Should the retirement in lieu of PCS option be set at 17 years instead of 19.5 years?

SFC Josh Watson — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 11:42:30 -0400

The current policy for the retirement in lieu of PCS is 19.5 years time in service (IAW AR 635-200). Why is it not at 17 or 18 years for the careerist who has a plan to retire at his/her present location at 20 years? Should there be some sort of Declination of Continued Service Statement option for those who wish to retire at 20 years in lieu of a PCS move, and if so, what would be an exeptable time frame from submission of this action to the retirement date?

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 18 at 2013 9:46 PM

SFC James Baber — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 21:46:52 -0500

Because you could easily get a 2-3 year PCS assignment so that wouldn't be feasible for you to be able to turn down the assignment if your time to 20 would equal the PCS. The current system is the way it is for the protection of the Soldier and the HR part of it as well. It keeps you from being forced (somewhat) into moving yourself and family more than once before retirement, and it at least to me save's the government money from two moves as well, especially if you want to come back to where you were before the PCS, for the 19.5 year Soldiers that is.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Dec 18 at 2013 11:41 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 23:41:14 -0500

It's the law.

The 20-year minimum accumulation for voluntary active duty retirement is law.

The law was recently amended allowing voluntary retirements in lieu of involuntary separations during the current military draw-down.

As for NCOs who are serving under the indefinite reenlistment program, they can request voluntary separation through AR 635-200, paragraph 4-4.

Response by SFC Stephen Hester made Dec 19 at 2013 12:43 PM

SFC Stephen Hester — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 12:43:06 -0500

I would have stayed at Fort Belvior had that been an option but instead had to PCS with one child in HS (just missed being able to request HS stabilization). I opted to retire instead of another PCS move so my daughter ended up attending three high schools instead of one.

The big disadvantage, at least as I see it, would be that a Soldier could be in an assignment for 2-3 years, come down on PCS orders, opt out (at 17 years TIS) and spend another three years in that assignment. That seems to me to be a slippery slope that HRC doesn't want to walk up.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2017 10:40 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 10:40:48 -0400

I know this is an old post, but hopefully I can get some feedback. I believe it should be changed to 18 years. I say this cause I am in a situation where I hit my 19 year mark in 2 months and plan on dropping my retirement packet. My wife and I have been making plans for a year now and I recently came down on PCS orders to Germany. I am currently trying to find a way that I can retire instead of PCSing. If the time was 17 or 18 years, I would not be in the extremely frustrating situation that I am in.