Applying for retirement pay begins by submitting an application through the Virtual Personnel Center, vPC. Individuals approaching their Retirement pay effective date (60th birthday or reduced retirement pay age) should submit an application no earlier than 12 months and no later than 6 months in advance of pay effective date

The National Defense Authorization Act for 2008 reduced the retirement age for Reserve Component airmen from 60 to a lesser age, not to be any earlier than age 50. The reduced retired pay age is calculated with qualifying service days on or after Jan. 29, 2008.

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. Qualifying active duty may be combined between consecutive fiscal years beginning with the FY15/FY16 crossover.
• ​Voluntary active duty - call or 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).
• Medical treatment/medical evaluation for disability purposes or medical study, Title 10, U.S.C., Section 12301(h)(1).

Nonqualifying Service

• Active Guard Reserve (AGR) (Title 10, U.S.C., Sect. 12310)
• Annual Tour (Title 10, U.S.C., Sect. 12301(b))
• ​National Guard Service (Title 32)
• Captive status (Title 10, U.S.C., Sect. 12301(g))
• Call to active duty (Title 10, U.S.C., Sect. 688)
• As an Airmen not assigned to or participating satisfactorily in units (Title 10, U.S.C., 12303)
• Under active duty agreement (Title 10, U.S.C., Sect. 12311)
• Disciplinary/courts martial (Title 10, U.S.C., Sect. 12315)
• Muster duty (Title 10, U.S.C., Sect. 12319)

Verifying Documentation

Orders citing the applicable section of law are required documents. Airmen should maintain copies of their active duty orders and provide them for the Reduced Retired Pay Age Application.

Orders publishing authorities must ensure proper statutory authorities are included on orders.

Impact on Benefits

Airmen will receive all retired pay benefits (e.g., commissary, base exchange, 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, will need to visit a military 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.

*Current as of June 21, 2022*

Retirees can apply no earlier than 12 months prior to their retirement effective date. It is recommended that applications are submitted no later 180 days prior to their effective pay date to ensure payment is received on time.

Our current service goal timelines are listed below:

· Age 60 or members with a confirmed Reduced Retired Pay Age (RRPA) are processed according to retirement effective date and in the order in which received. ARPC requests these applications no earlier than 12 months and no later than 6 months in advance of pay effective date. Our service level goal is to have them completed and to DFAS 30-60 days prior to the pay effective date. DFAS takes 30-45 days to complete their actions. Members will receive their first retirement pay check approximately 30-45 days after their retirement order.

· Regular retirement requests are processed according to retirement effective date and our service level goal is to have them completed 120 days prior to retirement effective date. We request applications 6-12 months in advance.

· Reserve retirement applications for members retiring from the Guard and Reserve are processed according to retirement effective date and in the order received. Our service level goal is to complete these within 60 days from receipt. These members will also need to submit a separate application to initiate their retirement pay no earlier than 12 month and no later than 6 months prior to their RRPA or age 60, as applicable. See above.

· Reduced Retirement Pay Age (RRPA) Applications are reviewed by priority of birth year. Members who are approaching Age 60 take immediate priority. Please note that these applications are reviewed concurrently with their Age 60/RRPA Retirement Application and do not need to be reviewed before transferring into the Retired Reserve.

Please monitor your email for retirement application approval and notification indicating your order is available in myPers under your “My documents area.”   

Please note that Tricare will honor a retroactive enrollment into a Tricare policy due to substantiation of a government administrative error.  Please contact Tricare at 800-444-5445 (Tricare East) or 844-866-9378 (Tricare West) or visit at https://tricare.mil for specific guidance regarding Tricare enrollment. In addition, DFAS will process retroactive to the effective date of retired pay.