morale tanks, people seek jobs elsewhere and leave in droves to find employment that will let them grow professionally and financially. Up & Out is a vicious career animal but nothing superior has shown up lately. In Iraq I get a letter from DA telling me I'm too old, won't be promoted to 0-7 and hit the door. Okay, I could have written to my Congressman requesting a waiver to stay in for a few more years. But frankly, given where I was at - in full combat in Iraq outside the wire almost daily, serving side-by-side with young soldiers - exposed to the same dangers they were was the epitome of my career and I could not have asked for a better assignment. I worked hard to achieve excellent physical condition (excelling at PT Tests while soldiers half my age were failing and lining up for a re-take). That damned letter hurt my feelings - why didn't someone advise me BEFORE I went to all those service schools to strengthen my career opportunities? I got over it and moved on, still hoping someone will come up with something better than UP & Out for the next iteration of eager young service members. John