How to write a retired military rank


How Do You Write Retired Military Rank and Name?

Thesoldiersproject is supported by its audience. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

Written by Everett Bledsoe / Fact checked by Brain Bartell

There are many things that you need to learn for a smooth transition back into civilian life. One of those things is how to write a retired military signature. You will also need to know and remember small rules, like capitalizing military rank in a sentence. Fortunately, this guide on “How do you write retired military rank and name?” curates everything you need to know.

By the end, you should be able to write military rank and name retired and abbreviate retired military rank without having to pause or second-guess yourself. If you are not a veteran reading this, you will be able to respectfully and appropriately address retired military members.

Table of Contents

  • Writing Military Rank & Name After Retiring
  • Abbreviations
    • STANDARD STYLE
    • CIVILIAN STYLE
  • Conclusion

Writing Military Rank & Name After Retiring

The proper way to write retired military rank differs depending on where you are addressing the veteran.

Here is how to write for the address block of an email or letter or an envelope:

  • (Full Rank) (Full Name), USMC/USAF/USA, Retired, (Address) or,
  • (Full Rank) (Full Name), USMC/USAF/USA, Ret., (Address) or,
  • (Full Rank) (Full Name), USN/USCG, Retired, (Address) or,
  • (Full Rank) (Full Name), USN/USCG, Ret., (Address)

For example,

  • Captain Donald N. Thompson, USN, Retired, 100 Street or,
  • Captain Donald N. Thompson, USN, Ret., 100 Street

However, when and where the address block of an email or letter or an envelope is used also plays a role.

  • In official correspondence or situations, it is important to not only include the person’s rank but also specify the service branch designation and that the person is retired or no longer on active duty.
  • For social correspondence or situations, like a holiday card or wedding, you will want to address the person with rank. But it is not necessary to include his or her service branch designation or specify that the person is retired or no longer on active duty.

Official correspondence or situation is when the veteran’s participation is related to service in the military, and vice versa for social correspondence or situations.

Similarly, rank is always included in social situations for oral addressing but may or may not be in official situations. Again, it relies on whether the situation is directly related to the veteran’s service in the military.

Note: Rank is not included when the veteran leaves service before his/her designated retirement, even if he/she was discharged under honorable conditions.

Abbreviations

In any case, however, abbreviations can be used. They are more commonly referred to as service specific abbreviations. Thanks to them, it is possible to identify a member of the Armed Forces at first glance. Anyone—civilian military personnel—can use them at any time.

The abbreviations are by rank (From highest to lowest) for each military branch, as follows:

STANDARD STYLE

The U.S Army

  • General: GEN
  • Lieutenant General: LTG
  • Major General: MG
  • Brigadier General: BG
  • Colonel: COL
  • Lieutenant Colonel: LTC
  • Major: MAJ
  • Captain: CPT
  • 1st Lieutenant: 1LT
  • Second Lieutenant: 2LT
  • Chief Warrant Officers W-2 to W-5: CW5, CW4, CW3, CW2
  • Warrant Officer W-1: WO1
  • Sergeant 1st Class: SFC
  • Staff Sergeant: SSG
  • Sergeant: SGT
  • Corporal: CPL
  • Specialist: SPC
  • Private 1st Class: PFC
  • Private E-2: PV2
  • Private E-1: PV1

The U. S Navy

  • Fleet Admiral: FADM
  • Admiral: ADM
  • Vice Admiral: VADM
  • Rear Admiral (Upper Half): RADM or RADM U
  • Rear Admiral (Lower Half): RDML or RADM L
  • Captain: CAPT
  • Commander: CDR
  • Lieutenant Commander: LCDR
  • Lieutenant: LT
  • Lieutenant (Junior Grade): LTJG
  • Ensign (ENS)
  • Chief Warrant Officers W-2 to W-5: CW5, CW4, CW3, CW2
  • Warrant Officer W-1: WO1
  • Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy: MCPON
  • Fleet Commander Master Chief Petty Officer: FLTMC
  • Force Commander Master Chief Petty Officer: FORMC
  • Command Commander Master Chief Petty Officer: CMDCM
  • Master Chief Petty Officer: MCPO
  • Senior Chief Petty Officer: SCPO
  • Chief Petty Officer: CPO
  • Petty Officer 1st Class: PO1
  • Petty Officer 2nd Class: PO2
  • Petty Officer 3rd Class: PO3
  • Seaman: SNS
  • Seaman Apprentice: SA
  • Seaman Recruit: SR

The U. S Marine Corps

  • General: GEN
  • Lieutenant General: LTG
  • Major General: MG
  • Brigadier General: BG
  • Colonel: COL
  • Lieutenant Colonel: LTC
  • Major: MAJ
  • Captain: CPT
  • 1st Lieutenant: 1LT
  • Second Lieutenant: 2LT
  • Chief Warrant Officers W-2 to W-5: CW5, CW4, CW3, CW2
  • Warrant Officer W-1: WO1
  • Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps: SgtMajMC
  • Sergeant Major: SgtMaj
  • Master Gunnery Sergeant: MGySgt
  • 1st Sergeant: 1stSgt
  • Master Sergeant: MSgt
  • Gunnery Sergeant: GySgt
  • Staff Sergeant: SSgt
  • Sergeant: Sgt
  • Corporal: Cpl
  • Lance Corporal: LCpl
  • Private 1st Class: PFC
  • Private: Pvt

The U.S Air Force

  • General: Gen
  • Lieutenant General: Lt Gen
  • Major General: Maj Gen
  • Brigadier General: Brig Gen
  • Colonel: Col
  • Lieutenant Colonel: Lt Col
  • Major: Maj
  • Captain: Capt
  • First Lieutenant: 1st Lt
  • Second Lieutenant: 2nd Lt
  • Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force: CMSAF
  • Command Chief Master Sergeant: CCMSgt
  • First Sergeant E-9: 1stSgt
  • Chief Master Sergeant: CMSgt
  • First Sergeant E-8: 1stSgt
  • Senior Master Sergeant: SMSgt
  • First Sergeant E-7: 1stSgt
  • Master Sergeant: MSgt
  • Technical Sergeant: TSgt
  • Staff Sergeant: SSgt
  • Senior Airman: SrA
  • Airman 1st Class: A1C
  • Airman: Amn
  • Airman Basic: AB

