Were I afforded the privilege to retire after 20 years of active service, could I serve in the Reserves?

CH (MAJ) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 16:16:47 -0400

I served for 6 years in the Reserves prior to being full time AD. If I am afforded the privilege of a 20 year retirement, would I be allowed to continue to serve as an Army Reserve officer? From my time in the Reserves I know of SMs who drilled for points but not pay. Is it possible to draw a pension from full time active service and still volunteer for drill in the Army Reserve? If so, how? If not why not? To the later question, why would the Reserves not value my experience and want me as a contributor especially if I were willing to do it for free?

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2015 4:23 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 16:23:25 -0400

I work with people who are in the reserves after retiring from active duty. Unsure about points vs pay though. I will ask them and am also curious to see others' responses here.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Aug 20 at 2015 5:05 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 17:05:15 -0400

Sir, When I am released from the Army, I intend to return to my crops and be ready for the next harvest.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 20 at 2015 6:06 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 18:06:08 -0400

Generally you would transfer from AD to the reserves ILO retiring outright if you want to still be paid for drills. This does have ramifications on collecting your AD pension. From my understanding there are 3 levels of retirement 1) outright retirement where you fully separate from everything - no COLA increases, 2) retirement where you are subject to IRR recall - includes COLA and increases and 3) retirement which includes COLA, allows you to drill for points, be subject to recall and increases your retirement - once you are eligible to collect - based on the additional points earned. It all depends on what you selected upon retirement from AD.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2015 8:31 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 20:31:00 -0400

Stand for Native Afrimative Action. Vote Octavia Wells for President

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2015 9:01 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 21:01:54 -0400

You cannot draw your retirement pay while serving the reserves as far as I know.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Aug 20 at 2015 11:34 PM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 23:34:07 -0400

This is a really interesting question, and I am very interested in the answer. I BELIEVE that you would not be able to both 1) draw retired pay and 2) serve in any Active Reserve status (which would include drilling either for pay or for points).

I don't like that, and think that there SHOULD be a way to drill just for "God and Country" (neither pay nor "points.") hopefully a smart admin person will post and tell us that there is.

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Aug 21 at 2015 1:28 AM

MAJ Keira Brennan — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 01:28:17 -0400

Nope...

Response by SFC Kenneth Hunnell made Aug 21 at 2015 3:39 AM

SFC Kenneth Hunnell — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 03:39:48 -0400

While I admire your wanting to continue to serve. But,why did you retire. Why didn't you just transfer to a reserve unit? Of course you would then have to wait until 60 to collect your retirement

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Aug 23 at 2015 5:07 PM

TSgt Kenneth Ellis — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 17:07:52 -0400

When I was in the Air Force reserves. And this was in the 70's. I was in the 728 mad and I flew with an engineer on a C141 who had previously retired from the Air Force.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2015 1:34 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 01:34:26 -0400

I think retirees from all branches and components should be allowed to volunteer in a reserve unit such as instruction, mentoring, giving physicals, helping prepare a briefing, helping unit prepare for an inspection or an exercise. It gives them an opportunity to continue to use their skills. I know a retired Navy SeaBee Master Chief who continues to work with his unit as a retiree; he even gets non-pay, non point orders. If it can be done in the Army, I never heard about it. Otherwise the closest thing Ive seen is in states that have an active state defense force (They dont even have to be former military to join); they do some of those things with the National Guard units.

Response by CH (LTC) Robert Leroe made Nov 6 at 2015 2:31 PM

CH (LTC) Robert Leroe — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 14:31:42 -0500

Not an option, but the Civil Air Patrol Chaplaincy is. I did it for several years. Check it out.

Response by MSgt James Bowers made Mar 2 at 2016 9:50 PM

MSgt James Bowers — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 21:50:42 -0500

I believe you can serve as in the Civil Air Patrol after retirement. I researched it 10 years back for a friend, but he never followed up.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2016 12:50 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 14 May 2016 12:50:05 -0400

Nope. Retired is retired.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2018 12:35 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 00:35:25 -0400

The interesting point is guard and reserve do not collect.retirement till about 60 years of age depending on if they served any active duty time it will adjust accordingly.

Response by LTC Curtis Madsen made Aug 10 at 2018 12:22 PM

LTC Curtis Madsen — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 12:22:31 -0400

I'm not sure of how it works for active component moving over to reserve, but I know of some active guard reserve (AGR) members that have deferred drawing their 20 active duty retirement to be a traditional drilling member. I'm not sure what happens after they're forced into retirement later on, but I know of a COL that was AGR had 20 or more active years, and then reverted to drilling status and becoming a civil service technician (GS15 I believe) as a General Officer. You might have to do some research on this, since it's not very common or at least from my experience.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Dec 1 at 2018 4:14 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 04:14:51 -0500

Because you would occupy a slot that a long serving reservist would appreciate being promoted to!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2018 9:11 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 21:11:58 -0500

Basically Sir, no. You cannot be paid twice for service. Meaning, the Army can not pay you a retirement and a pay check at the same time.