Retirement Services
Applying for Non-Regular (M-Day) Retirement Pay
- When should I apply for retired pay?
- What documents do I need to submit for retired pay?
- What additional documentation should I submit with my application?
- Where should I send my retired pay application?
- What is the statute of limitations for retired pay?
- What if I was allowed to serve past age 60?
- What is Reduced Eligibility Age (Early Age Drop) for retirement pay?
- How do I apply for Reduced Eligibility Age?
- Contact Us
Your application for retired pay should be completed and sent to the Human Resources Command (HRC), Fort Knox not earlier than 9 months and not later than 90 days from the date that retired pay is to start (usually your 60th birthday). To ensure that your packet for retired pay does not get returned from HRC, have your State Retirement Services Officer (RSO) review your packet prior to submission.
Your retired pay application will, at a minimum, consist of the below listed documents. For your convenience, clicking the document below will direct you to the actual form.
- DD Form 108, Application for Retired Pay Benefits (.pdf)opens in a new window. Fill out your personal information in blocks 1-8. Do not fill out your service information. Instead, in the lower portion of the form, below “Service After 30 June 1949,” write, “See Attached NGB Form 23B,” then sign and date the form. Be sure to attach a copy of your NGB Form 23B.
- DD Form 2656, Data for Payment of Retired Personnel (.pdf)opens in a new window. You must fill out this form in its entirety. Section IX, “Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Election”: This information must be the same as your initial Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP) election when you received your Notice of Eligibility (20 year or 15 year letter) OR any changes you’ve made to the plan due to a life changing event (i.e. marriage, divorce, birth of a child, or death of a spouse). Section X, “Certification”. This is signed by you and a certified Retirement Service Officer (RSO). Section XII, “SBP Spouse Concurrence”. This is required if you chose anything other than option C (the full amount).
- Copy of your Notice of Eligibility (20 year or 15 year letter)
- Retirement Orders or Discharge Orders
- NGB 23B
- SBP Form (NGB 23F, PD 1883, or DD 2656-5)
You should submit:
- Any orders showing the highest grade/rank held and administrative reduction
- Copy of approved waiver to serve beyond age 60
You should also submit any forms showing changes to your RCSBP election, such as:
- DD Form 2656-6, Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP) Election Certificate.pdf
- DD 2656-1, Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Election Statement for Former Spouse Coverage.pdf
- Divorce decree(s)
- Marriage certificate
- Adoption papers
The following documentation are required to support reduced age retirement:
- DD Form 214(s), Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
- DD Form 215(s), Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
- DD Form 220(s), Active Duty Report
- Mobilization Orders (mobilization orders by itself is not a verifiable source document)
- Leave and Earning Statements (LES)
We strongly recommend that you contact the California Army National Guard Retirement Section to review your Retired Pay Application to prevent your application from being returned from Human Resources Command (HRC).
You may mail your application to:
Joint Force Headquarters
9800 Goethe Road
Attn: Box 40 – Transition Assistance
Sacramento, CA 95827-3561
You may contact us at 916-854-3685 or ng.ca.caarng.mbx.g1-transition@army.mil.
A claim for retired pay must be filed within six years from the date you are eligible for retired pay. If you fail to file within the six years, you will lose one day’s retired pay for each day you delay in submitting your Retired Pay Application.
Examples:
- If you become eligible for retired pay on 1 January 2010, but your application for retired pay was not received and processed by DFAS until 1 January 2017, you will only receive back pay to 1 January 2011 (6 years back from the date your application was processed).
- If you become eligible for retired pay on 1 July 2000, but your application for retired pay was not received and processed by DFAS until 1 September 2016, you will only receive back pay to 1 September 2000 (you will forfeit 2 months of retired pay from July and August of 2000).
If you serve past your 60th birthday, you must send your age waiver to HRC with your Retired Pay Application. Failure to send this waiver will create a pay debt. The Statute of Limitations still applies.
A member of the Ready Reserves (National Guard) may qualify for retired pay prior to age 60 under Title 10 United States Code (USC) 12731(f) and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of Fiscal Year (FY) 2008, section 647. This reduces the age for receipt of retired pay by three months for each aggregate of 90 days of “specified duty” performed in any fiscal year after 28 January 2008. Reduced Eligibility Age cannot be reduced below age 50. “Specified duty” includes:
- Title 10 USC, sections 101(a)(13)(B), 688 12301 (a), 12301(d) & (h), 12302, 12304, 12305, 12406, and chapter 15 (insurrection). This includes mobilization.
- Full Time National Guard Duty (FTNGD) when under a call to active service by a governor and authorized by the President or the Secretary of Defense under section Title 32 USC, 502(f) for the purpose of responding to either a national emergency declared by the President or a national emergency supported by Federal funds. NOTE: Emergency State Active Duty (ESAD) does not qualify for reduced eligibility age.
Service while performing Active Guard Reserve (AGR) duty, Full Time National Guard Duty Operational Support (FTNGD-OS), and Full time National Guard Duty Counter Drug (FTNGD-CD) under Title 32 USC, section 502(f) does not qualify for Reduced Eligibility Age. The following FTNGD performed under Title 32 USC, section 502(f) are the only duties authorized for Reduced Eligibility Age:
- 2008 State of the Union Address
- 2008 Democratic National Convention
- 2008 Republican National Convention
- 2009 Presidential Inauguration
- 2009 G-20 Economic Summit
- 2011 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit
- 2012 North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit
- 2012 Republican National Convention
- 2012 Democratic National Convention
- 2013 Presidential Inauguration
- 2014 State of the Union Address
- 2014 U.S. – Africa Leaders Summit
While the age for which to receive retirement pay may be reduced, please note that eligibility for retiree health care benefits remains at age 60.
California Army National Guard Soldiers with possible eligible service should have their time validated by the State Retirement Section prior to applying for retired pay. You will need to submit the following supporting documents:
- DD Form 214(s), Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
- DD Form 215(s), Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
- DD Form 220(s), Active Duty Report
- Mobilization Orders (mobilization orders by itself is not a verifiable source document)
- Leave and Earning Statements (LES)
You may contact us at (916) 854-3271 or ng.ca.caarng.mbx.g1-transition@army.mil.