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Navy leaders must provide more training on retirement benefits to reservists to ensure their smooth exit from the Navy.
U.S. Navy (Amanda Kitchner)

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Navy Reservists Need Retirement Transition Training

By Senior Chief Elizabeth C. Honeyager, U.S. Navy
January 2020
Proceedings
Vol. 146/1/1,403
Nobody Asked Me, But . . .
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Ready now, anytime, anywhere. The Navy Reserves make up approximately 1/6 of the Navy’s forces, yet they are silently transitioning into retirement with no explanation of the benefits they have earned. Navy leaders must ensure all sailors, regardless of status, receive the proper retirement and transition training for a successful exit from the Navy. 

The lack of retirement training for the Navy selective reserve force eligible for retirement is problem plaguing the service. The active component is required to attend the Transition Goals, Plan and Success (T-GPS) course prior to retirement. T-GPS is a program created by the Navy, Department of Defense, Department of Labor, Department of Veterans Affairs, and lawmakers to ensure sailors are set up for success upon retirement. Selective reservists are only required to attend T-PGS after completing mobilization/active-duty for special work (ADSW)/active-duty for training for 180 days or more. There is no requirement for reservists to attend any T-GPS when retiring at the end of their obligated reserve service, and this lack of retirement training has a negative effect on the selective reserve force. 

When a reserve sailor does not receive retirement training, they miss the detailed explanation of retirement benefits and opportunities available to them. A T-GPS class offers various training topics, including military-to-civilian job-skills training, Veteran Affairs (VA) benefits brief, financial planning support, and a Department of Labor employment workshop. In 2017, 1,970 sailors retired from the Navy selective reserves and now are considered gray area retirees until their 60th birthday. That means 1,970 sailors retired from the Navy Reserve without any formal training or education on benefits to which they are entitled. The process of using the Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI), TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR), various military facilities and services available, and countless important benefits are not explained to those retiring from the reserves. Unlike their active counterparts, reservists have no retirement checklist or requirements to have a career counselor assist them in the transition process, and this must be addressed.

The Navy needs to implement a course or educational program to ensure all reservists are afforded the chance to have any and all benefits to which they are entitled to explained to retirement. This program could be a shortened version of T-GPS that can focus on issues specific to a reserve retirement, such as how and when to apply for pay benefits and how to use TRR. Reservists could use their annual training, extended annual training, or active duty for training days to travel to the closest military facility that offers T-GPS. A virtual T-GPS course available via e-Learning on My Navy Portal would be another option. While this is not an ideal fix, it would help to ensure some training is being given to retiring reservists. This virtual training meets the requirements of attending the five-day course as outlined in the Transition Assistance Program OPNAV Instruction. Commands should invest in their sailors by setting them up for a successful life post retirement.

It is imperative that Navy leaders ensure all sailors, regardless of status or component, receive the proper retirement and transition training to so they can have a successful transition from the service. Navy reservists seamlessly support and aid their active-duty counterparts at a moment’s notice. The Navy owes them the chance to fully understand and collect the benefits they earned during their service to the nation.

Senior Chief Elizabeth C. Honeyager, U.S. Navy

Senior Chief Honeyager joined the Navy in 2002, serving five years on active duty before transitioning to the Navy Reserves. She is currently serving on ADSW orders at Naval Submarine School in Groton, Connecticut.

More Stories From This Author View Biography

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