Resign Your Commission

[island doc]

One important thing I have not mentioned. After the long awaited day arrives when you throw away your uniforms thinking you will never wear them again, best think again unless you take a specific action. If you do not take specific action to resign your commission you will forever remain subject to being recalled to active duty, because you will be considered an officer in the inactive reserve until you do so.

Resigning your commission is a simple but critical process. Until you do so, you will always be "on call" back to active duty at any time. In the USAF, the process simply involves submitting the request to the Air Reserve Personnel Center. It is at that point that you receive an official honorable discharge from the military, up until that time you will have only been seperated from active duty.

Imagine being all set up and going in your new private practice only to be told to come back! This is what can happen if you do not resign your commission.

If you are not a paid, drilling reservist, there is no point in maintaining a commission after separation from active duty.

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[R-Me-Doc]

One important thing I have not mentioned. After the long awaited day arrives when you throw away your uniforms thinking you will never wear them again, best think again unless you take a specific action. If you do not take specific action to resign your commission you will forever remain subject to being recalled to active duty, because you will be considered an officer in the inactive reserve until you do so.

Resigning your commission is a simple but critical process. Until you do so, you will always be "on call" back to active duty at any time. In the USAF, the process simply involves submitting the request to the Air Reserve Personnel Center. It is at that point that you receive an official honorable discharge from the military, up until that time you will have only been seperated from active duty.

Imagine being all set up and going in your new private practice only to be told to come back! This is what can happen if you do not resign your commission.

If you are not a paid, drilling reservist, there is no point in maintaining a commission after separation from active duty.

Right on. In the Army this is the difference between a resignation (which means that you are clear, not recallable) and a "REFRAD" (release from active duty, which means you are subject to recall). When you go to drop your resignation papers, the personnel people should specifically ask you which one you want. If they don't, make sure that YOU make it clear.

RMD 299 (cracking the 300 barrier!!!! 😀 )

 

[npayne]

Where do you get the documentation to dismiss your commission for the USAF?

Thanks

 

[island doc]

Where do you get the documentation to dismiss your commission for the USAF?

Thanks

This is done in writing to the Air Reserve Personnel Center (ARPC). Check out their website: www.arpc.afrc.af.mil

 

[USAFdoc]

This is done in writing to the Air Reserve Personnel Center (ARPC). Check out their website: www.arpc.afrc.af.mil

so when you submit in writing to ARPC,do they send you back something so you know for sure?

 

[r90t]

Navy, if you retire, you go to the "fleet reserve." That means that they can potentially call you up even post-retirement.

In general, your initial contract says you will serve xxx of ad years and yyy of reserve years. You must fulfill those requirements prior to being "military free."

This is a very good topic to bring up in today's new world.

 

[island doc]

so when you submit in writing to ARPC,do they send you back something so you know for sure?

You will receive a Certificate of Honorable Discharge from the US Military. Until you receive that you are not discharged from the military, only separated from active duty, and you will continue to be considered a reservist, subject to recall to active duty at any time.

In other words, all you end up with is a piece of paper and peace of mind.

 

[militarymd]

You will receive a Certificate of Honorable Discharge from the US Military. Until you receive that you are not discharged from the military, only separated from active duty, and you will continue to be considered a reservist, subject to recall to active duty at any time.

In other words, all you end up with is a piece of paper and peace of mind.

The much sought after DD214....I have mine locked away in a safe and secure location.

 

[island doc]

The much sought after DD214....I have mine locked away in a safe and secure location.

This is not the same as the DD214. The DD214 is the document one receives upon separation from active duty. The document I am speaking of here is entitled: "Certificate of Honorable Discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States". Unlike the DD214, this is a wall certificate which can be framed and displayed, much like the Commissioning Certificate. The DD214 is a document, not a certificate.

 

[island doc]

Navy, if you retire, you go to the "fleet reserve." That means that they can potentially call you up even post-retirement.

In general, your initial contract says you will serve xxx of ad years and yyy of reserve years. You must fulfill those requirements prior to being "military free."

This is a very good topic to bring up in today's new world.

The IRR obligation you speak of is not inescapable. I know, because I had an IRR obligation incurred as the result of receiving separation pay, yet still resigned my commission and was released from it. You cannot be forced to maintain a commission.

Bottom line: Until you resign your commission you are still considered to be in a military status.

