Retirement Services Office (RSO)
Mission: Army Retirement Services, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA), provides information on benefits and entitlements to active duty Soldiers and Families preparing for retirement and to Retired Soldiers and Families through Army installation Retirement Services Officers (RSO), the pilot Army Reserve RSO at Ft Snelling, MN, and ARNG State RSOs. In accordance with AR 600-8-7, Army Retirement Services develops Army policy and procedures for the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) program; publishes the HQDA bulletin for the Retired Soldier, Army Echoes; develops policy for the operation of the Army Retirement Services Program; and administers the Army Chief of Staff's (CSA) Retiree Council.
RADs in the Near Future
There are no events in the next 60 days.
AKO Information
Army Spouse and Retiree Smart Card Pilot Program
Army Spouses and Retirees! Are you looking for a better way to access your information on Army Knowledge Online (AKO), and other Army websites? The Army is launching a smartcard pilot for spouses and retirees to explore better methods to secure personal information, and replace those long passwords and challenge questions when accessing AKO and other Army websites.
Interested in participating? The pilot is limited to 2500 participants from September 2011 until February 2012, and will be conducted at Fort Belvoir, VA; Fort Gordon, GA; Fort Jackson, SC; Fort Bragg, NC; and Fort Hood, TX. There are several criteria that must be met in order to take part. Visit the Smart Card Pilot Site to learn more about the pilot, and its requirements.
https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/650680
What’s New
- NEW Army Reserve announces Reserve Pre-Retirement Seminar in Orlando, FL on 4 FEB 12. See flier for details.
- The "e-Echoes" distribution list will expand from 33,000 to 150,000 in 2012 and will include all newly retiring Soldiers. The Army will no longer mail the hardcopy edition of "echoes" to Soldiers who retire on or after 1 JAN 12. View ALARACT here.
- Pentagon Preretirement Planning Seminar (PPT - 2,840 Kb.) - This shortened preretirement briefing was recently updated and is given at the Pentagon. It serves as an introduction to, but not a substitute for the full-length preretirement briefings given by your Retirement Services Officer.
- Updated February 2011 Pre-Retirement Briefing - PPT 6,018 Kb. or PDF version 2,285 Kb
- **Transition to E-Echoes** We continue to seek ways to improve the way we communicate important messages with you. Thanks to your overwhelming feedback, we're in the process of updating and improving the registration process. Thank you for your patience...and more importantly...thank you for your service!
- President Obama signs into law a bill providing flags to relatives of fallen federal employees
The Civilian Service Recognition Act is now officially a law. President Obama signed H.R. 2061 Tuesday, authorizing heads of agencies to present a U. S. flag to the next of kin of federal employees who are killed in the line of duty.
Read more here
News You Can Use
2012 Military Retiree Pay Dates
The following table reflects the DFAS schedule of retiree and annuitant pay dates through 2012. This information may help to avoid any confusion as to when you should expect to see the payment deposited to your account. Remember that payday is always on the first business day of the month.
| Month of : | Direct Deposit Date: |
| January 2012 | Wednesday, February 1, 2012 |
| February 2012 | Thursday, March 1, 2012 |
| March 2012 | Friday, March 30, 2012 |
| April 2012 | Tuesday, May 1, 2012 |
| May 2012 | Friday, June 1, 2012 |
| June 2012 | Friday, June 29, 2012 |
| July 2012 | Wednesday, August 1, 2012 |
| August 2012 | Friday, August 31, 2012 |
| September 2012 | Monday, October 1, 2012 |
| October 2012 | Thursday, November 1, 2012 |
| November 2012 | Friday, November 30, 2012 |
| December 2012 | Monday, December 31, 2012 |
2012 Scholarships for Military Children Opens December 1, 2011
To be eligible for a scholarship, the student must be a dependent, unmarried child, no older than 21 - or 23, if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university - of a service member on active duty, reservist, guardsman, retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree. Eligibility is determined using the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System database.
TRICARE Retired Reserve Sign-up Options Expanded
FALLS CHURCH, VA – Gray-area retirees from the National Guard and Reserves who want to purchase TRICARE health care coverage now have a new way to get a DoD Self-service Logon (DS Logon). Most will need a DS Logon to qualify for and purchase TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) health coverage.
Since Sept. 1, 2010, members of the Retired Reserve who aren't 60, the so-called "gray area" retirees, have been able to purchase TRR to provide health coverage for themselves and their eligible family members. To make purchasing TRR easier, gray area retirees can now get a DS Logon by contacting the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System/Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office (DSO) and remotely verify their identity.
Strengthening Our Military Families, Meeting America's Commitment
January 2011 - The President has made the care and support of military Families a top national security policy priority. He ordered the development of a coordinated Federal Government-wide approach to supporting military Families. The report detailing the Government's plan to Strengthen Our Military Families was signed by every Cabinet member and approved by the President. You can access the report here.