Applicable to: Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve
The guidance provided in this article is applicable to Air National Guard (ANG) and Air Force Reserve (AFR) officers, who based on their Grade/Rank, competitive category or participating status can use this information to determine their MSD or eligibility to extend their established Mandatory Separation Date (MSD).
The following chart explains how an officer’s MSD is computed based on law and their Grade/Rank within an Air Reserve Component (ARC).
| Mandatory Separation Date (After 1 October 1996) |
| If Officer is: |
then mandatory separation date is: |
Second Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
Captain
Major
|
Not Applicable |
| Lieutenant Colonel |
The first day of the month after the month in which the officer completes 28 years commissioned service or age 62, whichever is earlier. (See notes 1, 5, and 6) Authority: 10 USC 14507(a) and 14509 |
| Colonel |
The first day of the month after the month in which the officer completes 30 years commissioned service or age 62, whichever is earlier. (See notes 2, 5, and 6) Authority: 10 USC 14507(b) and 14509 |
| Brigadier General |
30 years and 30 days commissioned service or five years in grade whichever is later; or the last day of the month in which the officer attains age 62, whichever is earlier. (See notes 3, 5, and 6) Authority: 10 USC 14508(a)(c)(e) and 14509 |
| Major General |
35 years and 30 days commissioned service or five years in grade whichever is later; or the last day of the month in which the officer attains age 64, whichever is earlier. (See notes 4, 5, and 6) Authority: 10 USC 14508(b)(d)(e) and 14511 |
Lieutenant General
General |
35 years and 30 days commissioned service or five years in grade whichever is later; or the last day of the month in which officer attains age 66.
Authority: 10 USC 14508(b)(d) and 14512(a)(2)(B) |
NOTES:
1. If the officer is on the colonel promotion select list, compute MSD IAW rule 3 upon promotion.
2. If the officer is on the brigadier general promotion select list, compute MSD IAW rule 3 upon promotion.
3. If the officer is on the major general promotion select list, compute MSD IAW rule 6 upon promotion.
4. AFI 36-3209, Separation and Retirement Procedures for Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Members, chapter 2, para 2.7.2 states AFRC Policy. Unless the officer has applied for retirement, normally reassign general officers in the grade major general to ISLRS on the last of the month in which the officer turns 62 years old.
5. Educational Delay is computed the same using the entry date onto active duty from the EAD orders or the DD Form 214.
6. A secretarial waiver is required for the officer to receive points and service beyond age 60 under Title 10, U.S.C. 12308.
7. Age: MSD cannot exceed 62nd birth date for any other reason, i.e., length of service, etc., unless the officer has an approved waiver for age limitations.
MSD Authorities based on Military Grade/Rank and U.S. Law
The officer will be discharged/retired on the last day of the month in which they attain maximum age.
MSD Extension - Permissible Reasons and Categories of Officers
The following information identifies specific Title 10 USCs that will allow for the extension of an officer's MSD beyond its initial establishment by law.
Each request must be routed through the member’s appropriate chain of command to the respective MAJCOM (NGB/AFRC) action authority.
Age Waiver (AFR/ANG) - Chaplains or Medical Specialties
Title 10, U.S.C., Section 14703, Reserve Professional Specialty Age 60 SAF Approval; paragraph (b) states "an officer may not be retained in active status under this section later than the date on which the officer becomes 67 years of age."
The MSD extension if approved will be adjusted in accordance with an approved SAF memorandum.
AFR and ANG Military Technicians (ART/MT)
Title 10, U.S.C., Section 14702(a)(2) & 14702(b): Air Reserve Technician officers’ MSD are adjusted upon receipt of written approval from AFRC/A1CSA or NGB/A1.
Selective Continuation Board (SCB) Process
Title 10, U.S.C., Section 14701, MSDs are based on the last day of the month in which the officer completes the required commissioned service:
- 14701(a)(2): Captains, 20 years of commissioned service
- 14701(a)(3): Majors, 24 years of commissioned service
- 14701(a)(4): Lieutenant Colonels , 33 years of commissioned service
Mandatory Officer Promotions - Twice Deferred
Officers who have met two Reserve Officer Personnel Management Act (ROPMA) mandatory promotion boards and fail to advance to the next higher grade are considered twice deferred.
Additional information on Twice Deferred officer can be found under the 'Related Resources' section below.
Active Duty and Reserve Sanctuary Provisions
Title 10 United States Code (USC), § 12686(a) and 12646(e) establish an active duty (AD) retirement sanctuary for members of all Air Reserve Components (ARCs).
Reserve sanctuary under Title 10 USC § 1176 (b) (enlisted), 12646(a) and (b) (officer) is provided for Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard members serving in an active Reserve status who have completed at least 18, but fewer than 20 years of satisfactory service.
United States Property and Fiscal Officers (USPFO) - ANG
Notwithstanding chapters 573, 1407, and 1409 of Title 10, a reserve commissioned officer, other than a commissioned warrant officer, who is assigned to the Selective Service System or who is a property and fiscal officer appointed, designated, or detailed under section 708 of title 32, may be retained in an active status in that assignment or position until he becomes 62 years of age.
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