Retirement Services Office
The Retirement Services Office at Fort Rucker provides information on benefits and entitlements to active duty Soldiers and their Families preparing for retirement. RSO provides counsel and support to active duty personnel, family members, retirees and their family members on the Survivor Benefit Plan program. RSO publishes an annual retiree newsletter and works in conjunction with the Retiree Council to host the installation's annual Retiree Appreciation Day.
ID Card Appointments
Appointments can now be made with the ID Card Section. One ID card station is designated to process individuals with an appointment. When calling for an appointment, the customer will be screened and advised of any documentation they need to bring. Walk-ins will continue to be served at the three remaining stations on a first-come, first-served basis. For an appointment call (334) 255-2182 or (334) 255-2437.
Pre-Retirement Services
- Processing retirement applications
- Periodic Pre-Retirement and Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) group briefings for all rtetiring Soldiers (highly encourage family members attend).
- Counseling Soldiers and family members on retirement rights, benefits, and privileges.
- One-on-one SBP counseling for all retiring Soldiers, and their family members.
- One-on-one Pre-Retirement briefings as needed.
- Completion of DD Form 2656 (Data for Payment of Retired Personnel).
- CSB/REDUX pay option election form.
Post-Retirement Services
- Provide retired Soldiers and their Families with information on benefits and entitlements including Veterans Affairs, TRICARE, dental, and Social Security and Medicare benefits.
- Assist retired Soldiers apply for Combat-Related Special Compensation.
- Provide information to retired Soldiers on Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments.
- Assist retired Soldiers and Family members obtain copies of lost documents such as DD Form 214, retirement orders, medical records and replacement of lost awards.
- Provide information and assistance to Soldiers, spouses and former spouses regarding the Uniformed Services Former Spouse’s Protection Act.
- Assist survivors of retired Soldiers regarding their SBP options and other entitlements, including Department of Veterans Affairs, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.
- Provide information and filing assistance for the Annuities for Certain Military Surviving Spouses.
Other Retirement Services
- View retired pay account
- View annuitant's pay account
- Change allotments
- Change beneficiary information
- Change mailing address
- Change bank information
- Change tax filing and withholding status
- Request copies of the 1099-R form for tax filing purposes
- Request copies of the Retired Account Statement
Pre-Retirement and Survivor Benefit Plan Briefings
Detailed pre-retirement group briefings for all retiring Soldiers are normally held on the third Wednesday of each month starting at the Soldiers Service Center, Building 5700, Room 282, at 1:30 p.m. Family members are also highly encouraged to attend. The topics covered during the pre-retirement briefings include:
- Computing retired pay and cost-of-living adjustments
- Survivor Benefit Plan
- Medical benefits, to include TRICARE, TRICARE-for-Life, dental, space-available care in military treatment facilities, supplemental health insurance, demonstration projects, and the Continued Health Care Benefit Program
- Veterans’ benefits
- Retirement Services Program
- New Careers in Education
- Former spouse benefits, division of retired pay, SBP, and ID card eligibility
- Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, and of SGLI conversion to Veterans Group Life Insurance
- Transition leave and permissive temporary duty
- Travel authorizations and shipment of household goods
- Space-available air travel
- Social Security
- Combat-Related Special Compensation
- Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments
- Annuities for Certain Military Surviving Spouses
- myPay system
- Career Status Bonus
- Army Knowledge Online
- Army Benefits Tool (ABT) and Soldier Benefits System
- Freedom Team Salute
SBP counseling is conducted on a "by appointment" basis. Appointments are made by calling (334) 255-9124. SBP information packets outlining the program and estimated benefits/costs are mailed to Soldiers approximately six months prior to the start of transition leave or retirement date. A one-to-one appointment is then scheduled for the retiree to make their SBP election. Spouses should also attend as they must sign the SBP paperwork if an election is made for less than the full amount of SBP. The appointment is also used to complete the DD Form 2656, Data for Payment of Retired Personnel, which establishes the retiree's pay account with Defense Finance and Accounting Service.
Fort Rucker Retiree Council
The Retiree Council is made up of members who are military retirees or the widow(er) of a military retiree with representatives of all branches of the military. The Council meets on the first Thursday of every month for the purpose of presenting the issues of local retirees to the installation command and annually to the Chief of Staff of the Army's Retiree Council. For more information, please contact the RSO at (334) 255-9124. Issues of an individual nature cannot be addressed by the Council; however, items of a general nature of concern to all military retirees will be addressed.
Retirement Services Office, Building 5700
- Phone: (334) 255-9124/9739 or (800) 240-9373
- Casualty Affairs and Survivors Assistance: (334) 255-9005/9081 or (800) 661-1407
- Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m., M - F