Resigning one's commission

[mitchconnie]

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I just got done with final separation outprocessing and was wondering about filing paperwork to resign my commission. In the past, I've heard a lot of talk from physicians leaving the service about actively resigning your commission--the theory being that if you don't resign it, you are in danger of being recalled in case of a severe physician shortage. The folks doing the outprocessing said it was unnecessary, since the commission would automatically expire on the date of separation.

Anyone have thoughts on the necessity of resigning one's commission at separation, or the mechanics of doing so in the AF?

 

[NavyFP]

I just got done with final separation outprocessing and was wondering about filing paperwork to resign my commission. In the past, I've heard a lot of talk from physicians leaving the service about actively resigning your commission--the theory being that if you don't resign it, you are in danger of being recalled in case of a severe physician shortage. The folks doing the outprocessing said it was unnecessary, since the commission would automatically expire on the date of separation.

Anyone have thoughts on the necessity of resigning one's commission at separation, or the mechanics of doing so in the AF?

I am not sure about the AF, but I imagine it would be similar to Navy.

Submit a letter to your Personnel Command stating you are resigning your comission. Send it certfied mail/return receipt. That should do it.

 

[orbitsurgMD]

I just got done with final separation outprocessing and was wondering about filing paperwork to resign my commission. In the past, I've heard a lot of talk from physicians leaving the service about actively resigning your commission--the theory being that if you don't resign it, you are in danger of being recalled in case of a severe physician shortage. The folks doing the outprocessing said it was unnecessary, since the commission would automatically expire on the date of separation.

Anyone have thoughts on the necessity of resigning one's commission at separation, or the mechanics of doing so in the AF?

You must have completed your eight years of obligated service to resign.
In my case, since I was on IRR and did not want to take an active reserve position, the Naval Reserve eventually sent me a letter offering me the options of either reserve assignment or a resignation. I resigned. I think you could accelerate the process if there were no reasons you would be denied.

 

[J-Rad]

(From: http://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet_print.asp?fsID=8248&page=1)

U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet
RESIGNATION OF COMMISSION

Officers assigned to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) and Standby who wish to resign their commission must submit a tender of resignation (TOR) letter to HQ ARPC/DPPRS. Letter must include name, grade, social security number, current mailing address and signature.

Resignations cannot be revoked.

Resignations with less than 20 years of satisfactory service are entitled only to a discharge order and certificate (DD Form 256AF).

E-mailed resignations are not accepted unless the original document, with signature, is attached as a scanned document.

Should an officer decide to reaffiliate with the Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard, he or she must be reappointed through the normal appointment process. For more information, refer to Discharge Information.

NOTE: Participating officers who wish to tender their resignation must process it through their chain of command.


Point of Contact
(For Individual Ready Reservist and Standby Reservist only)

HQ ARPC/DPPRS
Separation Branch
6760 E Irvington Pl
Denver CO 80280-1700

Fax
DSN: 926-8416 Commercial: 303-676-8416

 

[mitchconnie]

I have done 13 years on AD, so I have no required IRR time. Is it correct to say that I will still be placed in the IRR automatically unless I file a resignation letter?

Does anyone see ANY downside at all to resigning my commission?

 

[orbitsurgMD]

I have done 13 years on AD, so I have no required IRR time. Is it correct to say that I will still be placed in the IRR automatically unless I file a resignation letter?

Does anyone see ANY downside at all to resigning my commission?

If you initiate the process, there will be no opportunity to place you in IRR status, otherwise you can't be sure, and they might do just that.

I see no downside. At least in the past, this was a pathway to guaranteed advancement in rank if you ever did decide to return, since the reserve commands had to calculate an effective rank for you commensurate with your years experience since graduating medical school. Doctors who might have been loitering as Majors or LTCs could be re-introduced as 0-6s and advance their reserve retirement benefits.

 

[NavyFP]

I have done 13 years on AD, so I have no required IRR time. Is it correct to say that I will still be placed in the IRR automatically unless I file a resignation letter?

Does anyone see ANY downside at all to resigning my commission?

The only downside would be that you end up with separation remorse and wish you were back in. It would be a bit harder to get back in at that point. But that's it.

Even as a very pro-milmed guy, if I were to exit prior to retirement, I would resign my commission. Unless you work for the federal government, the risks of recall are too big even with the very low probability of recall.

 

[former military]

when I outprocessed from Travis AFB in 2006 the outprocessing guy has the mentality that you "want" to be on IRR with the guise you can always resign later. In reality, you want to resign right then. they try to sneak this by your and you have to actively protect yourself.

one major reason to get out of the military is to have control over your life and Inactive Reserve is not control.

 

[notdeadyet]

The only downside would be that you end up with separation remorse and wish you were back in. It would be a bit harder to get back in at that point.

Out of curiosity, how difficult would it be for a physician who left the military on good terms and resigned his/her commission to get back in?

 

[NavyFP]

Out of curiosity, how difficult would it be for a physician who left the military on good terms and resigned his/her commission to get back in?

You would have to go through the whole re-comissioning which is a bit of a pain, but not overly difficult. If you stay in the IRR, you continue to gain longevity for pay/promotion though.

 

[a1qwerty55]

I have done 13 years on AD, so I have no required IRR time. Is it correct to say that I will still be placed in the IRR automatically unless I file a resignation letter?

Does anyone see ANY downside at all to resigning my commission?

I don't know of a downside for you but interestingly if you are a retiree and you resign your comission, your retirement stops as in theory your retirement is like a retainer - I was really surprised to find this out recently.