The U. S Coast Guard

  • Admiral: ADM
  • Vice Admiral: VADM
  • Rear Admiral (Upper Half): RADM or RADM U
  • Rear Admiral (Lower Half): RDML or RADM L
  • Captain: CAPT
  • Commander: CDR
  • Lieutenant Commander: LCDR
  • Lieutenant: LT
  • Lieutenant (Junior Grade): LTJG
  • Ensign (ENS)
  • Chief Warrant Officers W-2 to W-5: CW5, CW4, CW3, CW2
  • Warrant Officer W-1: WO1
  • Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard: MCPO-C
  • Command Master Chief: CMC
  • Master Chief Petty Officer: MCPO
  • Senior Chief Petty Officer: SCPO
  • Chief Petty Officer: CPO
  • Petty Officer 1st Class: PO1
  • Petty Officer 2nd Class: PO2
  • Petty Officer 3rd Class: PO3
  • Seaman: SNS
  • Seaman Apprentice: SA
  • Seaman Recruit: SR

CIVILIAN STYLE

Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force

  • General: Gen.
  • Lieutenant General: Lt. Gen.
  • Major General: Maj. Gen.
  • Brigadier General: Brig. Gen.
  • Colonel: Col.
  • Lieutenant Colonel: Lt. Col.
  • Major: Maj.
  • Captain: Capt.
  • 1st Lieutenant: 1st Lt.
  • Second Lieutenant: 2nd Lt.
  • Cadet: Cdt.
  • Chief Warrant Officers W-5: Chief Warrant Officer 5
  • Chief Warrant Officers W-4: Chief Warrant Officer 4
  • Chief Warrant Officers W-3: Chief Warrant Officer 3
  • Chief Warrant Officers W-2: Chief Warrant Officer 2
  • Warrant Officer W-1: Warrant Officer

Navy & Coast Guard

  • Admiral: Adm.
  • Vice Admiral: Vice Adm.
  • Rear Admiral: Rear Adm.
  • Captain: Capt.
  • Commander: Cmdr.
  • Lieutenant Commander: Lt. Cmdr.
  • Lieutenant: Lt.
  • Lieutenant (Junior Grade): Lt. j.g.

Enlisted Ranks:

Army

  • Sergeant Major of the Army: Sgt. Maj. of the Army
  • Command Sergeant Major: Command Sgt. Maj.
  • Sergeant Major: Sgt. Maj.
  • 1st Sergeant: 1st Sgt.
  • Master Sergeant: Master Sgt.
  • Platoon Sergeant: P. Sgt.
  • Sergeant 1st Class: Sgt. 1st Class
  • Staff Sergeant: Staff Sgt.
  • Sergeant: Sgt.
  • Corporal: Cpl.
  • Specialist: Spc.
  • Private 1st Class: Pfc.
  • Private E-1 to E-2: Pvt.

Marine Corps

  • Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps: Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps
  • Sergeant Major: Sgt. Maj.
  • Master Gunnery Sergeant: Master Gunnery Sgt.
  • 1st Sergeant: 1st Sgt.
  • Master Sergeant: Master Sgt.
  • Gunnery Sergeant: Gunnery Sgt.
  • Staff Sergeant: Staff Sgt.
  • Sergeant: Sgt.
  • Corporal: Cpl.
  • Lance Corporal: Lance Cpl.
  • Private 1st Class:
  • Pfc. Private: Pvt.

Air Force

  • Chief Master Sergeant Major of the Air Force: Chief Master Sgt.
  • Major of the Air Force Chief Master Sergeant: CM Sgt.
  • Command Chief Master Sergeant: CCM Sgt.
  • Senior Master Sergeant: Senior Master Sgt.
  • Master Sergeant: Master Sgt.
  • Technical Sergeant: Tech. Sgt.
  • Staff Sergeant: Staff Sgt.

Note: Service specific abbreviations can be used to address retired reservists, using the formula: (Rank) (Full Name), (Abbreviation for Service Branch), Retired/Ret.

For example, you would write retired army rank like this: GEN Tom Smith, USA, Retired.

Conclusion

That wraps up our article on “How do you write retired military rank and name?” Hopefully, you have picked up a lot of useful information. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us in the comments. We would love to hear from you!

Everett Bledsoe

I am Everett Bledsoe, taking on the responsibility of content producer for The Soldiers Project. My purpose in this project is to give honest reviews on the gear utilized and tested over time. Of course, you cannot go wrong when checking out our package of information and guide, too, as they come from reliable sources and years of experience.

How to Address Retired U.S. Military

Skip to content Military Retired How to Address

See List of All ‘How To Address’ Posts 

On this page:
___How to Address Retired Military (See below)
___Retired or Ret.? – Spelled Out or Abbreviated?
___Retired – In Parentheses of Not?

