Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 1332.20
June 24, 2014
USD(P&R)
SUBJECT: Minimum Service in Grade for Non-Disability (Voluntary) Retirement in the
Grades of W-3 through W-5 and E-7 through E-9
References: See Enclosure
1. PURPOSE. This instruction:
a. Reissues DoD Instruction (DoDI) 1332.20 (Reference (a)) in accordance with the
authority in DoD Directive 5124.02 (Reference (b)).
b. Establishes policy and assigns responsibilities for determining the minimum period of
service in grade for non-disability (voluntary) military retirement.
2. APPLICABILITY. This instruction applies to:
a. OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the
Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other
organizational entities in the DoD (referred to collectively in this instruction as the “DoD
Components”).
b. Warrant officers in grades W-3 through W-5 and enlisted members in pay grades E-7
through E-9 on the active duty lists of the Military Services.
3. POLICY. It is DoD policy that:
a. The approval of requests for non-disability (voluntary) retirement from Service members
serving in grades E-7, E-8, E-9, W-3, W-4, and W-5 will require a minimum of 2 years of active
duty service in their current grade unless such members are entitled by law to a higher retired
grade upon retirement. Approval of transfers to the Fleet Reserve or the Fleet Marine Corps
Reserve in pay grades E-7 through E-9 also requires a minimum of 2 years of active duty in such
grade.
