Posted on Jul 29, 2020
When you retire, are you supposed to get a certificate?
5.06K
5
22
0
0
0
I was medically retired on 2017 after nine years of service. I have a DD214 on 2012
Posted in these groups: 
Paperwork
Paperwork
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
0
0
0
The DD214 is the official retirement record. If your unit didn’t request ceremonial certificates then you’re probably not getting them.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Presidential Letters of Appreciation
Links and information concerning the requests for Presidential Letters of Appreciation.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
If you retire yes you are supposed to receive a letter from the POTUS but the catch is that the Command is required to submit documentation to request it.
(0)
(0)
SSgt Christophe Murphy
SFC Michael Hasbun
I dove into my crate of “military goodies” and dug up my retirement pack. In addition to letters from the Commandant and Sgt Maj of the Marine Corps all retiring Marines get a Certificate of Appreciation from the President. Which needs to be corrected from my earlier statement as it isn’t a formal letter from the White House. But it’s still something from POTUS which is better than nothing.
I dove into my crate of “military goodies” and dug up my retirement pack. In addition to letters from the Commandant and Sgt Maj of the Marine Corps all retiring Marines get a Certificate of Appreciation from the President. Which needs to be corrected from my earlier statement as it isn’t a formal letter from the White House. But it’s still something from POTUS which is better than nothing.
(0)
(0)
SFC Michael Hasbun
SSgt Christophe Murphy yup, that's a completely different document , but certainly, yes, better than nothing.
(0)
(0)
SSgt Christophe Murphy
SPC Luis Serrano - I looked at my retirement packet and it seems there is a difference from what SFC Hasburn is referring to and what a lot of other retirees have received/experienced. From my experience and what other retirees are confirming we received a Certificate of Appreciation from POTUS upon our retirements. What SFC Hasburn is referring to is a personalized letter from POTUS which has a different process and different eligibility criteria. To answer your question I am not sure how to address it. Considering it is an award you would need to either address it directly with your previous command or possibly reach out to any colleagues you served with who are still in. I had to do something similar when I was tracking down an award from a previous Command after already PCSing to a new Unit.
(1)
(0)
SSG (Join to see)
I have personally handed the presidential certificates out at retirements below 30 years of service.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
When I retired I got a Certificate signed by the President and an American Flag. My wife got a certificate too signed by the Chief of Staff.
(0)
(0)
SFC Michael Hasbun
The letter from the POTUS is only for those individuals who retire with 30 or more years of service.
https://www.esd.whs.mil/CMD/ploa/
https://www.esd.whs.mil/CMD/ploa/
Presidential Letters of Appreciation
Links and information concerning the requests for Presidential Letters of Appreciation.
(0)
(0)
SSG Roger Ayscue
SFC Michael Hasbun - Then things changed since I retired. I have a letter signed by President George W Bush on my wall and I did right at 24 years 1982-2005.
(1)
(0)
SSgt Christophe Murphy
After looking at my packet I see I also received a Certificate of Appreciation from POTUS. What we received is different than what SFC Hasburn is referring to.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google