https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN45300-ALARACT_1002025-000-WEB-1.pdf
URGENT ALARACT 100/2025
DTG: R 071630Z NOV 25
FM: ALARACT RELEASE AUTHORITY WASHINGTON DC
TO: ALARACT
UNCLAS
SUBJECT: URGENT ALARACT 100/2025 – ARMY CONTINUATION PAY (CP)
WITHIN THE BLENDED RETIREMENT SYSTEM (BRS) – CALENDAR YEAR 2026
(CY26) IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE
THIS URGENT ALARACT MESSAGE HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED BY JSP ON
BEHALF OF HQDA, G–1//DAPE–PR//
NARR//THIS ALARACT REPLACES ALARACT 029/2025, WHICH IS NOW INACTIVE//
1. (U) REFERENCES:
1.A. (U) TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE, SECTION 992 (10 USC § 992)
1.B. (U) 37 USC §§ 356 AND 373
1.C. (U) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION (DODI) 1322.31 (COMMON
MILITARY TRAINING)
1.D. (U) DODI 1322.34 (FINANCIAL READINESS OF SERVICE MEMBERS)
1.E. (U) DOD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION, VOLUMES 5 AND 7A,
CHAPTER 2
1.F. (U) ARMY REGULATION (AR) 600-8-7 (RETIREMENT SERVICES PROGRAM)
1.G. (U) AR 637–1 (ARMY COMPENSATION AND ENTITLEMENTS POLICY)
1.H. (U) DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, MEMORANDUM (IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE BLENDED RETIREMENT SYSTEM), 27 JANUARY 2017
1.I. (U) OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE ARMY FOR
MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS, MEMORANDUM (ARMY CONTINUATION
PAY WITHIN THE BLENDED RETIREMENT SYSTEM), 31 DECEMBER 2024
1.J. (U) OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE ARMY FOR
MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS, MEMORANDUM (ARMY CONTINUATON
WITHIN THE BLENDED RETIREMENT SYSTEM), 16 JULY 2025
2. (U) PURPOSE: TO IMPLEMENT CY26 ELIGIBILITY, AMOUNT, AND ADDITIONAL
SERVICE OBLIGATION FOR CP, AND ANNOUNCE A FINANCIAL LITERACY
TRAINING REQUIREMENT AS ESTABLISHED IN REFERENCE 1.J.
3. (U) APPLICABILITY: THIS GUIDANCE IS EFFECTIVE 1 JANUARY 2026, AND
EXPIRES ON 31 DECEMBER 2026. IT APPLIES TO REGULAR ARMY (RA), ACTIVE
GUARD RESERVE (AGR), ARMY NATIONAL GUARD (ARNG), AND UNITED
STATES ARMY RESERVE (USAR) SOLDIERS WHO ARE COVERED UNDER BRS.
4. (U) ELIGIBILITY:
4.A. (U) RA AND AGR. ANY MEMBER WHO MEETS THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA IS
ELIGIBLE TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT TO SERVE THE OBLIGATION PERIOD
SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH 5 BELOW:
4.A.1. (U) IS COVERED UNDER THE BRS; AND–
4.A.2. (U) FOR CY26, THE SOLDIER HAS COMPLETED NO LESS THAN SEVEN
AND NOT MORE THAN 12 YEARS OF SERVICE, AS COMPUTED FROM THE
SOLDIER’S PAY ENTRY BASE DATE (PEBD).
4.A.3. (U) FOR CY27, THE SOLDIER HAS COMPLETED NO LESS THAN SEVEN
AND NOT MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF SERVICE, AS COMPUTED FROM THE
SOLDIER’S PEBD.
4.A.4. (U) FOR CY28 AND BEYOND, FURTHER ANALYSIS WILL BE CONDUCTED
ON ALL THREE COMPONENTS TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE ELIGIBILITY
WINDOW AND MULTIPLIER.
4.B. (U) USAR AND ARNG, NOT IN AN AGR STATUS, MUST MEET THE
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA LISTED IN PARAGRAPH 4.A. AND BE A MEMBER OF THE
SELECTED RESERVE (SELRES) OR OTHERWISE A MEMBER OF THE READY
RESERVE IN A STATUS IN WHICH THE MEMBER IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE BASIC
PAY.