How to Address Retired Officers or Enlisted Personnel
United States Armed Services

—-Envelope or address block on letter or email:

—-—-(Full rank) (full name), USA/USAF/USMC, Retired
—-—-(Address)
—-—-—-or
——–—-(Full rank) (full name), USA/USAF/USMC, Ret.
——–—-(Address)
—-—-—-
—-—-(Full rank) (full name), USN/USCG, Retired
—-—-(Address)
—-—-—-or
—-——–(Full rank) (full name), USN/USCG, Ret.
——–—-(Address)

——–—-Which looks like ….
—-——–—-Captain Robert W. Thompson, USN, Retired
——–—-—-(Address)
——–—-———
or
——–—-—-Captain Robert W. Thompson, USN, Ret.
—-—-—-—-(Address)

—-Envelope, Social:

—-—-(Full rank) (full name)
—-—-(Address)

—-—-Which looks like …. How To Address Retired US Military
—-—-—-Captain Robert W. Thompson
—-—-—-(Address)

—-Letter salutation both official and social: How To Address Retired US Military
—-Dear (basic rank) (surname):

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

—-#1) The branch of service designation – USA, USMC, USN, USAF or USCG – and “Retired” or “Ret.” are used on official correspondence and in official situations when it is important to specify the person is retired and is not on active duty.
—-#2) The service designation and retired are not used on social correspondence or in social situations. Fully retired personnel are orally addressed by rank at their preference in (1) social situations and (2) official situations when their participation is related to their service in the military.
—-#3) In every case the service-specific abbreviation for the (full rank) can be used. These service-specific abbreviations are standard usage within the armed services.
—-#4) Follow this link for how to socially address a military couple.

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

Retired: Spelled Out or Abbreviated?

We have been struggling with setting up consistent prefixes and suffixes in our database for our military grads.
—-#1) For retired service folks should we spell our “Retired” or use the “Ret.” abbreviation?
—-#2) Is there a comma after the branch of service or is it “USN Ret.”
–––––––––––––––— Development Office, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia

Dear Fund Raiser: How To Address Retired US Military
For official correspondence DOD guides use the comma … and either Ret. or Retired is acceptable. The show two formulas:
——–(Rank) (Full Name), (Branch of Service), (Retired)
——–(Rank) (Full Name), (Branch of Service), (Ret.)

——–Brigadier General Arthur Portnow, USA, Retired
——–Brigadier General Arthur Portnow, USA, Ret.

You may want to consider for your database using the service-specific abbreviations for the ranks:
—-—-BG Arthur Portnow, USA, Retired
—-—-BG Arthur Portnow, USA, Ret.

DOD people like the service-specific abbreviations because they will know a BG is in the Army, and a BGen is a Marine. All those service-specific abbreviations … for the USA, USN, USMC, USAF and USCG …. are in my book and elsewhere. If you want to use them – do so. If you don’t, just spell out the rank fully.

Note that the branch of service and retired status may not be necessary for what you are doing:
–—-#1) On social correspondence (personal letters, invitations or cards) – active duty vs. retired status – and branch of service … are not pertinent … and thus not suggested in DOD guides.
–—-#2) On official correspondence branch of service and Retired are pertinent — and are used whenever in military environments where active duty personnel are present.

— Robert Hickey How To Address Retired US Military

Retired: In Parentheses or Not?

Regarding your advice to write one’s name when retired.
––––––MSgt Trevor Ross, USAF, (Ret.)
With parentheses as shown above is the correct way to signify for retirees — not as you advise.
––––––––––––––––— T.R.

Dear TR:
Thanks for your note, but the DoD style books disagree with you. Either of these forms is correct if you follow those.
––––––MSgt Trevor Ross, USAF, Retired
––––––MSgt Trevor Ross, USAF, Ret.

Here’s why: DoD stylebooks suggest:
––––––(Rank) (Name), (Branch of Service), (Retired)
––––––(Rank) (Name), (Branch of Service), (Ret. )

Every protocol officer I’ve polled (and that is a large number including the offices of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Secretaries of all the services) says the DoD stylebook is not suggesting to include parentheses around Ret. anymore than it is suggesting to put parentheses around the (Rank) or (Name).

So while I agree you do see people using the parentheses around Ret. – I present the style suggested by the protocol officers at the top of the Pentagon …. and they all say “no parentheses.”

— Robert Hickey

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?

You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.)  The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them.
___What I don’t cover on this site are many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions, etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.

Not Finding Your Answer?

—-#1)  At right on desktops, at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones, is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.

—-#2)  If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so (unless I am traveling.)  Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.

—-#3)  If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question  – but always change all the specifics.

— Robert Hickey 

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

Recommended Resources:  The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW) and Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA)    For more information see the Protocol Resources page.

Robert Hickey2021-08-28T14:10:40-04:00

How to Address:

