When can I submit my retirement paperwork after reporting to a new duty station?

2020-11-13T10:09:39-05:00

I am seeking information from the group about retirement submission. I am currently on assignment to JBLM reporting in Feb 2021. I am looking to submit for retirement on May 1st 2021 with a retirement date of 1 May 2022.

The regulation isn't completely clear in regards to this. It states " Soldiers will serve 1 year in their current assignment or at their current duty station, whichever occurs first, beginning when the Soldier reports to duty".

Based off of that would I have to wait till February 2022 to submit for retirement, or would I be able to submit on 1 May 2021 as planned as my retirement date would push me past the year mark (although my actual time on station would be under a year because of leave, PTDY, and possibly the DoD Skillbridge internship program)?

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Nov 13 at 2020 10:23 AM

2020-11-13T10:23:14-05:00

Like many personnel policies it may depend on money. You can as far as I know you can put in for retirement upon arrival at your new assignment. Your requested retirement date should be what you want. THen let the Army react to your reQuest. If The requested date requires a waiver, then request it. If the Army budget is driving declining end strength numbers in your gr

Response by SSG Steven Borders made Nov 13 at 2020 11:47 AM

2020-11-13T11:47:02-05:00

Not sure how it works on the AD side for Retirement 1SG but I know at my unit in the Reserves we submit the packets about a year out because they take so long to process. I have one right now that is at 157 days since it's creation. Still sitting at BN.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2020 5:06 PM

2020-11-13T17:06:19-05:00

From what I have seen at my unit 1SG, you must be at the duty station or unit for 1 year before you can drop a retirement packet. For example, SM PCSs to Fort Shafter, SM must serve 1 year at Fort Shafter before they can drop a retirement packet. Other example is SM transfers units prior to their retirement eligibility date. SM must serve 1 year in current assignment to drop retirement packet. If you report feb 21, you must wait until 01 Mar 22 to drop retirement packet based off of monthly reports.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2020 6:17 PM

2020-11-13T18:17:52-05:00

There are a couple of policies at play here that you have to work between.

You do have to be at your location one year before HRC will accept your completed retirement request. When your unit is willing to accept should be earlier. That's why you'll see units who say to suit your retirement at 18 months out, because after kicking it back 15 times you are a year out from retirement.

Retirement days are always the last day of the month. The earliest you can submit it is 12 months. So if you wanted to be retired in May (31st) the earliest you could submit it is 1 June for a retirement date of 31 May.

Your retirement date does not have to be a year away. You don't have to sit in an approved retirement status for a year. HRC requires you have at least 90 days from approval to separation date, but not longer than a year.

So, you could submit your retirement packet to your S1 for review six months after arriving, they could submit it to HRC at the year mark with a requested retirement date of June 2022, giving 30 days at HRC for approval