 

[Croooz]

The IRR obligation you speak of is not inescapable. I know, because I had an IRR obligation incurred as the result of receiving separation pay, yet still resigned my commission and was released from it. You cannot be forced to maintain a commission.

Bottom line: Until you resign your commission you are still considered to be in a military status.

You two are talking about different things. If you have resigned your commission you are still obligated to the military for a total of 8 years, whether active or IRR.

If you are receiving a retirement pension you are forever at the mercy of the military. Ie, they can call you back if the need arises. This is only if you retired from the military OR still haven't completely finished with your IRR commitment OR failed to submit the paperwork. The military places the burden of responsibility for this squarely on your shoulders.....convenient for them, huh...

You are never at the mercy of the military for the rest of your life unless you are receiving a retirement pension. I knew plently who were recalled during Desert Shield/Storm.

 

[island doc]

You two are talking about different things. If you have resigned your commission you are still obligated to the military for a total of 8 years, whether active or IRR.

If you are receiving a retirement pension you are forever at the mercy of the military. Ie, they can call you back if the need arises. This is only if you retired from the military OR still haven't completely finished with your IRR commitment OR failed to submit the paperwork. The military places the burden of responsibility for this squarely on your shoulders.....convenient for them, huh...

You are never at the mercy of the military for the rest of your life unless you are receiving a retirement pension. I knew plently who were recalled during Desert Shield/Storm.

I cannot speak for the USA or USN, but as far as the USAF is concerned once one has resigned their commission they are no longer considered to have any type of military status and thus are no longer subject to recall. This information comes directly from the Air Reserve Personnel Center website.

 

[Croatalus_atrox]

I cannot speak for the USA or USN, but as far as the USAF is concerned once one has resigned their commission they are no longer considered to have any type of military status and thus are no longer subject to recall. This information comes directly from the Air Reserve Personnel Center website.

Generally, you won't be allowed to resign your commission until any remaining service obligation you have is fulfilled. That is, your resignation will not be accepted if you still have any time to serve, whether active duty, reserve, or IRR. In the Air Force they may be allowing officers to resign their commissions as part of their "force shaping" plan, but I doubt they'll let many physicians do so.

 

[Croooz]

Generally, you won't be allowed to resign your commission until any remaining service obligation you have is fulfilled. That is, your resignation will not be accepted if you still have any time to serve, whether active duty, reserve, or IRR. In the Air Force they may be allowing officers to resign their commissions as part of their "force shaping" plan, but I doubt they'll let many physicians do so.

Thanks. I thought I was in the twilight zone. I know this isn't service specific...if you sign today and resign tomorrow you are on IRR for the next 8 years. Everyone regardless of rank or service, unless given an other than honorable discharge, is locked in for 8 years. I read the information on the Air Reserve site and there's alot of things implied.

 

[island doc]

Thanks. I thought I was in the twilight zone. I know this isn't service specific...if you sign today and resign tomorrow you are on IRR for the next 8 years. Everyone regardless of rank or service, unless given an other than honorable discharge, is locked in for 8 years. I read the information on the Air Reserve site and there's alot of things implied.

Now this is clear as mud. At the time I successfully resigned my AF commission, I had served beyond 8 years, however I also had an existing IRR (inactive reserve) obligation. Go Figure.

What is unclear is that I was able to successfully resign my commission despite the fact that I had incurred the additional IRR obligation for sep pay.

 

[Croooz]

Now this is clear as mud. At the time I successfully resigned my AF commission, I had served beyond 8 years, however I also had an existing IRR (inactive reserve) obligation. Go Figure.

Wow!

IF you have not completed 8 years of service THEN the military still owns you. You can payback your time for HPSP but that is only 4 years. After those first 4 you still owe another 4......which will be served in the IRR if you resign from your active duty commitment.

IF you have completed 8 years THEN you can resign without being recalled.

IF serving in the reserves AND you've paid back your 8 years you can resign free and clear as well.

You were free to go because you had paid back the MANDATORY 8 years..... Once anyone signs the dotted line they now are on lockdown for the next 8 years (active or reserve or IRR). Plain & simple.......is the mud clearing up?

 

[USAFdoc]

The much sought after DD214....I have mine locked away in a safe and secure location.

mine arrived in the mail today (DD214) with the notations denoting my resignation of commission.

A sad day, and a happy day.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Reminds me why I'm glad I have papers stating that my general discharge (medical reasons, just never bothered to get it upgraded to honorable) precludes me from recall.