UNCLASSIFIED ROUTINE R 281546Z NOV 16 FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// NAVADMIN 259/16 MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/NOV// SUBJ/NOTIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY TO OPT-IN TO THE BLENDED RETIREMENT SYSTEM// REF/A/DOC/NDAA/13APR15// REF/B/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/271444ZSEP16// REF/C/MSG/COMNAVPERSCOM MILLINGTON TN/151015ZAUG16// NARR/REF A IS SECTIONS 631 THROUGH 635 OF NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT, SUBTITLE D - DISABILITY PAY, RETIRED PAY, AND SURVIVOR BENEFITS. REF B IS NAVADMIN 217/16, ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE BLENDED RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR THE UNIFORMED SERVICES. REF C IS A GENADMIN, PAY AND PERSONNEL INFORMATION BULLETIN 16-12.// RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN is the official notification of eligibility to opt-in to the Blended Retirement System (BRS) in accordance with references (a) and (b). 2. Reference (a) states all Service members with a Date of Initial Entry into Military Service (DIEMS) on or before 31 December 2017 are automatically grandfathered under the current retirement system. However, some Service members are eligible to opt-in to the BRS. (a) Active component members are opt-in eligible if their DIEMS is on or before 31 December 2017 and they have less than 12 years of service as of 31 December 2017, based on their Pay Entry Base Date. (b) Reserve component members, to include Full-Time Support members, are opt-in eligible if their DIEMS is on or before 31 December 2017 and they have accumulated fewer than 4,320 retirement points as of 31 December 2017. (c) United States Naval Academy, Reserve Officer Training Corps Midshipmen and Delayed Entry Program members are opt-in eligible if their DIEMS is on or before 31 December 2017. 3. The window for opt-in eligible members to enroll in BRS will be open from 1 January 2018 until 31 December 2018. Opt-in eligible Service Members must be in a paid status at the time of enrollment. Service Members who meet the criteria above but are not in a paid status during the election window, will be given an opportunity to enroll during their first period of paid status. Hardship extensions to the enrollment window for opt-in eligible Service Members who are unable to enroll in BRS during the 2018 enrollment period will be considered on a case by case basis in line with reference (a). If a Service Member chooses to opt-in, their decision is irrevocable. Whether you choose to opt-in or not, all Service Members who are opt-in eligible must complete the Blended Retirement System Opt-In Course. 4. Commands must notify all opt-in eligible Service Members within their command. Command administrative departments should also contact their personnel support divisions on a regular basis to access a list of all opt-in eligible Service Members within their command. Additionally, those opt-in eligible Service members who have an up-to-date email address in Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System in line with reference (c) will receive notification of opt-in eligibility via e-mail. 5. All Navy commands must ensure that opt-in eligible Service Members complete the Blended Retirement System Opt-In Course. This course will be available in January 2017 on Joint Knowledge Online and Navy E-learning. Although this course will be accessible by all Service Members, completion no later than 31 December 2017 is mandatory for all opt-in eligible Service Members. Additionally, command financial specialist can provide support for unit-level basic financial literacy and BRS education. More robust financial counseling services are available through personal financial managers at your local Fleet and Family Support Center or online via a Military OneSource personal financial counselor. 6. The importance of the decision to enroll in BRS or remain in the current retirement system cannot be overstated. This decision is among the most important financial decisions an opt-in eligible Service Member may make. I am depending on an all-out leadership effort to ensure that the training is completed and Service Members are making the most informed financial decision possible. 7. This NAVADMIN remains in effect until superseded or cancelled, whichever comes first. 8. Released by Vice Admiral R. P. Burke, N1.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//