Enlisted personnel will be retired upon their own request after completion of 20 years of service.

Officers may be retired after completion of 20 years of service (at least 10 of which was commissioned service), if their request is approved by the Service Secretary (or the President). Officers with 40 years of service will be retired upon their own request.

The laws provide for statutory age limitations on officers, requiring they be retired at ages varying from 60 to 64 in the different Services. In addition, the laws establish specific criteria for mandatory separation of regular officers below the rank of Lt. Colonel (Commander) if they fail twice of selection for permanent promotion. Higher ranking officers must retire upon completing cumulative years of service as shown below:

28 years (26 years, Navy and Marine Corps) 30 years (or 5 years in grade) 30 years (or 5 years in grade) 35 years (or 5 years in grade)

Regular officers who are twice passed over for permanent promotion receive severance pay amounting to 2 months pay for each year of active service (not to exceed 2 years pay), if they are not eligible for retired pay.

Retirement for disability is authorized upon proper medical finding that the individual is no longer fit to perform military service. There is no minimum service requirement for disability retirement if the disability is service-connected and is more than 30%. If the disability is adjudged to be of temporary nature, the individual may be placed on the "temporary retired list" and retained thereon for not more than 5 years. After 5 years, the individual may be permanently retired, discharged or returned to duty depending on the circumstances. Those who do not qualify for retirement but who are physically unfit for active service may receive lump sum severance pay at the rate of 2 months pay for each year of active service (not to exceed 2 years pay).

RETIREMENT PAY

BASIC FORMULA FOR VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT: 2-1/2% x BASIC PAY x YEARS OF SERVICE

BASIC FORMULA FOR PHYSICAL DISABILITY RETIREMENT: % OF DISABILITY x BASIC PAY

EXAMPLE:

CAPTAIN (0-3) WITH 6 YEARS OF SERVICE AND 40% DISABILITY

RESERVE READJUSTMENT PAY

Reservists who are involuntarily released from active duty after completion of at least five years of continuous active duty receive one half month's basic pay for each year of active service through the eighteenth year.

MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE Complete medical and dental care for active service personnelalso for retired members, subject to capability of medical facilities to provide it.

"CONTINGENCY OPTION" BENEFIT Serviceman can elect to receive a reduced amount of retirement pay, and thus have a part of the retirement pay continued to the widow and/or children if death occurs after retirement.

"DISLOCATION" ALLOWANCE - One month's quarters allowance for each move when dependents are moved pursuant to serviceman's official transfer orders.

TRAILER MOVEMENT ALLOWANCE - Up to 20 cents per mile for movement of house trailers (in lieu of "dislocation allowance").

STATION ALLOWANCE Military personnel in overseas areas are provided an allowance where necessary to defray the average excess costs, as compared with average U. S. costs, for housing and for other costs-of-living. Allowances vary according to the grade of the member, the number of dependents, local housing costs experienced, and the local cost-of-living index.

DEPENDENT SCHOOLING

Services operate schools in isolated areas or pay for dependents primary or secondary schooling up to specified limits where public schools are not available or are inadequate.

COMMISSARIES AND POST EXCHANGES

Services operate commissary sales stores and

Post Exchanges as a convenience to military personnel. Profits from Post Exchange operation go into Services' non-appropriated funds for support of recreational activities.

RECREATION - Libraries, clubs, athletic facilities, swimming pools, hobby shops, etc., are operated by the Services generally out of non-appropriated funds, as a part of the morale program.

HOME LOANS - Active service personnel may purchase homes under loans insured by the Government up to 95% of $18, 000 maximum. Repeat purchases can be made under certain circumstances.

LEAVE AND LIBERTY 30 calendar days of leave authorized for all military personnel. Liberty up to 3 days in duration also authorized (on a limited basis, generally over weekends). No more than 60 days leave may be accrued; however, an individual who has not taken all of his authorized leave at the time of separation from the service receives a cash settlement for the number of days of unused leave. This is a recurring "benefit" with each enlistment cycle for enlisted men who do not take all leave authorized.

TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION - Per Diem allowance up to $12 or specified mileage allowance authorized for temporary duty travel in the United States. Mileage allowance of 6 cents for serviceman but not more than 24 cents per mile per military family authorized for permanent travel. Household effects moved at Government expense up to specified weight limitations for each pay grade.