Gray Area Spotlight: Some important tips for our Army National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers

By Army Retirement Services     May 2025

Start your retired pay application process early! You can submit your application up to nine months prior to your expected retirement date. You should submit your application at least 90 days before your expected retirement date (your 60th birthday or your reduced age retirement date). The earliest age that a Gray Area Retired Soldier can start receiving retired pay is age 50.

For Army USAR (Troop Program Unit/TPU) and ARNG (M-Day) Soldiers, you initiate your own retirement packet (retirement is not an automatic process). It is recommended that you work with a USAR/ARNG Retirement Services Officer (RSO) to vet the packet for errors before sending it to the Army Human Resources Command (AHRC) where it will be received and triaged by the Army Service Center (ASC). The ASC will advise the member via email or postcard (based on delivery method) that the packet was received. The ASC can provide updates to the customer by calling (502) 613-8950 (until the packet is sent to DFAS). The packet will then be forwarded to the Gray Area Retirements (GAR) Branch and assigned to an analyst. Once complete, the packet will be forwarded to DFAS for pay processing in which DFAS will track and advise the customer of the status.

Members in the Retired Reserve may use the MyArmyBenefits personalized retirement calculator to develop an estimate of your retired pay based on the information in your Army personnel record. You must have a Defense Self-Serve (DS) Logon or CAC to use the calculator. You may need to update your personnel records to receive retirement credit in your calculation for all time served. Visit https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil for more information.

Army Reserve and Army National Guard Soldiers - If you have questions about your entitlement to retired pay, or if you are approaching your date to apply for retired pay:

Army Reserve: contact your Readiness Division RSO (RD) or Mission Support Command (MSC).

Army National Guard Soldiers: contact your state RSO.

USAR and ARNG RSOs are listed at https://soldierforlife. army.mil/About-Us/Contact-Your-RSO.

If you contact your RSO and they are unavailable, contact HRC GAR Branch at usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.tagd-ask-hrc@ mail.mil, or call the Army Service Center at 1-888-ARMYHRC (276-9472).

Make it easy and use this QR code to apply for Reserve (non-regular retirement) Retired Pay. The QR code will walk you through the application process and provide instructions on how to submit your application.