  • Abbess Abbot

  • Accountant

  • Acting Official

  • Adjutant General

  • Administrator City County

  • Admiral

  • Admiral, Texas Navy

  • Adventist Minister

  • Alderman

  • Ambassador Foreign

  • Ambassador Goodwill

  • Ambassador US by US Citizen

  • Ambassador US Retired Former

  • Ambassador US to the UK

  • Archbishop Anglican

  • Archbishop Catholic

  • Archbishop Orthodox

  • Archdeacon Episcopal

  • Archimandrite

  • Architect

  • Archpriest

  • Assemblyman -woman

  • Associate Justice State

  • Associate Justice US

  • Astronaut

  • Attaché Diplomat

  • Attorney

  • Attorney General Assistant

  • Attorney General Associate

  • Attorney General Deputy

  • Attorney General of a State

  • Attorney General of US

  • Attorney US

  • Attorney US Assistant

  • Australian Officials

  • Author’s Name on a Book

  • Award, Name on an

  • Baron Baroness

  • Beatitude

  • Bishop Catholic

  • Bishop Episcopal

  • Bishop Orthodox

  • Bishop Presiding

  • Board Chair

  • Board Member

  • Boy

  • Brigadier General

  • British Officials

  • British Royalty Nobility

  • Brother Anglican

  • Brother Catholic

  • Brother Orthodox

  • Business Cards

  • Canadian Officials

  • Candidate

  • Captain

  • Cardinal

  • Certificate, Name on a

  • Chair of Board

  • Chair Use Of

  • Chancellor

  • Chaplain Congress

  • Chaplain Military

  • Chaplain University

  • Chargé d’Affaires

  • Chief Indian

  • Chief Judge

  • Chief Justice State

  • Chief Justice US

  • Chief of Mission

  • Chief of Mission Deputy

  • Chief of Police

  • Chief of Staff POTUS

  • Child

  • Chiropractor

  • City Manager Administrator

  • Clerk of a Court

  • Colonel

  • Colonel Kentucky

  • Commandant

  • Commission Chair or Member

  • Commissioner Court

  • Commissioner Federal

  • Commissioner Sport

  • Commissioner State

  • Commodore Yacht Club

  • Congressman -woman

  • Consul, Consul General

  • Corporate Executive

  • Councilman -woman

  • Counselor Diplomat

  • Countess

  • County Executive

  • County Manager Administrator

  • Couple Clergy

  • Couple Military

  • Couple Private Citizens

  • Couple US Officials

  • Curator

  • Dalai Lama

  • Dame

  • Deacon Catholic

  • Deacon Orthodox

  • Deacon Protestant

  • Dean Academic

  • Dean Clergy

  • Deceased Names of

  • Degree Honorary

  • Delegate State

  • Delegate US

  • Dentist

  • Deputy Chief of Mission

  • Deputy Marshal US

  • Deputy Secretary US

  • Designate

  • Detective

  • Diploma, Name on a

  • Director

  • District Attorney

  • Divorced

  • Doctor Medical

  • Doctor Military

  • Doctorate Honorary

  • Doctorate, Use of

  • Dowager

  • Duke Duchess

  • Earl

  • Elder Adventist

  • Elect

  • Emeritus Emerita

  • Eminence

  • Emperor Empress

  • Engineer

  • Esquire Esq.

  • Excellency

  • Executive County

  • Family

  • Fiancé Fiancée

  • Firefighter

  • First Husband

  • First Lady, Church

  • First Lady, State

  • First Lady, USA

  • First Lieutenant

  • First Names

  • First Secretary

  • Former Official

  • Freeholder

  • Gay Couple

  • General

  • Geshe

  • Girl

  • Governor General

  • Governor Staff Of

  • Governor Tribal

  • Governor US State

  • Governor US State Spouse

  • Governors Board of

  • Gravestone Gravemarker

  • Headmaster School

  • Headstone Name On

  • High Commissioner

  • Honorable The, Use Of

  • Honorary Degree

  • Honourable The

  • II, III, IV etc.

  • Inspector General

  • Interim

  • Introductions Names In

  • Invitations All About

  • Invitations All About, Military

  • Judge Federal

  • Judge Retired Former

  • Judge State County City

  • Junior, II, III, IV etc

  • Justice Associate US

  • Justice Chief US

  • Justice of the Peace

  • King

  • Knight

  • Late, The, Use of

  • Lawyer

  • Lesbian Couple

  • Lieutenant

  • Lieutenant Colonel

  • Lieutenant General

  • Lieutenant Governor

  • Lieutenant Governor Spouse

  • Lieutenant jg

  • Lord Lady

  • Ma’am

  • Magistrate

  • Major

  • Major General

  • Man Business

  • Man Socially

  • Manager City Town

  • Marquess Marchioness

  • Married Woman

  • Marshal US

  • Mayor Canadian

  • Mayor US City

  • Mayor Vice US City

  • Medic

  • Military Active Duty

  • Military Couples

  • Military Doctor

  • Military Rank Abbreviations

  • Military Retired How to Address

  • Military Retired Use of Rank By

  • Military Veterans, Use of Rank

  • Minister Adventist

  • Minister Protestant

  • Miss

  • Monk Christian Orthodox

  • Monsignor

  • Most Reverend

  • Mother Superior

  • Mrs. vs. Ms.

  • Mx.

  • Name Badge

  • Name Tent

  • Naming a Building Road or Gallery

  • Nobilty Former

  • Nominee

  • Nun Catholic

  • Nun Christian Orthodox

  • Nurse

  • Optometrist

  • Osteopath

  • Pastor

  • Pastor Spouse

  • Patriarch Christian Orthodox

  • Patriarch Ecumenical

  • Permanent Representative

  • Petty Officers

  • Pharmacist

  • Physician, MD

  • Place Cards, Names on

  • Plaque, Name on a

  • Podiatrist

  • Police Officer

  • Pope Catholic

  • Pope Coptic

  • Post-Nominal Abbreviations

  • Postmaster General

  • Postmaster Local

  • Presbyter Christian Orthodox

  • President College Univ

  • President Corporate

  • President School

  • President State Assembly

  • President US Senate

  • President USA

  • President USA Elect

  • President USA Former

  • President USA Spouse

  • Priest Catholic

  • Priest Christian Othrodox

  • Priest Episcopal

  • Prime Minister

  • Principal

  • Pro Tempore

  • Professor, Email

  • Professor, Letter

  • Psychologist

  • Public Health Service

  • Queen

  • Rabbi

  • Ranger Texas

  • Rear Admiral

  • Representative State

  • Representative US

  • Reservist

  • Reservist Use of Rank

  • Resident Commissioner

  • Retiree

  • Reverend, Use of

  • Right Reverend

  • Ruler

  • Salvation Army

  • Same-Sex Couple

  • School Board

  • Second Gentleman

  • Second Lady

  • Second Lieutenant

  • Second Secretary

  • Secretary General

  • Secretary US Assistant

  • Secretary US Cabinet

  • Secretary US Deputy

  • Secretary US Under

  • Secretary, State Cabinet

  • Selectman, First Selectman

  • Senator Canadian

  • Senator US Federal

  • Senator US State

  • Senior Judge

  • Senior, Junior

  • Sergeant

  • Sergeant at Arms

  • Sheriff

  • Signature, Your

  • Sir

  • Sister Catholic

  • Solicitor General

  • Speaker US

  • Specialist

  • Spouse of Official

  • State Attorney

  • Surgeon General

  • Table Tent, Names on

  • Texas Ranger

  • Therapist

  • Third Secretary

  • Titles Useless

  • Tombstones Name On

  • Town Justice

  • Town Manager Administrator

  • Tribal Officials

  • Two Titles

  • Two Titles, Clergy

  • Undersecretary US

  • Venerable

  • Very Reverend

  • Veterans Military, Use of Rank

  • Veterinarian

  • VFW Official

  • Vice Admiral

  • Vice Mayor US City

  • Vice President Elect

  • Vice President US

  • Vice President US Former

  • Vice President US Husband

  • Vice President US Wife

  • Viscount Viscountess

  • Warrant Officer

  • White House Staff

  • Widow

  • Woman Business

  • Woman Socially

Search for:

Page load link Go to Top

indexation and increase, how to get a pensioner, documents, terms

According to the law, a military man who has retired receives a monthly allowance from the state.

