The Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA) Retirement Services Program provides assistance to soldiers and their families preparing for and transitioning to retirement, families of soldiers who die on active duty, Retired soldiers, surviving spouses, and their families. Through a network of Retirement Services Officers (RSOs) at major Army installations, National Guard State Headquarters, and Army Reserve Readiness Divisions (RDs) and Mission Support Commands (MSCs) worldwide, they: 1) provide counseling to these groups on their rights, benefits and entitlements, 2) provide Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) counseling and assist with maintaining SBP elections, 3) provide Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP) counseling and assist with maintaining RCSBP elections and 4) keep the retiree population informed of law and benefit changes.

State Active Duty is not creditable service toward an Army federal retirement as the soldier is employed by the state and not the Federal Government. Examples of State Active Duty not covered include Governor activation for assistance with state emergencies such as floods, hurricanes, blizzards or earthquakes.

For more information, visit the website maintained by the Department of the Army Soldier for Life at:
https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Retirement

Retirement Services Program Army Regulation 600-8-7:
https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30707-AR_600-8-7-000-WEB-1.pdf

Army Retirement Service Officers:
https://soldierforlife.army.mil/retirement/rso

For National Archives Military Records Request information:
https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records