Ways to Transition to the Reserve Component via the Career Transition Office (CTO)/PERS-97

Active Duty - Resignation

• Per MILPERSMAN 1920-200, officers resigning from active duty must submit their request at least 9 months in advance of the desired detachment month. Currently, PERS-451 does not notify CTO or PERS-804 (they draft and route the scrolls) until separation orders have been processed.
• Once PERS-804 drafts the scroll (scroll is just a fancy term for a list of officers that need to be vetted; you get scrolled at every promotion as well as from AC to RC and vice versa) for the month in which you are separating (usually 2-3 months prior to the month in which you separate) it will eventually go to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for final approval. The scroll process can take 2-3 months to complete.
• The first stop in the routing process of the scroll is PERS-833 to check for adverse information. If there is any adverse information in your record, your name will be removed from the scroll and CTO will be notified via an Adverse Information Report. Further screening will be required for approval into the reserve component.
• Once CTO has been notified by PERS-451 of upcoming separations, a Transition Assistant (TA) will be assigned to the officer and a questionnaire will be emailed. Since CTO is not notified of your separation until after you have received your separation orders, you can be proactive and reach out to CTO once your resignation has approved.
• The purpose of the TA is to educate each officer on reserve benefits and opportunities and help facilitate the transition to a reserve unit. In addition, the TA will prepare and coordinate all necessary documentation for collection by your separation date. Following your separation date, the TA will submit your package for affiliation but will not start being processed until after PSD has posted your loss. The SELRES/VTU affiliation process takes 15 business days (on average) to complete, after which your Inactive Duty Training (IDT) orders will be drafted/released. Your TA should provide you with a copy of your orders and then you can reach out to your NOSC to schedule INDOC. The IRR affiliation process takes 7 business days (on average) to complete.

• Return the Initial Questionnaire to CTO as soon as possible, stating your Reserve affiliation intention.
• Visit our Reserve Affiliation Benefits and FAQ pages for more information
  •  Reserve Affiliation Benefits
  •  CTO FAQs
• Schedule your separation physical no earlier than 6 months prior to your separation, and have the provider SIGN, STAMP, and DATE the SF600/SF2807/SF2808.
• Determine your post-separation address and your desired drilling location.
• If you have not been contacted by your TA by 90 days prior to your separation, please reach out to CTO.

• If you have MSO remaining, you must affiliate with the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) at a minimum to complete your obligation.
• If you do not have MSO remaining, you can decline your Reserve oath.
• You may be eligible for financial incentives (rank and designator dependent). Please reach out to your TA to discuss eligibility and associated obligations.
• If your separation date changes (earlier or later), please inform your TA immediately.
• If you are scheduled to promote prior to separation, please inform your TA immediately.
• If you choose to separate earlier than your requested separation month, your oath may not be available at the time of separation, causing a break in service (loss of benefits).

Active Duty - Twice Failure of Selection (2xFOS)

• Per Title 10, officers that have twice failed to select for promotion must separate by the 1^st day of the 7^th month after notification. After the board results are released, PERS-804 drafts the scroll (scroll is just a fancy term for a list of officers that need to be vetted; you get scrolled at every promotion as well as from AC to RC and vice versa) for the month in which you are separating (usually 2-3 months prior to the month in which you separate) it will eventually go to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for final approval. The scroll process can take 2-3 months to complete.
• The first stop in the routing process of the scroll is PERS-833 to check for adverse information. If there is any adverse information in your record, your name will be removed from the scroll and CTO will be notified via an Adverse Information Report. Further screening will be required for approval into the reserve component. 
• Once CTO has been notified by PERS-804 of 2xFOS results, a Transition Assistant (TA) will be assigned to the officer and a questionnaire will be emailed. You can be proactive and reach out to CTO once notified of separation due to 2xFOS. 
• The purpose of the TA is to educate each officer on Reserve benefits and opportunities and help facilitate the transition to a Reserve unit. In addition, the TA will prepare and coordinate all necessary documentation for collection by your separation date. Following your separation date, the TA will submit your package for affiliation but will not start being processed until after PSD has posted your loss. The SELRES/VTU affiliation process takes 15 business days (on average) to complete, after which your Inactive Duty Training (IDT) orders will be drafted/released. Your TA should provide you with a copy of your orders and then you can reach out to your NOSC to schedule INDOC. The IRR affiliation process takes 7 business days (on average) to complete.

• See Resignation section.
• Visit the Status Non-Select page on the NPC website: Here

• As an involuntary separation with greater than 6 years of service, you may be eligible for Involuntary Separation Pay (ISP). In order to receive the payment, you must sign the Page 13 in MILPERSMAN 1920-050 to agree to serve 3 years in the SELRES/VTU/IRR, sign your Reserve Oath, and turn both documents into your PSD. PSD will verify your eligibility IAW MILPERSMAN 1920-040, and calculate the amount of ISP you are entitled to per the MILPERSMAN 1920-060.
• You may be eligible for financial incentives (rank and designator dependent). Please reach out to your TA to discuss eligibility and associated obligations.
• If your separation date changes (earlier), please inform your TA immediately.
• If you choose to separate earlier than your requested separation month, your oath may not be available at the time of separation, causing a break in service (loss of benefits).