Svetlana Fateeva

dealt with military pensions

Author profile

Military people retire not by age, but by seniority or disability, if they received it in the service. And their relatives - in connection with the loss of a breadwinner. The pension is assigned to military personnel who served in the internal affairs bodies, employees of the Russian Guard, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the FSB, the FSIN. They can receive it when they leave military service. If a military man left the service and got a job as a civilian, then the right to an insurance pension will also appear.

The amount of the pension depends on the position and rank of the military, length of service and allowances. In the article I will tell you how to apply for a military pension, how it is calculated and what are the allowances.

Military pensions are described by laws that contain more than a hundred pages. In this article, I gave a constructor: what payments make up a military pension. For convenience, there are links to articles of the law in the margins, so if you want to know in detail, you can go there and read. Each particular case of calculating a pension has its own subtleties that will affect its size. Therefore, in order to accurately calculate your pension, it is better to consult with the pension authority of the law enforcement agency in which you served.

Military service pension

When a soldier reaches a certain level of service, he is awarded a service pension.

Conditions for granting a pension. By law, a seniority pension is due to the military if:

  1. military experience on the day of dismissal is at least 20 years;
  2. the age of the military man is at least 45 years, and his total length of service is at least 25 years. Of these, at least 12.5 years must be spent in military service.

Art. 13 of the law on pensions for persons who have completed military service

According to military experience. Military experience, for example, includes:

  1. Service in the internal affairs bodies, the National Guard, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Security Service, the Federal Penitentiary Service.
  2. Service in Soviet partisan detachments and formations.
  3. Service in civilian ministries and organizations, if the military remained in military service or as part of law enforcement agencies.
  4. Time in captivity, if the soldier did not go there voluntarily.
  5. The period of detention if the charge was unfounded.
  6. The time when the military was repressed if he was rehabilitated.

st. 18 of the law on pensions for persons who have completed military service

Officers and military commanders are credited with up to 5 years of study before entering the service. One year of study will be equal to 6 months of service. For example, if a military man studied for 5 years, he will be credited with 2.5 years of service.

Service in special conditions is included in the length of service on a preferential basis. This means that periods of service will be included in the length of service in longer periods than the calendar period. For example, for service in countries that fought hostilities, a month is counted as two.

Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of September 22, 1993 No. 941 - on preferential calculation

Special conditions also include, for example, service in the regions of the Far North, in positions associated with increased danger to life and health.

When the pension will be granted. A military man submits documents for a seniority pension - and they are checked. The pension will be assigned within 10 days from the day of dismissal - but not earlier than the day before which the monetary allowance was paid upon dismissal. If you delay in applying for a pension, it will be assigned retroactively from the day when the right to it arose. You can receive payments up to 12 months before the day of application.

Art. 53 of the law on pensions for persons who have completed military service

The amount of pension for service depends on several factors:

  1. Military experience.
  2. Position and rank.
  3. The amount of allowance, increase and allowances.

For military personnel with 20 years of service, the pension will be 50% of the monetary allowance. For each next year of service, 3% will be added, but in total the percentage of monetary allowance cannot be more than 85%.

Art. 14 of the law on pensions for persons who have completed military service

For example, a military man has served 20 years. His allowance is 42,000 R. The pension will be set at 50% of the allowance - 21,000 R, but due to the reduction factor on hand, the military will receive less - I will talk about this in detail in another section. For each next year, 3% is added: for 21 years of service - 53%, for 22 years - 56%, etc., but not more than 85% of the monetary allowance.

For military personnel with 12.5 years of service with a total length of service of 25 years, the pension will also be 50% of the monetary allowance, and only 1% will be added for each subsequent year of service. Theoretically, the military with such length of service can receive 100% of the monetary allowance, but only for 75 years of service.

The monthly payment, , which is indexed annually, is entitled to participants and disabled veterans of the Great Patriotic War and combat veterans. The maximum payment amount is 3088 R per month in addition to the pension. In 2022, taking into account indexation, the amount of payment for participants in the Great Patriotic War is 4746.29 R, for disabled veterans of the Great Patriotic War - 6328.41 R, for combat veterans - 3481.85 R.

Art. 23.1 of the Federal Law "On Veterans"

Increased military pension receive disabled people. How much it has increased is calculated as a percentage of the social pension. The amount of the social pension depends on the category of disabled citizens.

Art. 16 of the law on pensions for persons who have completed military service

p. 1, art. 18 of the Federal Law "On state pension provision in the Russian Federation"

For example, a disabled person of the first group is entitled to a social pension of 11,212.36 R. If he was injured in military service, the pension will be increased three times:

11,212 R × 300% \u003d 33 636 R

How much will the seniority pension for disabled people increase

Disability group For military personnel injured on duty For military personnel with a disease, industrial injury, as well as for participants in the Great Patriotic War For those awarded with the badge "Inhabitant of besieged Leningrad"
First 300% 250% 200%
Second 250% 200% 150%
Third 175% 150% 100%

The first disability group

for military injuries in the service of

300%

for the military with illness, labor injury, as well as for participants of the Second World War

250%

for the awarded the sign “Resident of the Blockade Leningrad City Leningrad »

200%

Second disability group

For the military who injured in the service of

250%

for the military with illness, labor injury, as well as for the participants of the Second World War

200%

for a resident of the Blockade Leningrad sign

9000,150%

The third group of disability

For the military who were injured in the service

175%

0002 For those awarded with the sign "Inhabitant of besieged Leningrad"

100%

Military disability pension

Disability pension is awarded regardless of the length of service. It is required if the military received a disability during the service or within three months after the dismissal. Disability must be the result of an illness or injury that the military received in the service.

p. 2 art. 8 of the Federal Law "On State Pension Provision in the Russian Federation"

Disability is established by a medical and social examination or a military medical commission of the military district where the service takes place.

