DAFI 36-3203: SERVICE RETIREMENTS

DAFI 36-3203 — index record

Number	DAFI 36-3203
Title	SERVICE RETIREMENTS
Published	July 8, 2025
Certified current	July 8, 2025
Office of primary responsibility	AF/A1
Issued by	Headquarters, Department of the Air Force
Status on the index	Current
Last index action	UpdateContact, July 23, 2026
Source index	Air Force e-Publishing
Index last read	October 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (97 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

This publication implements Department of the Air Force Policy Directive (DAFPD) 36-32, Military Retirements and Separations. This publication is applicable to the entire Department of the Air Force (DAF), including all uniformed members of the Regular Air Force (RegAF), United States Space Force (USSF), Air Force Reserve (AFR), and Air National Guard (ANG), all DAF civilian employees, and those with contractual obligation to abide by the terms of DAF issuances. This Instruction requires the collection and or maintenance of information protected by the Privacy Act of 1974 authorized by Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) 5400.11, DoD Privacy Program. The applicable System SORNs F033 ARPC B, Locator or Personnel Data, F036 AFPC P, Separation Case Files, (Officer and Airman), and DoD-0020, Military Human Resource Records (MHRR) are available at https://dpcld.defense.gov/Privacy/SORNs/. Ensure all records generated as a result of processes prescribed in this publication adhere to Air Force Instruction 33-

Summary of changes, as printed

This document has been revised and should be completely reviewed. Changes include updated guidance and procedures for applying for retirement, office symbols and references.

Chapter 1—OVERVIEWp. 7
Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 9
Section 3A—Eligibilityp. 12
Section 3B—Active Component (AC) Members Place of Retirementp. 16
Section 3C—Retirement Prohibitions and Waivable Restrictionsp. 18
Chapter 4—VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT IN OFFICER OR ENLISTED STATUSp. 37
Chapter 5—MANDATORY RETIREMENTp. 46
Chapter 6—RETIREMENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONp. 59
Chapter 7—RECOGNITION OF RETIREMENTp. 61
Chapter 8—DETERMINING RETIRED GRADE AND PAYp. 66
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 95
Attachment 2—ADDRESSESp. 112

All 80 contents entries

Chapter 1—OVERVIEWp. 7
1.1. General Guidancep. 7
Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 9
2.1. The Secretary of the Air Force (SecAF)p. 9
2.2. Retirement Approval Authority (RAA)p. 9
2.4. AF Reserve General Officer Management Office (AF/REG)p. 9
2.5. Regular Colonel Management Officep. 9
2.6. Regular CMSgt Management Officep. 10
2.7. AFPC Airmen Support and Transition Branch (AFPC/DPPSA)p. 10
2.8. Air Reserve Personnel Center Retirements Branch (ARPC/DPTTR)p. 11
2.9. Commander’s Responsibilitiesp. 11
2.10. Transition Assistance Programp. 11
Section 3A—Eligibilityp. 12
3.1. Retirement Eligibilityp. 12
Section 3B—Active Component (AC) Members Place of Retirementp. 16
3.2. General Rulesp. 16
3.3. Overseas Duty Stationp. 16
3.4. Separation Processing Basep. 17
3.5. Travel and Transportation Entitlements for Overseas Retireesp. 17
3.6. Leave in Conjunction with Retirementp. 17
Section 3C—Retirement Prohibitions and Waivable Restrictionsp. 18
3.7. General Information on Retirement Prohibitions and Restrictionsp. 18
3.8. Waiver of Restrictionsp. 18
3.9. Assignment/365-day Extended Deployment Declination or 7DO/3DOp. 20
3.11. Request for Withdrawal or Change of Monthp. 23
3.13. Application of Medal of Honor Recipientp. 24
3.14. Retired Members Ordered to ADp. 24
Chapter 4—VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT IN OFFICER OR ENLISTED STATUSp. 37
4.1. Voluntary Authority. Table 4.1p. 37
4.2. AC General Proceduresp. 38
4.3. General Officer (GO) Proceduresp. 39
4.5. Retired Recall, Release from AD to Revert to Retired Listp. 41
4.6. Commissioned Officers Desiring AD Retirement in Enlisted Statusp. 41
Chapter 5—MANDATORY RETIREMENTp. 46
5.1. Applicabilityp. 46
5.2. Mandatory Separation Date (MSD) for Retirementp. 46
5.3. Service for Mandatory Retirementp. 47
5.4. Uniform Retirement Datep. 47
5.5. Notification of Mandatory Retirementp. 47
5.6. Actions Following Notification of Non-Selection for Promotionp. 48
5.7. Voluntary Retirement on the Mandatory Retirement Datep. 48
5.10. Selective Early Retirementp. 48
5.11. Retirement for Agep. 49
Chapter 6—RETIREMENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONp. 59
6.1. Standard Medical Examination for RegAF, USSF, AFR, and ANGp. 59
6.2. Applicability of previous Examinations for SHPEp. 59
6.3. Medical Service Officers (Other Than GOs)p. 59
6.4. Procedures for Initiating a Medical Holdp. 59
Chapter 7—RECOGNITION OF RETIREMENTp. 61
7.1. Recognition of RegAF, USSF, and ARC Members Being Retiredp. 61
7.2. DD Form 363AF and DD Form 363SPFp. 63
7.3. AF Form 1344 and SPF Form 1344p. 64
7.4. AF Form 1344p. 64
7.5. Presidential Recognition on Retirement from Military Servicep. 64
7.6. Letter of Appreciation from the President of the USp. 65
7.8. Awardsp. 65
Chapter 8—DETERMINING RETIRED GRADE AND PAYp. 66
8.1. General Informationp. 66
8.2. General Rules on Retired Gradep. 66
8.3. Reserve Age and Service Requirements (10 USC § 12731)p. 68
8.7. General Information on Retired Pay Computationp. 76
8.8. Re-computation of Retired Pay to Show Advancement on the Retired Listp. 77
8.9. Re-computation of Retired Pay to Show Later ADp. 77
8.10. AD Pay Increasep. 77
8.11. Retired Pay Increase Due to Extraordinary Heroism (Enlisted Only)p. 77
9.1. Retired Reservep. 83
9.2. Ordering to AD Members in the Retired Reservep. 83
9.3. Former Membersp. 83
9.4. Categories of Personnel Who Are Eligible for Transfer to the Retired Reservep. 83
9.6. Use of MyFSS for Guard and Reserve Retirement Applicationsp. 84
9.7. Approval and Disapproval Authorityp. 86
9.8. Unit Members Transferred to the Retired Reservep. 86
9.9. Grade in the Retired Reservep. 86
9.10. Entitlements and Benefitsp. 87
9.11. Assignment from the Retired Reservep. 88
10.1. Presidential Authorityp. 94
10.2. Forfeiture of Payp. 94
10.3. Processing Ordersp. 94
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 95
Attachment 2—ADDRESSESp. 112

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DAFI 36-3203

DAFI 36-3203 — index record

From the publication itself

Purpose, in the publication’s words

Summary of changes, as printed

Contents

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