By Lynn Peterson, Army Retirement Services     July 2025

Our motto in Army Retirement Services is “Retirement is a process, not an event,” meaning there are many steps to take in preparing yourself and your family for this milestone. As with most processes, some tasks need to be accomplished before others.

Located on our website, https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Army-Retirement/Retirement-Planning/Retirement-Checklists, we have checklists for Soldiers who are planning for a regular/active retirement, as well as checklists for Army Reserve and Army National Guard Soldiers planning for a non-regular, or reserve retirement. 

In the Retirement Planning Guide and the Retirement Planning Seminar slides (also broken down by component/type of retirement) found at, https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Army-Retirement/Retirement-Planning, we provide a timeline quick reference slide with priority tasks indicated in red for each step in the retirement planning process.

36 months out, Focus on gathering resources, such as medical, personnel, and financial records for example, as well as deciding when and where you would like to retire.

18-24 months out, Plan on attending the Mandatory Retirement Planning Seminar. This seminar, provided by Retirement Services Officers (RSOs) worldwide covers numerous topics such as healthcare, transportation, terminal leave, retirement considerations, etc. Also, during this period, you should determine whether or not you have any remaining service obligations and when those will be met, for example, some Soldiers incur a 4-year active-duty service obligation, or ADSO, upon transferring their Post 9/11 GI Bill benefit to their eligible dependents. They may also have incurred a service obligation for a Permanent Change of Station or PCS move, promotion, completion of school, etc. Additionally, Soldiers are currently able to submit their applications for retirement 24 months out under a pilot program that has been extended through September 30, 2025. If the pilot program is not extended or made permanent beyond that point, Soldiers will be able to apply during the regular application window, which is 9 to 12 months prior to the desired retirement date. A Personnel Action Request (PAR) requesting retirement should be submitted in IPPS-A, the Integrated Personnel and Pay System–Army. This is also the period when you should begin the Army Transition Assistance Program, known as Army TAP. There is a directory of TAP centers available on their page at https://www.armytap.army.mil/.

12-18 months out, Have all medical and dental check-ups completed. It is important to document all your health concerns prior to your retirement date. You should also start looking into the Survivor Benefit Plan and life insurance to determine if one or the other, or both are what is best for your family. There is an SBP vs. life insurance comparison tool available on the DOD actuary page at https://actuary.defense.gov/.

6–12 month out, is when you are eligible to submit your retirement applications, specifically 9-12 months out, unless the pilot program, as previously mentioned is extended, which expands the window up to 24 months out. This is also the time when Soldiers should be completing the DD Form 2648, Pre-separation/transition counseling, with Army TAP.

"Retirement is a process, not an event."

We are coming up to the home stretch — and you are now 1-6 months out from your final retirement date. During this time, you should be completing your final retirement physicals, it’s important to keep in mind that this will be your last record of active-duty health. This is also when you will be making an SBP election. Also, during this timeframe is when you would be able to submit a VA disability claim under their Benefits Delivery at Discharge or BDD program. This is also about the time that Terminal Leave, which is ordinary leave granted to assist separating Soldiers with their personal affairs leading up to retirement, and Transition Administrative Absence (TAA), previously known as PTDY take place. The purpose of TAA is to facilitate transition to civilian life and afford time for house-hunting, job-hunting, etc. Also, Soldiers can cash in up to 60 days of leave over the course of their entire careers, but it is important to note that these funds are fully taxable.

During the retirement month, if not already completed, you should be out-processing and receiving your DD Form 214.

And lastly, upon retirement you should go to the DEERS/RAPIDS office so you and your family can be issued a new retired ID and new retired dependent ID cards. During this time, you should also reenroll in TRICARE. It is important to note that you must reenroll within 90 days of your retirement date to avoid a lapse in coverage.