The amount of the pension depends on the disability group and the reasons for the disability. For conscripts, it is calculated as a percentage of the social pension.

Art. 15 Federal Law "On state pension provision in the Russian Federation"

Military pension for conscripts with disabilities

Disability group Amount of pension due to military injury Amount of pension due to illness received during service
First 300% 250%
Second 250% 200%
Third 175% 150%

The first disability group

Due to the military injury

300%

Pension size due to the disease received during the service of

250% 9000%

The second disability group 9000 9000 9000 due to war injury

250%

The size of the pension due to the disease obtained during the service of

200%

Third disability group

Pension size due to military injury

175%

Pension size due received during service

150%

For example, for disabled people of the second group, the social pension is 5606. 15 R. For military personnel with a disability of the second group received due to a military injury, the pension will be calculated as follows:

5606 Р × 250% = 14 015 Р

For officers, ensigns, midshipmen and contractors, employees of law enforcement agencies, the disability pension is calculated as a percentage of the monetary allowance.

Art. 22 laws on pensions for persons who have completed military service

Military pension for contract servicemen with disabilities

Disability group Amount of pension due to military injury Amount of pension due to illness received during service
First 85% 75%
Second 85% 75%
Third 50% 40%

The first disability group

The size of the pension due to military trauma

85%

Pension size due to the disease received during the service of

75%

The second disability group

Pension size due to military trauma

85%

Pension size due to the disease obtained during the service

75%

Third disability group

Pension size due to military trauma

9000 50 50 %

The amount of the pension due to an illness received during service

40%

For example, a contractor receives a monetary allowance of 25,000 R. If he receives a disability of the second group due to a military injury, his disability pension will be calculated as follows:

25,000 R × 85% = 21,250 R

Disability is established for a certain period, which is indicated in the certificate of the medical and social examination. When the deadline has passed, the military must undergo a re-examination to confirm the disability.

If the military misses the deadline, the payment of the disability pension may be suspended. If this happened for a good reason, for example, if the state of health worsened, then after re-examination, the pensioner will receive payments for the entire overdue period. If there was no good reason, the pension will continue to be paid when the pensioner confirms the disability.

Re-examination is not carried out if disability is established indefinitely, and also upon reaching 65 years for men, 60 years for women.

It happens that the state of health has changed. Then, at the personal request of the disabled person, his legal representative or in the medical direction, a re-examination is carried out. If the disability group is changed, the amount of the pension also changes.

Military Survivor's Pension

If a serviceman dies or goes missing, each disabled member of his family is assigned a survivor's pension. In this case, the pension is due:

  1. Children under 18. If the child studies full-time at a university - up to 23 years.
  2. Parents or spouse if, after the death of the breadwinner, they have lost their source of income, have a disability, or have reached the age of 60 for men and 55 for women.
  3. Parents or spouse of a deceased soldier who received a disability as a result of a military injury.
  4. Parents or spouse if they are not working and taking care of the breadwinner's children, siblings, grandchildren until they are 14 years old.
  5. Grandmother or grandfather, if there are no other persons who must support them by law.

st. 29 of the law on pensions for persons who have completed military service

The loss of a breadwinner is considered:

  1. Death of a soldier during service or within three months after dismissal due to an injury or illness that was received during service.
  2. Death while receiving a military pension.
  3. Death within 5 years after termination of pension payments.
  4. Death in captivity, if not voluntarily.
  5. Missing during the hostilities.

st. 28 of the law on pensions for persons who have completed military service

The amount of the pension depends on the cause of death of the breadwinner. If the military served under a contract, then a pension is given to each disabled family member as a percentage of the breadwinner's allowance. 50% of the military allowance will be assigned to the following categories of citizens:

  1. Families of those who died due to war trauma.
  2. Families of deceased military invalids.
  3. Children who have lost both parents.
  4. Children of a dead single mother.

st. 36 of the law on pensions for persons who have completed military service

If a soldier dies due to an illness received during the period of service, his family will be paid 40% of the military allowance.

If the military served on conscription, the pension will be calculated as a percentage of the social pension. It will be paid to each disabled family member in an amount that depends on the cause of death of the conscript:

  • death due to military injury - 200%;
  • death due to a disease received during military service - 150%.

item 4 of Art. 15 of the Federal Law "On state pension provision in the Russian Federation"

If family members lose their right to a pension, then payments will be reduced or stopped. For example, if the children of the deceased study full-time at a university, they are entitled to a pension up to 23 years. They will stop receiving their pension the next month after they turn 23.

Second military pension

If a military man, after being discharged from service, works as a civilian, he has the right to a second pension - an insurance one. At the same time, the work must be official - if the employer does not deduct pension contributions, there will be no right to an insurance pension.

About the second pension for military personnel

You can check how many contributions were paid to the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation in your personal account in the section "On the formed pension rights" or in the pension fund or MFC - you will need a passport and SNILS. You can register in the compulsory pension insurance system at the territorial pension fund or the MFC. You need to come there with a passport and fill out a questionnaire. You can also log in to the PFR website through the public services website if you are already registered there.