4.C. (U) INTER-SERVICE TRANSFERS JOINING ONE OF THE ARMY’S BRS
ELIGIBLE GROUPS MUST COMPLETE THE TRANSFER PRIOR TO COMPLETING
NO MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF SERVICE BASED UPON THE PEBD. ARMY
LEADERS WILL ENSURE THESE SOLDIERS WERE NOT PAID CP BY ANOTHER
SERVICE OR COMPONENT BEFORE EXECUTING A CP PAYMENT.
5. (U) SERVICE OBLIGATION: SOLDIERS MUST AGREE TO SERVE FOUR YEARS
OF SERVICE IN THE COMPONENT IN WHICH THEY ARE SERVING AT THE TIME
CP IS REQUESTED. THE SERVICE OBLIGATION COMMENCES ON THE DATE OF
THE SOLDIER’S SIGNATURE ON THE CP ELECTION FORM. SOLDIERS WHO DO
NOT MEET THE MINIMUM FOUR YEAR REQUIREMENT MUST TAKE RETENTION
ACTIONS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CP. IF THEY CANNOT TAKE THAT RETENTION
ACTION, THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR CP. CP WILL BE UTILIZED IN
CONJUNCTION WITH SELECTIVE RETENTION BONUSES TO ENCOURAGE LONG
TERM RETENTION OF MID-TERM AND CAREERIST SOLDIERS.
6. (U) CP AMOUNT:
6.A. (U) THE CP AMOUNT FOR RA AND AGR SOLDIERS IS 2.5 TIMES THE
ACTIVE-DUTY MONTHLY BASIC PAY. IT WILL BE COMPUTED USING THE
ELIGIBLE SOLDIER’S CURRENT PAY GRADE AND YEARS OF SERVICE AS
LISTED ON THE MONTHLY BASIC PAY TABLE PROVIDED BY THE DEFENSE
FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING SERVICE (DFAS) IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF THE
SOLDIER’S SIGNATURE ON THE CP ELECTION FORM.
6.B. (U) THE CP AMOUNT FOR USAR AND ARNG SOLDIERS (EXCEPT THOSE
SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH 6.C) IS 0.5 TIMES THE ACTIVE-DUTY MONTHLY
BASIC PAY. IT WILL BE COMPUTED USING THE ELIGIBLE SOLDIER’S CURRENT
PAY GRADE AND YEARS OF SERVICE AS LISTED ON THE MONTHLY BASIC PAY
TABLE PROVIDED BY DFAS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF THE SOLDIER’S
SIGNATURE ON THE CP ELECTION FORM.
6.C. (U) THE CP AMOUNT WILL BE 2.5 TIMES THE ACTIVE-DUTY MONTHLY
BASIC PAY FOR USAR AND ARNG SOLDIERS WHO ARE WITHIN THE
OPPORTUNITY WINDOW AND HAVE PERFORMED 270 OR MORE DAYS OF
INVOLUNTARY MOBILIZATION DURING A 730 DAY PERIOD, EXCLUDING 12301
(H) STATUS. THIS CALCULATION IS BASED ON THE ELIGIBLE SOLDIER’S
CURRENT PAY GRADE AND YEARS OF SERVICE, AS OUTLINED IN THE
MONTHLY BASIC PAY TABLE PROVIDED BY DFAS, WHICH IS EFFECTIVE ON THE
DATE OF THE SOLDIER’S SIGNATURE ON THE CP ELECTION FORM.
7. (U) PAYMENT OPTIONS:
7.A. (U) SOLDIERS MAY ELECT TO RECEIVE CP IN A SINGLE LUMP SUM OR IN A
SERIES OF EQUAL INSTALLMENTS, NOT TO EXCEED FOUR ANNUAL PAYMENTS
OVER FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
7.B. (U) SOLDIERS WHO WANT TO HAVE THEIR CP PAYMENT(S) DIRECTED TO
THEIR THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN (TSP), MUST UPDATE THEIR ALLOTMENT
ALLOCATIONS IN MYPAY AND THEIR TSP SETTINGS TO ENSURE THE CP
FUNDS ARE DISTRIBUTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR PERSONAL FINANCIAL
PLAN PRIOR TO SUBMITTING THE CP REQUEST.
