Figure B-41, Reserve Component Assignment Request or Attachment (Retired Reserve Assignment Request), in USAR PAM 600-5, provides you with a checklist of what is needed in your withdrawal request package .
This checklist begins with a header that requests your name, rank, Army email, your unit, unit UIC, unit POC contact information, and other basic administrative information. A checklist follows the administrative data.
This checklist is the first part of the packet. The following forms in the packet follow:
Form DA 4561:
This is the request for assignment or seizure of the reserve component. Both you and your order need to sign this.
It asks for basic administrative information such as your name and address, social security number, phone numbers, etc. If you are applying to voluntarily retire, you can select “Voluntary Assignment” on the form.
In another part of the form, you will request a transfer to the retired reserve. Depending on which unit you are with, you may only need to fill in your personal information. His unit would end up completing the rest. Other units may ask you to complete the entire form.
Some units will do everything for you; check with your unit managers for which one is applicable.
Form DA 4856:
The next two forms are counseling statements. One will be from your commander; the other will be from your service career advisor.
When you leave the reserves available (TPU/SELRES/IMA/IRR), you will be losing some benefits. For example, as a member of the TPU, you are eligible for Tricare Reserve Select.
When you transfer to the Retiree Reserves, you will be eligible for the Tricare Retiree Reserve. The premiums for this program are very expensive compared to the premiums for Tricare Reserve Select. Your commander could inform you of this.
As a member of TPU/SELRES, you are eligible for SGLI. If you transfer out of this program, you will no longer be eligible for SGLI. You will be able to register for VGLI if you have served on an active duty or deployment contract.
The commander could brief you on what might happen to your package. He/she might also have insight into why she/he is retiring, hoping to gain information that could benefit those who remain in the unit.
The services career counselor could inform you about your chances of returning to TPU/SELRES, IMA or IRR. He/she could also tell you about active duty retirement opportunities.
What you are told will vary depending on your unit.
Chain of Command Recommendations:
Your retirement is not a guaranteed affair. If you have time on your contract, and if it is critical to your unit and its ability to accomplish its mission, your retirement request could be denied. You also need the support of your chain of command for your retirement.
Army Reserve Point Capture or Twenty Year Letter:
You will need one or both in your package to document the fact that you are eligible to withdraw with payment at 60.
Retirement Acknowledgment Request:
Service members who are retired from the service are eligible for recognition. Examples include a certificate from the president, an award medal, a retired soldier’s tag, a US flag, etc. The unit could add some additional reconnaissance items.
Orders uploaded to your electronic records:
This is an action that will happen after your package is approved. If you are in the TPU/SELRES, you have to keep drilling until you receive this order. If you are in the IMA or IRR, you have to maintain your obligations until you receive your withdrawal order.
As of the date this order lists you as a withdrawn reservation, you will no longer have to meet your TPU/IMA/IRR obligations. You will be asked to turn in all items in the unit that have been locked out to you.
Reference:
USE PAM 600-5