/guide/skolko-pensiya/

How to calculate the old-age pension

Click on the “Login” button in the upper right part of the screen After you are asked to log in through the public services website When you log in to public services, you will be asked to check whether your profile is filled out correctly . Change the details if required

To receive a military pension and an insurance pension at the same time, you must meet the following requirements.

Age. Reaching the age of 61.5 years for men and 56.5 years for women, taking into account the length of service — for example, if a pensioner worked in the Far North or in difficult working conditions. Age is determined taking into account the transition period.

What is the transition period

In Russia, there is a gradual increase in the retirement age. A transitional period has been introduced for these changes, which will be 10 years and end in 2028. As a result, the retirement age will be raised by 5 years and set at 60 for women and 65 for men. In the first half of 2022, the retirement age for women is 56.5 years, for men - 61.5 years. In the second half of 2022, only those who received this right earlier, but did not use it, will retire.

Annexes 5 and 6 to Law No. 350-FZ

Raising the retirement age

Civil service. The length of service for the insurance pension does not include periods of service in the army or work that are taken into account when calculating the military pension. In 2022, the minimum work experience is 13 years. It increases by 1 year each year until it reaches 15 years in 2024.

Number of pension points. The minimum score in 2022 is 23.4. Their number will increase annually until 2025. By 2025, the minimum number of points will be 30. To check your points, you can contact the territorial pension fund with a passport and SNILS or in your personal account on the PFR website.

When you enter the compulsory pension insurance system, on the main page you can see how many pension points you have

The formula for calculating the second pension is as follows:

Accumulated pension points × Value of one point

Calculate the amount of the second pension a point costs 107.36 R, the amount is indexed annually.

Usually a fixed payment is added to the insurance pension, but it is not paid to military pensioners.

What to do? 30.09.19

How to buy more pension points?

Allowances for the military

There are allowances for seniority and disability pensions. They are calculated as a percentage of the social pension.

Art. 17 of the law on pensions for persons who have completed military service

Military pensions are not easy

When calculating a pension for the military, various payments are taken into account: allowances, increases and increases. These three terms are often confused, but they mean different things:

  1. There are allowances for monetary allowance and pensions for seniority and disability.
  2. Disabled people receive an increased military service pension.
  3. An increase in the military pension is due to services to the country.

Do not confuse.

The allowance is due:

  1. Disabled people of the 1st group and pensioners who have reached the age of 80 - 100% of the social pension.
  2. Disabled due to military injury. Men over 60 years old, women over 55 years old - 100%.
  3. Non-working pensioners who have dependent family members who are unable to work without an insurance or social pension. If one is disabled - 32%, two - 64%, three or more - 100%.
  4. Participants of the Great Patriotic War - 32%, and when they reach 80 years old - 64%. The supplement is not charged if the pension has already been calculated using the increase.

For example, a disabled person of the first group will receive an allowance of 11,212 R - this is 100% of the social pension for this category.

Clause 2.1 Art. 18 Federal Law "On state pension provision in the Russian Federation"

There are other allowances: for long service, work with the state secret service, service in special conditions, etc. If a military man receives other income than a military pension, then allowances for dependents and disability are not paid.

Art. 2 of the Federal Law "On State Pensions in the Russian Federation"

Increases in military pensions

Military pensions are increased for services to the country. For Heroes of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation, holders of the Order of Glory of three degrees, the pension is increased by 100%, for Heroes of Labor - by 50%. The pension is increased by a multiple of the number of awards: for example, twice the Hero of the Russian Federation receives an additional 200% to the pension.

Art. 45 of the law on pensions for persons who have completed military service

Champions of the Olympic, Paralympic and Deaflympics receive 50% of the pension. For awards with orders of Labor Glory of three degrees or "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" - 15%.

The Deaflympics are games for people with hearing impairments

Social pension increases are received by:

  1. Participants of the Great Patriotic War and military operations.
  2. Underage prisoners of concentration camps.
  3. Owners of the awards "Inhabitant of besieged Leningrad".
  4. WWII invalids since childhood.

All of them receive an increase of 32% in relation to the social pension. Those who served or worked during the Second World War for at least 6 months, as well as those who were unreasonably convicted and rehabilitated, receive an increase of 16%.

How to calculate a military pension

To calculate a military pension, you need to calculate the military allowance. To do this, you need to add salaries by position and rank with other payments. Then the allowance is multiplied by the reduction factor, the length of service and the district coefficient.

What is the reduction factor? This is due to the fact that there is no longer enough money in the budget. From January 1, 2019, they paid 72.23% of the allowance, and from October 1, 2019, they will pay 73.68% - this is the reduction factor.

Law No. 460-FZ of December 11, 2018

After the pension is granted, the coefficient is increased by 2% annually until it reaches 100%. The state reserved the right to increase it by more than 2% if the inflation rate is high.

For WWII veterans, the reduction coefficient has been canceled since May 2019 - when calculating the pension for them, 100% of the monetary allowance is taken into account.

Monetary allowance consists of several parts:

  1. Salary according to the position. This is what a sergeant, ensign or officer receives depending on the position held - deputy platoon commander, foreman, etc.
  2. Salary according to military rank. The amount that is added to the salary for the position, depending on the rank of the soldier - private, sergeant, etc.
  3. Other payments: for long service, for working with classified data, for special conditions of service, for achievements in the service, for performing life-threatening tasks, bonuses for qualifications, knowledge of foreign languages ​​and the level of physical fitness.

st. 2 of the Federal Law on the monetary allowance of military personnel

Salaries by position

Salaries by rank

District coefficients. In some districts, coefficients for monetary allowance have been established. They are used if a pensioner lives in climatic, ecological and natural conditions that require additional costs - for example, in the Far North.