Active Duty - Probationary Officer Continuation/Redesignation (POCR)

• Per the Probationary Officer Continuation and Retention Board business rules, officers that have been selected to separate from active duty must separate by the 1^st day of the 4^th month after notification. After the board results are released, BUPERS 317B notifies PERS-804 (they draft and route the scrolls) and PERS-97 (CTO). PERS-804 drafts the scroll (scroll is just a fancy term for a list of officers that need to be vetted; you get scrolled at every promotion as well as from AC to RC and vice versa) for the month in which you are separating (usually 2-3 months prior to the month in which you separate) it will eventually go to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for final approval. The scroll process can take 2-3 months to complete.
• The first stop in the routing process of the scroll is PERS-833 to check for adverse information. If there is any adverse information in your record, your name will be removed from the scroll and CTO will be notified via an Adverse Information Report. Further screening will be required for approval into the reserve component.
• Once CTO has been notified by PERS-804 of 2xFOS results, a Transition Assistant (TA) will be assigned to the officer and a questionnaire will be emailed. You can be proactive and reach out to CTO once notified of separation due to 2xFOS. 
• The purpose of the TA is to educate each officer on Reserve benefits and opportunities and help facilitate the transition to a Reserve unit. In addition, the TA will prepare and coordinate all necessary documentation for collection by your separation date. Following your separation date, the TA will submit your package for affiliation but will not start being processed until after PSD has posted your loss. The SELRES/VTU affiliation process takes 15 business days (on average) to complete, after which your Inactive Duty Training (IDT) orders will be drafted/released. Your TA should provide you with a copy of your orders and then you can reach out to your NOSC to schedule INDOC. The IRR affiliation process takes 7 business days (on average) to complete.

• See Resignation section.

• If you have MSO remaining, you must affiliate with the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) at a minimum to complete your obligation.
• Your ability to affiliate with the Reserves in a paid status (SELRES) is determined by the POCR board letter.
• You may be eligible for financial incentives (rank and designator dependent). Please reach out to your TA to discuss eligibility and associated obligations.
• If you choose to separate earlier than your requested separation month, your oath may not be available at the time of separation, causing a break in service (loss of benefits).

Training & Admin of Reserves (TAR) - Release From Active Duty (RAD)

• Per MILPERSMAN 1920-200, TAR officers requesting release from active duty must submit the request at least 9 months in advance of the desired detachment month. The process is the same as the Active Duty Resignation in that you will go into NSIPS to request. Once CTO has been notified by PERS-451 of upcoming separations, a Transition Assistant (TA) will be assigned to the officer and a questionnaire will be emailed. Since CTO is not notified of your separation until after you have received your separation orders, you can be proactive and reach out to CTO once your resignation has approved. 
• The purpose of the TA is to educate each officer on Reserve benefits and opportunities and help facilitate the transition to a Reserve unit. In addition, the TA will prepare and coordinate all necessary documentation for collection by your separation date. Following your separation date, the TA will submit your package for affiliation but will not start being processed until after PSD has posted your loss. The SELRES/VTU affiliation process takes 15 business days (on average) to complete, after which your Inactive Duty Training (IDT) orders will be drafted/released. Your TA should provide you with a copy of your orders and then you can reach out to your NOSC to schedule INDOC. The IRR affiliation process takes 7 business days (on average) to complete.

• See Resignation section.
• Obtain a copy of your TAR oath from your OMPF and send it to your TA.

• Ensure your separation orders state Release from Active Duty (RAD) and not Discharged from Active Duty. A discharge will result in a TAR officer being separated from the Navy completely. If your separation orders do state discharge, reach out to PERS-451 to modify.
• You may be eligible for financial incentives (rank and designator dependent). Please reach out to your TA to discuss eligibility and associated obligations.

• As an involuntary separation with greater than 6 years of service, you may be eligible for Involuntary Separation Pay (ISP). In order to receive the payment, you must sign the Page 13 in MILPERSMAN 1920-050 to agree to serve 3 years in the SELRES/VTU/IRR, and turn into your PSD. PSD will verify your eligibility IAW MILPERSMAN 1920-040, and calculate the amount of ISP you are entitled to per the MILPERSMAN 1920-060. This calculation will be notated on your DD-214.
• You may be eligible for financial incentives (rank and designator dependent). Please reach out to your TA to discuss eligibility and associated obligations.

Service Members Looking To Join The Reserves To Pursue A Reserve Retirement

•  For a non-regular (reserve) retirement, you must have 20 years of eligible service active duty and reserve combined. Career Transition Office (CTO) will assist the member in affiliating into the reserves (as a Volunteer Training Unit / VTU member) in order to be able to process a reserve retirement.

• Member will be put in touch with CTO as someone who is separating from active duty and is joining the reserves to retire.  CTO will facilitate in gaining member into the VTU and put member in contact with the appropriate Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) to ensure seamless retirement transition.  This NOSC is the reservist support center.  The member will be assigned to whichever NOSC will be physically closest to where the member will be residing at post active duty. 
• To be able to submit the reserve retirement processing request, the member must be gained into NSIPS as a reservist.  This will take around 1-2 weeks after the member’s last day on active duty.  The member must be shown as a loss from active duty and cannot be gained as a reservist until this occurs.  Once gained into NSIPS as a reservist, CTO will inform both the NOSC and service member of the NSIPS gain.  Once the NOSC is informed of the NSIPS gain, they will begin the process to start the retirement by informing PERS-91.  At this point, PERS-91 will complete the retirement request.