Following is a suggested timetable for accomplishing your retirement actions. Your RSO or your military personnel officer can provide a more detailed checklist that addresses local installation requirements.
24 months before retirement
At this point, you may not be committed to retiring or even have a retirement date in mind, but you should begin planning now. It takes a while to gather the necessary resources and set up appointments to attend the required briefings and courses. Some things you’ll want to do now are:
a. Gather and read resources, such as this retirement planning guide; Army regulations, and installation procedures that you must follow to retire.
b. Determine who will assist you with retirement planning and the service providers who can help you make decisions.
c. Estimate monthly living expenses and build 3-6 months of savings to support your family if you don’t have a job when you retire.
d. Start to build a timeline for retirement by outlining the major decisions you need to make and exactly when you want to make them stay on course for your retirement date. For example,
(1) Where will you live?
(2) Do you need to move your household goods?
(3) What do you want to do after you retire? If that includes working, what do you want to do?
(4) Will your spouse work? Where are the job prospects best for your spouse?
(5) Will you or your family members have special medical needs that will influence where you reside? Do you need or want to reside close to a military treatment facility or VA medical facility? Study medical and dental care options for Retired Soldiers.
(6) Will you, your spouse, or your children attend college, and will in-state tuition be a factor in that decision?
(7) What are your remaining service obligations, and when will they be completed?
(8) Did you transfer education benefits to family members? Or do you still want to?
(9) Are you scheduled to PCS in the next two years?
(10) How much transition leave do you want to take? Do you need to start building to that amount?
e. Schedule yourself (and your spouse if you have one) attend the local Retirement Planning Seminar.
f. Schedule yourself and (your spouse if you have one) to attend the local Transition Assistance Program and coordinate your attendance with your unit.
12 to 24 months before retirement.
If you are just starting to plan for your retirement or have not yet accomplished all of the items listed above, start with that list. Between 12 and 24 months from retirement, your action dates will become more definite. Some things you’ll want to do include:
a. As close to 24 months as you can, attend BOTH the retirement planning seminar and the transition assistance program course.
b. Decide on your retirement date.
c. Prepare your request for retirement to submit when you have 12 months left.
d. Seek medical and dental care for any unresolved conditions.
e. Begin accumulating a wardrobe for post-retirement employment if needed.
f. Update all of your personnel and medical records.
g. Confirm your remaining service obligation.
h. Apply to colleges if you or family members will attend right after retirement
6 to 12 months before retirement
If you are just starting to plan for your retirement, or have not yet accomplished all of the items listed above, start with those lists, but work on this list simultaneously. Between 6 and 12 months from retirement, you will be finalizing your plans and beginning your search for a civilian job.
a. At the 12-month mark, submit your retirement request and leave plan.
b. At the 12-month mark, complete the pre-separation transition checklist (DD Form 2648) with the transition services office.
c. At the 6-9 month mark, schedule your retirement physical as close to the 6-month mark as possible, so you can use it in any claim for VA disability compensation while you’re still on active duty.
d. Submit your final request for permissive TDY and transition leave 60-90 days before you plan to take it. That could be as far out as 6 or 7 months before retirement, depending on how much you take and when.
0 to 6 months before retirement
If you are just starting to plan for your retirement, or have not yet accomplished all of the items listed above, start with those lists, but you have much to do and little time to do it. You must work on all lists simultaneously. Your focus should be almost all on your retirement now.
If you have been planning for some time now, this is the execution phase. You’ll continue to work, but actions or decisions you postpone now may adversely impact your retirement or your benefits.
a. Update wills and powers of attorney with the Staff Judge Advocate
b. Contact the transportation office to schedule delivery of your household goods.
c. If you are under the Blended Retirement System and want a lump sum of your retired pay at the time of your retirement, submit your DD Form 2656, Data for Payment of Retired Personnel (and SBP election) no less than 90 days before retirement. Otherwise, submit it at least 60 days out. A DD Form 2656-1 is needed if a former spouse SBP election is being made.
d. Submit VA Form 21-526, Application for Compensation from Department of Veterans Affairs if you want to be considered for disability compensation.
e. Complete DD Form 2860, Application for Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC), if applicable, but only after the VA has given you a disability rating.
f. Schedule your retirement ceremony or coordinate to participate in the local or installation group ceremony.
g. Change your email address in any account if it contains your DOD email address, especially your myPay account, at DFAS.
0 to 6 months after retirement
You’ve made it, but you’re not quite done yet.
a. Turn in your CAC and obtain a retired ID card and new dependent ID cards.
b. Convert SGLI to VGLI (VA sends application), if desired, within 120 days after retirement.
c. Sign up for the TRICARE plan you chose.
d. Join a Veteran or military service organization or the closest installation retiree council to continue to serve.
e. Start working for the Department of Defense (NET 180 days after your retirement date without a waiver)
