WICHITA, Kan. - Arm yourself with answers to questions that Drill Status Guardsmen have about continuing their career until retirement.
Every member of the Guard family had a valid reason for joining, whether for education benefits, on-the-job training or the opportunity to carry on a family legacy by serving their country. As Airmen are faced with the decision to continue in their career or separate from service, they may lose the ambition or direction that initially attracted them to the Guard.
The Air National Guard does a great job in communicating the benefits of joining during the recruitment process, but even the most experienced Airmen find it difficult to locate information about the benefits afforded to retired Drill Status Guardsmen.
“One of our primary responsibilities is to ensure that our Airmen have all the information they need to make the best decision possible,” said Chief Master Sgt. Russ Brotsky, command chief of the 184th Intelligence Wing.
Many Airmen experience frustration throughout their career,
often times leading that person to consider separation.
“Some who separated wish they would have worked through the frustrations of military life to have had the chance to retire,” said Brotsky. “Others who have retired say that, as they look back, those years served went by so fast they wished they would have devoted more energy during that time to making a bigger difference.”
The first step for any member is to understand the minimum requirements to be eligible for retirement. All members must complete 20 years of qualifying service with a minimum of 50 points per year, often referred to as a “good year.” The time frame to earn points begins and ends on the Airman’s anniversary date, also called the retention/retirement date.1
Retirement points are earned through types of duty that an Airman performs. For example, a unit training assembly, or UTA, earns one point per four hour period, giving Airmen the opportunity to receive four points per UTA weekend. Most other duty, such as annual training and active service, provides one point per eight-hour period. The more days an Airman performs, the more retirement points he or she receives that year.
Retirement points affect the amount of pay that retirees receive, more points equal more pay. Point summaries can be found for all members on their virtual Military Personnel Flight application.
“We want to make sure they understand the financial and education benefits, and differences a separation brings for them and their family versus a retirement,” said Brotsky.
Educating Airmen about the benefits of a long-term career is a key factor in the wing’s retention efforts. Supervisors, unit career advisers and leaders throughout the wing are great resources for information. Another great, one-stop-shop for information is the Air Reserve Personnel Center Personnel Fact Sheets, which can be found online at www.arpc.afrc.af.mil.
According to the ARPC Personnel Fact Sheets, “Upon receipt of retired pay, normally at age 60, persons receive the same benefits allocated for retired members of the active Air Force.”
Once a Drill Status Guardsman retires they become retired reserve, also known as a “gray area retiree.” The time frame between a member’s retirement date and 60th birthday is considered the gray area.
There are quite of few benefits that are available during the gray area. Most services provided on base, including commissary and Base Exchange access, are available to gray area retirees. However, benefits such as medical services may not be available until age 60.
“No TRICARE medical benefits are available before age 60 for Air Force retirees. TRICARE Retired Reserve may be purchased for those members under age 60,” according to the ARPC Personnel Fact Sheets.
With medical and prescription costs on the rise, Airmen may consider medical benefits after age 60 as a key factor in their decision to earn a retirement.
Travel benefits are also available to gray area retirees. Base lodging facilities are accessible to all Air Force retirees and their family members. However, Space Available Travel on military aircraft has limitations.
“Reserve retirees before age 60 are restricted to flights in the continental United States, and to, from and within Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, Samoa and the Virgin Islands. At age 60, the Airman and family members are eligible to travel to overseas locations,” according to the ARPC Personnel Fact Sheets.
Getting familiar with the ARPC Personnel Fact Sheets will equip Drill Status Guardsmen, supervisors and commanders with the answers they need when the question arises, “How does it benefit me in the long-term to stay in as a Drill Status Guardsman until I can retire?”
“As I visit with the men and women I’ve served with in our wing from years past, it’s often stated that they just didn’t understand how quick that time goes,” said Brotsky. “Twenty years is an eternity to an Airman in their 20s or 30s, but it really isn’t that long compared to life’s standards. And it’s hard to wrap your head around that idea.”
| Date Taken: | 10.03.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 01.11.2015 09:16 |
| Story ID: | 151730 |
| Location: | WICHITA, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 141 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Take the gray out of gray area retirement for DSGs, by MSgt Matthew Mccoy and SSgt Ryan Smith, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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