Transferring From the Army Reserve to the Retired Reserve
Figure B-41, Request for Reserve Component Assignment or Attachment (Request for Assignment to the Retired Reserve), in USAR PAM 600-5, provides you a checklist of what's needed in your retirement request packet.
This checklist starts with a header asking for your name, rank, Army email, your unit, unit UIC, unit POC contact information, and other basic administrative data.
A checklist follows the administrative data.
This checklist is the first part of the packet.
The next forms in the packet follow: DA Form 4561: This is the request for reserve component assignment or attachment.
Both your commander and you have to sign this.
It requests basic administrative information like your name and address, social security number, telephone numbers, etc.
If you're voluntarily requesting to retire, you could select "Voluntary Assignment" in the form.
In another part of the form, you're going to request transfer to the retired reserve.
Depending on the unit you're with, you may have to just complete your personal information.
Your unit would end up completing the remainder.
Other units may have you complete the whole form.
Some units will do the whole thing for you; check with your unit administrators for which one is applicable.
DA Form 4856: The next two forms are counseling statements.
One will be from your commander; the other will be from your servicing career counselor.
When you leave the ready reserves (TPU/SELRES/IMA/IRR), you're going to be losing some benefits.
For example, as a member of the TPU, you're eligible for Tricare Reserve Select.
When you transfer to the Retired Reserves, you'll be eligible for Tricare Retired Reserve.
The premiums for this program are very expensive when compared to the premiums for Tricare Reserve Select.
Your commander might inform you of this.
As a member of the TPU/SELRES, you're eligible for SGLI.
If you transfer out of this program, you'll no longer be eligible for SGLI.
You'll be able to register for VGLI if you've served on an active duty contract, or deployment.
The commander could brief you on what could happen to your packet.
He/she could also get a feel of why you're retiring, with the hope of getting information that could benefit those that remain in the unit.
The servicing career counselor could brief you on your chances of coming back into the TPU/SELRES, IMA, or IRR.
He/she could also brief you on recall from retirement active duty opportunities.
What you get briefed on will vary depending on your unit.
Chain of Command recommendations: Your retirement isn't a guaranteed affair.
If you have time on your contract, and if you're critical to your unit, and it's ability to accomplish its mission, your retirement request could be denied.
Your chain of command's support for your retirement is also needed.
Army Reserve Points Capture or Twenty year Letter: You'll need one or both of these in your packet to document the fact that you're eligible to retire with pay at 60.
Request for Retirement Recognition: Service Members retiring from the service are eligible for recognition.
Examples include a certificate from the President, award medal, retired Soldier lapel, US flag, etc.
The unit could throw in some additional recognition items.
Orders uploaded into your electronic records: This is an action that'll happen after your packet gets approved.
If you're in the TPU/SELRES, you have to keep drilling until you receive this order.
If you're in the IMA or IRR, you have to maintain your obligations until you receive your retirement order.
Effective the date this order lists you as a retired reserve, you'll no longer be required to fulfill your TPU/IMA/IRR obligations.
You'll be required to turn in any unit items that are signed out to you.
Reference: USAR PAM 600-5
This checklist starts with a header asking for your name, rank, Army email, your unit, unit UIC, unit POC contact information, and other basic administrative data.
A checklist follows the administrative data.
This checklist is the first part of the packet.
The next forms in the packet follow: DA Form 4561: This is the request for reserve component assignment or attachment.
Both your commander and you have to sign this.
It requests basic administrative information like your name and address, social security number, telephone numbers, etc.
If you're voluntarily requesting to retire, you could select "Voluntary Assignment" in the form.
In another part of the form, you're going to request transfer to the retired reserve.
Depending on the unit you're with, you may have to just complete your personal information.
Your unit would end up completing the remainder.
Other units may have you complete the whole form.
Some units will do the whole thing for you; check with your unit administrators for which one is applicable.
DA Form 4856: The next two forms are counseling statements.
One will be from your commander; the other will be from your servicing career counselor.
When you leave the ready reserves (TPU/SELRES/IMA/IRR), you're going to be losing some benefits.
For example, as a member of the TPU, you're eligible for Tricare Reserve Select.
When you transfer to the Retired Reserves, you'll be eligible for Tricare Retired Reserve.
The premiums for this program are very expensive when compared to the premiums for Tricare Reserve Select.
Your commander might inform you of this.
As a member of the TPU/SELRES, you're eligible for SGLI.
If you transfer out of this program, you'll no longer be eligible for SGLI.
You'll be able to register for VGLI if you've served on an active duty contract, or deployment.
The commander could brief you on what could happen to your packet.
He/she could also get a feel of why you're retiring, with the hope of getting information that could benefit those that remain in the unit.
The servicing career counselor could brief you on your chances of coming back into the TPU/SELRES, IMA, or IRR.
He/she could also brief you on recall from retirement active duty opportunities.
What you get briefed on will vary depending on your unit.
Chain of Command recommendations: Your retirement isn't a guaranteed affair.
If you have time on your contract, and if you're critical to your unit, and it's ability to accomplish its mission, your retirement request could be denied.
Your chain of command's support for your retirement is also needed.
Army Reserve Points Capture or Twenty year Letter: You'll need one or both of these in your packet to document the fact that you're eligible to retire with pay at 60.
Request for Retirement Recognition: Service Members retiring from the service are eligible for recognition.
Examples include a certificate from the President, award medal, retired Soldier lapel, US flag, etc.
The unit could throw in some additional recognition items.
Orders uploaded into your electronic records: This is an action that'll happen after your packet gets approved.
If you're in the TPU/SELRES, you have to keep drilling until you receive this order.
If you're in the IMA or IRR, you have to maintain your obligations until you receive your retirement order.
Effective the date this order lists you as a retired reserve, you'll no longer be required to fulfill your TPU/IMA/IRR obligations.
You'll be required to turn in any unit items that are signed out to you.
Reference: USAR PAM 600-5
Source...