Army Retirement Services Offices

Today, we will explore the local Retirement Services Office found on each Army installation. Army Retirement Services is part of the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA). Retirement Services provides information on benefits and entitlements to Army retirees (and their families) as well as active duty soldiers (and their families) who are preparing for retirement. Army Regulation (AR) 600-8-7 prescribes the policies governing the Army Retirement Services Program, the Survivor Benefit Plan, the Army retiree’s newsletter (Army Echoes), and the Chief of Staff’s Retiree Council.

Recently revised AR 600-8-7 describes significant changes for retiring soldiers, retired soldiers, and the Army Retirement Services. This revised regulation defines the expanded Retirement Services mission of serving all retiring and retired soldiers from the Active, Reserve and Guard components. For the first time, AR 600-8-7 includes chapters explaining Army National Guard and Army Reserve Retirement Services policy. It also now states that the opportunity to participate in a retirement ceremony should be provided to all soldiers, regardless of their component.

The Fort Hood Retirement Services Office (RSO) seems to be a good example of the way an installation-level retiree facility is positioned as part of the Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP). The Fort Hood RSO serves retirees and families of retirees from all branches of military service. Some of their post-retirement services include:

• Counseling and assisting survivors of both retirees and service members who die on active duty.
• Publishing and distributing an annual retiree newsletter.
• Conducting an annual Retiree Appreciation Day.
• Providing information and annuity-filing assistance to certain military surviving spouses.
• Providing information and assistance regarding the Uniformed Services Former Spouse’s Protection Act.
• Assisting and advising retirees concerning Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC).
• Providing information on Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP).
• Assisting retirees and family members who wish to obtain new military ID Cards; reissues of military awards; or copies of lost documents such as DD Form 214, retirement orders, and medical records.
• Providing retirees and their families with information and referrals related to a myriad of other benefits and entitlements including Veterans Affairs (VA); TRICARE medical and dental; Social Security and Medicare benefits; and many others.

At the Fort Hood Retirement Services Office, pre-retirement activities Include:

• Conducting detailed quarterly Pre-Retirement Orientations.
• Conducting Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) group briefings for all retiring Soldiers and their spouses.
• Counseling soldiers and family members concerning retirement rights, benefits, and privileges.
• Conducting one-on-one Pre-Retirement briefings and SBP briefings as needed.
• Assisting retiring Soldiers and family members with completion of the DD Form 2656 (Data for Payment of Retired Personnel).
• Providing CSB/REDUX retirement pay option counseling.

If retirees have questions regarding benefits, SBP, Retiree Appreciation Days or anything else retirement-related, they should contact the RSO serving their area or go to the Army Retirement Services website at:

http://www.armyg1.army.mil/retirees.asp

Each issue of Army Echoes has a current RSO Directory arranged by state and territory. For states or territories without an Army installation, the directory identifies the RSO serving that area.

In closing, please allow me to stress that each Retirement Services Office needs a few more volunteers to help staff the office and fill out the RSO team. Each Retirement Services Officer invites retirees and their adult family members living near the post to give a few hours of their time and help support their local RSO as well as other base functions. In view of current budget cuts and the on-going requirement to support our combat forces (supporting our young warriors must always remain our top priority), the efforts of older volunteers are becoming more and more important.

Pat

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