Reduce Retirement Age for Members of the Air National Guard

Published March 3, 2009
By MSgt Solomon Shaw
101ARW/DP

3 March 2009 -- New guidance has finally been made available for the new "Early Retirement" program. (Note: Advance notification by the member will help to limit delays in your entitlements.)

Authority: Fiscal 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, Section 647, Commencement of Receipt of Non-Regular Service Retired Pay by Members of the Ready Reserve on Active Federal Status or Active Duty for Significant Periods.

Effective date: Jan. 29, 2008.

Retroactive clause: None. Not retroactive to any periods of service before 29 January 2008. Provision: It reduces eligibility age for receipt of retired pay by three months for each aggregate of 90 days within a fiscal year. Age cannot be reduced below age 50.
Who Qualifies: Ready Reserve Airmen (ANG, unit, IMA, and IRR).

Qualifying service:
-- Involuntary mobilization (Call or order to active duty under Title 10, U.S.C., Sections 688, 12301(a), 12302, 12304, 12305, 12406, or any other provision of law during a war or national emergency declared by the President or Congress).
-- Voluntary active duty (Call/order to active duty under Title 10, U.S.C., Section 12301(d).
-- Includes MPA or RPA provided such active duty is performed under 12301(d).
-- Full-time National Guard duty under a call to active service authorized by the President or Secretary of Defense under Title 32, U.S.C., Section 502(f) for purposed of responding to a national emergency declared by the President or supported by Federal funds.

Non-qualifying service:
-- Active Guard Reserve (AGR).
-- Annual Tour (Title 10, U.S.C., Section 12301(b).
-- Captive status (Title 10, U.S.C., Section 12301(g).
-- Medical treatment/medical evaluation for disability purposes or medical study (Title 10, U.S.C., Section 12301(h).
-- As a Airmen not assigned to or participating satisfactorily in units (Title 10, U.S.C., 12303).
-- Under active duty agreements (Title 10, U.S.C., Section 12311).
-- Disciplinary/courts martial (Title 10, U.S.C., Section 12315).
-- Muster duty (Title 10, U.S.C., Section 12319).

Required documentation:
-- Certified orders that cite the applicable section of law.
-- Airmen should maintain copies of their active duty orders to provide as documentation. -- Orders publishing authorities must ensure proper statutory authorities are included on orders.

Biggest Impact on Benefits:
-- Airmen will receive all retired pay benefits (e.g., commissary, base exchange, base services, etc) except
-- Medical benefits are deferred until age 60.
-- Blue ID card (ID card will show Airmen are not entitled to medical until age 60. At age 60, they will need to go to nearest military ID Card facility to obtain another blue ID card bestowing the medical benefit).
-- Premiums for the Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan will be deducted from retired pay upon the age the member starts drawing pay.

If you have any questions about the early retirement program you can contact 101ARW/DP at 990-7395 or the ARPC call center at 1-800-525-0102.