What if a Reservist needed OCT-2025 to reach 50+ points for the year, it was the completion of their 20th year,and they turned 60 in Oct too?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 15:22:37 -0400

So I will reach 20 years at age 58.5ish. So I have 18 months or so to make up a potentially bad year, but recent events got me thinking (with the advent that last year would have been a bad year for me if I wasn't doing military funerals almost weekly).

But to my point.......... what is the recourse for someone who might be up against the clock, and congress shuts off the means to make up the points to get the final last good year?

In my case (and everyone's........... I presume) we will all make up the lost battle assemblies, and some date fudging on the DA1380's will pit the points in the years they are needed.

I'm just curious.

Would the recourse of my scenario have to be handled through one's congressman?

Basically, you can't finish a good year, and you hit MRD during the shut down and can't make it up to make that last 20th good year.

Response by COL Randall C. made Oct 26 at 2025 5:27 PM

COL Randall C. — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 17:27:13 -0400

If you're hitting your MRD for age (60 in the Army reserves .. 62 for active duty), the MRD is the last day of the month they turn 60, so if they needed October to complete their 20th good year, and turned 60 that month, they would be able to do it.

The situation you described wouldn't happen unless the reservist really works at screwing it up.

While reservists normally associate it with being retained on active duty until they are eligible for a regular retirement, there is a sanctuary status in the reserves as well*. An officer in an active status on the RASL, who has completed at least 18 years of creditable service towards retirement, will be retained until they are eligible for a non-regular retirement.

However, the retention is a max of three years, so they are given the opportunity, but they could work at it and screw the pooch.

An MRD extension request would still have to be sent to HRC, but it will be automatically approved for officers in this situation (e.g., over 18 years of creditable service and hitting their MRD).
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* "Sanctuary" for reservists - https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/12646
* Maximum age for officers - https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/1253

10 U.S. Code § 12646 - Commissioned officers: retention of after completing 18 or more, but less...

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Oct 27 at 2025 9:42 AM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 09:42:06 -0400

I thought the troops worked during the shutdown, just did not get paid. Of course, in this situation, it is points not pay you want. Are the ASTs considered essential and still working? If not, perhaps get some Admin type M Day guys come in and do the 1380s, long time ago, but I think that was the form.
Which makes me wonder, do troops that are traveling have to foot their own bills? As I understand, one has to use a guvment cc for which troop is responsible and in normal times is reimbursed. Now that money not going out, do troops have to fund their travel or does big Army work out a deal with banks that issue cards to forgo payment?

Response by LTC Jo Sh made Nov 1 at 2025 12:24 AM

LTC Jo Sh — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 00:24:27 -0400

50 points is a good year, and you automatically get 15 membership points. That means you only need 9 monthly drills to complete a good year. If you're USAR you can usually get another 2 points for annual medical, dental, flu shot. Plus 14 day Annual Training. An normal year is about 80 total points, if you can't do 50, than one month isn't going to save you and you're under preforming.