Continuing to serve...The Retired Soldier Council Program

By Reina Vasquez, Editor, Army Retirement Services

In the summer of 2021, the 16th Sergeant Major of the Army, Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Grinston, began planning for his own retirement after 36 years of service. In an article from the July 2021 Change of Mission newsletter, Grinston discussed retirement preparations and emphasized the importance of proper planning and positively influencing those around you.

“Preparing for retirement is a mission like any other,” Grinston said. “When you retire, your mission will change, but your duty to the country will not. You’ll still be part of our Army, and your mission will be to ‘Hire & Inspire,’” he continued. 

Grinston is now one of the two co-chairs of the Chief of Staff, Army Retired Soldier Council alongside Lt. Gen. Joe Anderson, U.S. Army, Retired. This 14-member Council provides the CSA with advice and recommendations regarding vital issues and concerns of Retired Soldiers, surviving spouses, and their Families. They also provide CSA with an assessment of how current Army programs and initiatives and proposals for new laws and policies may affect the retired community. Finally, this Council works to strengthen communications between the Active Army, the Army National Guard, the U.S. Army Reserve, and the entire retired community.  

The CSA Retired Soldier Council is one of five categories of councils that make up the Retired Soldier Council Program; Installation, Army Service Component Command, State and Readiness Division and Mission Support Command are the other retiree councils. The most common retiree council is the installation or garrison retiree council. This council advises a garrison commander and senior installation leaders, as necessary, about the concerns of the local retired community. 

One way to stay connected to your Army Family after retirement is to serve on your local retiree council. We use the name "retiree" for these councils because, at the installation level, the councils are "purple." They include retirees from all military services even though they advise the local Army leadership, normally one of the 53 Army garrison commanders charged with providing services and information to Retired Soldiers in a geographic area defined in the regulation. 

The Army’s installation retiree councils may include retirees who live far from the closest installation’s gates. For example, Fort Stewart’s retiree council members live from southern Florida to southeastern South Carolina. Every Retired Soldier has a dedicated Retirement Services Officer (RSO) no matter where they live, including overseas. The installation retiree council assists the RSO in planning and executing the annual Retiree Appreciation Day and with publishing the annual Retired Soldier bulletin.

The Army recognizes Retired Soldiers as a force multiplier, that are crucial to the Army's success. We want you to continue serving in retirement. There are many ways to serve, from talking to Americans about military service and its benefits to inspiring the next generation of Soldiers through your personal example. When you retire, stay involved! Represent your fellow Retired Soldiers and their surviving spouses by serving on your local retiree council and ask to be nominated to serve on the CSA Retired Soldier Council. Your Army still needs you! To find your local retiree council, contact the RSO for your installation.