8. (U) SCREENING AND COUNSELING:
8.A. (U) UNIT COMMANDERS, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM CAREER COUNSELORS
AND INSTALLATION HUMAN RESOURCE (HR) PROFESSIONALS, WILL SCREEN
SOLDIERS DURING PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION IN-AND-OUT
PROCESSING FOR CP.
8.B. (U) UNIT COMMANDERS, CAREER COUNSELORS, INSTALLATION HR
PROFESSIONALS, AND S–1 PERSONNEL WILL SCREEN SOLDIERS ANNUALLY
DURING THE PERSONNEL READINESS REVIEW.
8.C. (U) CAREER COUNSELORS WILL MAINTAIN DOCUMENTATION ON
SOLDIERS WHO WERE SCREENED AND THE RESULTS OF THE SCREENINGS.
8.D. (U) IF AN INITIAL OR ANNUAL SCREENING DETERMINES THAT A SOLDIER IS
ELIGIBLE FOR CP, COMPANY COMMANDERS WILL COUNSEL THE SOLDIER, IN
WRITING, WITH ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT FROM CAREER COUNSELORS, ON
THE ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION, THE CP TRAINING REQUIREMENT, AND BRS
CP REQUEST INSTRUCTIONS.
9. (U) CP TRAINING:
9.A. (U) CP TRAINING WILL BE PROVIDED WHEN THE SOLDIER BECOMES
ELIGIBLE FOR CP.
9.B. (U) TRAINING MUST BE TAKEN AS DISTRIBUTED LEARNING THROUGH THE
ARMY FAMILY WEB PORTALS ONLINE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
(HTTPS://OLMS.ARMYFAMILYWEBPORTAL.COM/), FACE-TO-FACE WITH AN
APPROVED CREDENTIALED FINANCIAL COUNSELOR, AND/OR GROUP
TRAINING WITH AN APPROVED FINANCIAL EDUCATOR.
9.C. (U) TRAINING COMPLETION MUST BE RECORDED IN THE DIGITAL
TRAINING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (DTMS) BY THE DTMS MANAGER WITH THE
FOLLOWING TASK IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: G09–COM–0007, “PREPARE
FINANCES FOR CONTINUATION PAY UNDER THE BLENDED RETIREMENT
SYSTEM.”
10. (U) APPLICATION PROCESS:
10.A. (U) ALL SOLDIERS MAY SUBMIT THEIR CP REQUEST WHEN ELIGIBLE AS
ESTABLISHED BY THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA LISTED IN PARAGRAPH 4;
HOWEVER, SOLDIERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR CP AS SOON AS
THEY ENTER THEIR PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY.
10.B. (U) BASED ON THE POLICY, THERE WILL BE FUTURE YEAR CHANGES TO
THE END YEAR OF ELIGIBILTY FOR YEARS OF SERVICE. IT IS CRUCIAL FOR
SOLDIERS TO BE AWARE OF THE CHANGE AND TAKE ACTION TO AVOID
FORFEITING THE ENTITLEMENT.
10.C. (U) THE BRS REQUEST (REQUEST FOR CONTINUATION PAY (BLENDED
RETIREMENT SYSTEM)) OR ITS SYSTEM–GENERATED EQUIVALENT WILL BE
USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF COLLECTING AND MAINTAINING INFORMATION
SUBMITTED BY SOLDIERS AND COMMANDERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF
APPLYING FOR AND CERTIFYING CP.
10.D. (U) THE BRS CP REQUEST PACKET WILL INCLUDE THE REQUEST FOR CP
AND PROOF OF BRS ENROLLMENT STATUS.
10.E. (U) COMMANDERS IN THE GRADE OF O–5 AND ABOVE ARE DELEGATED
THE AUTHORITY TO CERTIFY AND APPROVE BRS CP REQUESTS. THIS
AUTHORITY MAY NOT BE FURTHER DELEGATED. COMMANDERS WILL CERTIFY
BRS CP REQUESTS WITHIN 30 DAYS OF RECEIVING AN APPLICATION.
10.F. (U) IF THE APPLICATION IS CERTIFIED, CAREER COUNSELORS WILL
SEND THE BRS CP REQUEST APPLICATION ALONG WITH ALL SUBSTANTIATING
DOCUMENTATION TO THE UNIT HR PROFESSIONALS FOR PROCESSING TO
THE SUPPORTING ARMY MILITARY PAY OFFICE.
