Officer Transfers and Discharges - Army Publishing Directorate ...

mandatory or discretionary, based on the specific provision of law. Delegation of approval authority does not include
the following retirement categories:
(1) General officer, Army competitive category colonel and promotable lieutenant colonel retirements.
(2) Retirement with fewer than 20 years of service (early retirement).
(3) Mandatory retirements (when an officer has been notified by HQDA, for example, of Selective Early Retirement
Board, reduction in force, maximum service, or maximum age.
(4) Retirement applications submitted by officers of the Judge Advocate General’s and Chaplain Corps (must be
approved by the Office of the Judge Advocate General (DAJA–PT) or the OCCH, respectively).
(5) Officers managed by the Special Management Branch.
(6) Active Guard/Reserve (AGR) retirements/waivers of USAR AGR officers must be approved by the Commander,
HRC-ST Louis (AHRC-AR), Reserve Way, St. Louis, MO 53132–5200. The Chief, National Guard Bureau, as
appropriate, must approve all retirements/waivers of NG AGR officers
(7) Applications from Soldiers who require any type of a waiver to permit retirement. The retirement application of
Soldiers who are “flagged” or should have been flagged must be submitted to HQDA for approval, with the exception
of “flags” imposed for APFT failure or overweight. See AR 600–8–2, paragraph 1–15. The retirement application of
officers who have an ADSO must be submitted to HQDA for approval (see AR 350–100).
(8) Officers pending involuntary separation proceedings, for example, an officer directed to show cause.
(9) Regular commissioned officers with at least 30 but less than 40 years of active service for retirement purposes.
b. Voluntary retirement requests may be submitted up to 12 months before the requested retirement date or not later
than 9 months prior to the projected start date of transition leave. The officer must have 19 or more years AFS and be
able to complete all service obligations by the retirement date.
c. Guidance for retirement at 20 years of service is listed as follows:
(1) An RA or USAR commissioned officer with 20 years AFS (of which 10 years is active commissioned service
may on their request and the approval of Secretary of the Army be retired (10 USC 3911). A USAR officer does not
have to be serving on AD in commissioned status or in an active USAR status to be eligible under this paragraph.
(2) Any warrant officer with 20 years AFS may upon request and the approval of the Secretary of the Army be
retired (10 USC 1293). For a Reserve warrant officer to retire under this provision, they must have USAR status at
time of retirement. It is not necessary for them to have served, or to be serving on AD in the warrant officer status at
time of retirement.
(3) For AD enlisted personnel who concurrently hold commissioned or warrant officer status in the USAR, (1) and
(2), above, also apply.
d. An RA commissioned officer with 30 years service may upon their request and the approval of the Secretary of
the Army be retired (10 USC 3918). Reference for computation of retired pay is 10 USC 3991.
e. An RA commissioned or warrant officer who has at least 40 years of service will be retired upon request (10 USC
3924). Reference for computation of retired pay is 10 USC 3991.
6–14. Service for determining retirement eligibility
a. Voluntary retirement eligibility is determined by AFS (10 USC 3926). To determine whether an officer may be
retired voluntarily, the years of AFS are computed by adding—
(1) All active service in the Army or the Air Force.
(2) All service in the Navy or Marine Corps that would be credited for determining retirement eligibility in the
respective Service (10 USC 3926(a)).
(3) For an officer of the Active Army, all active service performed as an officer of the Philippine Constabulary.
(4) All RA commissioned officer service in the Medical Corps as a contract surgeon, acting assistant surgeon, or
contract physician under a contract to serve full-time and to take and change station as ordered.
(5) All RA commissioned officer service in the Dental Corps as a contract dental surgeon or acting dental surgeon.
b. Constructive service as defined in paragraph 6–2c is not creditable for a voluntary retirement or for retired pay
purposes after a voluntary retirement.
6–15. Service obligations
a. Generally, an officer who completes certain formal education or training programs accepts career status, a certain
promotion, or a PCS and incurs an ADSO (AR 350–100). Normally, an officer must be able to fulfill the ADSO on or
before the effective date of retirement. However, CG, HRC, may grant nonstatutory waivers. Each request will be on a
case by case basis.
b. An RC officer requesting voluntary retirement in lieu of elimination action (see para 4–24) is not subject to this
paragraph.
c. An RA warrant officer scheduled for mandatory retirement may accept an ADL promotion to pay grade CW3,
CW4, or CW5 without incurring ADSO. Retention of these warrant officers beyond their mandatory retirement date is
not authorized.
AR 600–8–24 12 April 2006
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