Amounts of district coefficients

A pension based on the district coefficient is received by military pensioners who:

  1. now live in such districts;
  2. served in the Far North for at least 15 years or in territories equivalent to them for at least 20 years, and then moved. In this case, the pension is calculated with the preservation of the northern coefficients.

st. 48 of the law on pensions for persons who have completed military service

The maximum value of the coefficient is 1.5. For example, in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, the coefficient is 2, but due to restrictions, it will be reduced to 1.5.

The length of service is calculated as follows: 50% is given for the first 20 years of service, and then 3% is added for each subsequent year. For example, after 21 years of service, the length of service will be 53%, after 22 years - 56%, etc.

As a result, the following formula is obtained:

(Position salary + Military rank salary + Other payments) × Reducing factor × Length of service × Regional coefficient = Military pension

An example of calculating pension for a lieutenant colonel in the position of battalion commander with a length of service of 22 years. By military rank, a lieutenant colonel is entitled to a salary of 12,480 R. He has the position of a battalion commander - for a position of 18th category, a salary of 24960 R. For 22 years of service, the lieutenant colonel will receive an allowance of 30% of the amount of salaries by position and rank:

(24 960 + 12 480) × 30% = 11 232 R

This is what pension our lieutenant colonel will receive from October 1, 2019 - with a decreasing coefficient of 73.68%:

(24,960 R + 12,480 R + 11,232 R) × 73.68% × 56% × 1 = 20,082 R

How to apply for a military pension

To receive a pension according to the length of service, , you need to submit documents to the pension authority of the law enforcement agency in which the military served: the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Penitentiary Service or the FSB. Documents can be submitted in person or sent by mail. You will need:

  1. Pension application.
  2. Money certificate - a document on all types of allowances that a military man received during his service. It is needed to confirm that the military was provided with uniforms, equipment, etc. If they were not, monetary compensation is due. The document is kept by personnel workers or in the accounting department of the military formation where the military man served.
  3. A copy of the passport with a mark of registration at the place of residence.
  4. Extract from the dismissal order.
  5. A copy of the service record from the personal file.
  6. Calculation of length of service for retirement - length of service is calculated in the pension authority on the basis of a personal file.

The application for the appointment of a pension

Order of the Ministry of Defense dated 05/23/1999 No. 225

Sample of the calculation of length of service

for a disability pension to this list will be added:

  1. Copies of the military-medical commission from a personal file.
  2. Extract from the certificate of examination of the Commission of Medical and Social Expertise.

For the survivor's pension , the following will be added to the list:

  1. Copies of certificates from the registry office about the birth of children, marriage, death.
  2. Certificate of the educational institution on the education of children.

Together with the application, documents are submitted to increase payments and allowances - for example, documents confirming the special conditions of military service.

To assign a second pension , an application is submitted to the territorial pension fund. Here's what to bring there:

  1. Pension application.
  2. Passport.
  3. Certificate from the pension authority through the law enforcement agency. It confirms that the person receives a military pension.
  4. SNILS.
  5. Employment book.

Documents for a second pension

Sample application for granting a pension

How to receive a military pension

Pension departments in state structures are responsible for calculating and paying military pensions - for example, the pension department in the military registration and enlistment office at the place of registration. The payment of a pension does not depend on other income.

Art. 56 of the law on pension provision for persons who have completed military service - the procedure and terms for paying a military pension

A military pension is received for the current month to an account with Sberbank or at a convenient branch of the Russian Post in person or by proxy. Payment terms are determined by agreement between the pension authority, the bank and the post office.

Withholding from pension

Military pension is withheld on the basis of court decisions. No more than 50% of the pension can be withheld.

Art. 62 of the law on pensions for persons who have completed military service

Most often, alimony is withheld. They are kept from regular payments: from military and insurance pensions, from salaries and from business income. For one child - a quarter of the income, for two - a third, for three or more - half. At the same time, some payments are not taken into account when collecting alimony - for example, payments in connection with a military injury.

Federal Law "On Enforcement Proceedings"

How military pension will change in 2022

The state annually indexes the cost of one point - in 2022, a point costs 107.36 R. In 2022, pensions for working pensioners will not be indexed. An indexed pension will be accrued to a pensioner only after dismissal.

From March 1, 2022, military pensions were indexed by 8.6% and recalculated from January 1, 2022.

Law No. 460-FZ dated December 11, 2018

And from October 1, 2022, the reduction coefficient will increase to 77. 41% of the monetary allowance.

Government Decree No. 1466 of December 1, 2018

Military pensions are paid to the card of the Mir national payment system.

Remember

  1. You cannot receive a pension for seniority and disability at the same time, but you can choose the one that is more profitable for you.
  2. A military pensioner who continued to work as a civilian is entitled to an insurance pension - it is assigned in addition to the military one.
  3. Military pensioners are not paid a fixed payment to the insurance pension that ordinary civilian pensioners receive.
  4. There are different types of allowances: to monetary allowance and to retirement and disability pensions.
  5. Military pensions are increased for services to the country.
  6. Military service pensions for disabled people are increased.
  7. There is no reduction factor for WWII participants. They take into account 100% of the monetary allowance when calculating the military pension.

Mobilized military pensioners receive monetary allowance instead of pension - Moscow |

News 19October 2022 12:15

Moscow. 19 October. Interfax - Military pensioners called up as part of partial mobilization to participate in the SVO receive monetary allowances, the payment of pensions for the duration of service is suspended, but volunteers retain the right to pensions during this period, according to the telegram channel of the Explain.rf portal.

"If a military pensioner has the required military specialty, is fit for service for health reasons and has not reached the maximum possible age for military service, he will be mobilized in the military rank in which he is in the reserve. In this case, payment of military the pension is not paid, since he receives the monetary allowance of a serviceman under the contract," the message published on Wednesday said in response to the question "Will a pension be paid to a military pensioner if he is called up for mobilization or enlisted in a volunteer detachment?"

"If a military pensioner does not meet the requirements described above, he can join a volunteer detachment, but in this case his military rank may not be taken into account, and the payment of a pension will not stop," the message says.