10.G. (U) THE UNIT HR PROFESSIONALS WILL SCAN AND UPLOAD ALL
CERTIFIED APPLICATIONS AND SUBSTANTIATING DOCUMENTS TO THE
INTEGRATED PERSONNEL ELECTRONIC RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
11. (U) ANNUAL REPORTING:
11.A. (U) NO LATER THAN 30 DAYS AFTER THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR,
EACH COMPONENT WILL PROVIDE A COST-BENEFIT AND ANALYSIS ON THEIR
CP PROGRAM. THE ANALYSIS WILL FOCUS ON HOW CP AFFECTS SHORT AND
LONG TERM RETENTION. AT A MINIMUM, THE REPORT WILL INCLUDE A LIST
OF SOLDIERS BY THEIR DOD IDS WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
11.A.1. (U) SOLDIERS ELIGIBLE FOR CP.
11.A.2. (U) SOLDIERS WHO APPLIED FOR CP.
11.A.3. (U) SOLDIERS WHO RECEIVED CP.
11.A.4. (U) TOTAL DOLLARS OBLIGATED PER PERSON WHO RECEIVED CP.
11.A.5. (U) YEARS OF SERVICE (BASED ON PEBD) FOR SOLDIERS WHO
RECEIVED CP.
11.A.6. (U) GRADE OF SOLDIERS WHO RECEIVED CP.
11.A.7. (U) SOLDIERS PART OF THE LEGACY SYSTEM.
11.A.8. (U) ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
11.B. (U) THE REPORT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY
CHIEF OF STAFF (DCS), G-1 (PLANS AND RESOURCES DIRECTORATE) TO
USARMY.PENTAGON.HQDA-DCS-G-1.MBX.DAPE-PRC-SPECIAL-PAY@ARMY.MIL.
12. (U) EACH COMPONENT WILL PUBLISH CP INFORMATION AND
PROCEDURES FOR THE PAYMENT NO LATER THAN 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE
OF THIS ALARACT.
13. (U) THE PROPONENT FOR THIS GUIDANCE IS THE DEPUTY ASSISTANT
SECRETARY OF THE ARMY (MILITARY PERSONNEL AND QUALITY OF LIFE)
DASA (MPQ).
14. (U) COMMANDERS WILL INFORM SOLDIERS OF THEIR ELIGIBILITY STATUS,
THE BRS CP REQUEST PROCESS, AND AVAILABLE RESOURCES SUPPORTING
THEIR ELECTION DECISION. COMMANDERS WILL USE THE ARMY VANTAGE
SYSTEM TO MONITOR SOLDIERS FINANCIAL READINESS FOR CP ELIGIBILITY.
15. (U) POINTS OF CONTACT:
15.A. (U) THE DCS, G–1, COMPENSATION AND ENTITLEMENTS DIVISION.
SUBMIT INQUIRIES REGARDING THIS MESSAGE ONLY TO:
USARMY.PENTAGON.HQDA-DCS-G-1.MBX.DAPE-PRC-SPECIAL-PAY@ARMY.MIL.
15.B. (U) THE DCS, G–1, RETENTION BRANCH: USARMY.PENTAGON.HQDA-DCS-
G-1.MBX.ARMY-RETENTION@ARMY.MIL.
15.C. (U) HUMAN RESOURCES COMMAND (HRC) OFFICER PERSONNEL
MANAGEMENT DIRECTORATE: USARMY.KNOX.HRC.MBX.OPMD-OPD-PCS-
POLICY@ARMY.MIL.
15.D. (U) HRC ENLISTED PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT DIRECTORATE:
USARMY.KNOX.HRC.MBX.EPMD-PSA-BRANCH@MAIL.MIL.
15.E. (U) HRC ENLISTED PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT DIRECTORATE–AGR:
USARMY.KNOX.HRC.MBX.EPMD-PAB-AGR@ARMY.MIL.
15.F. (U) USAR SOLDIERS SUBMIT INQUIRES TO THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF
ARMY RESERVE: USARMY.USARC.OCAR.MBX.G1-POLICY@ARMY.MIL.
15.G. (U) ARNG SOLDIERS SUBMIT INQUIRIES TO THE NATIONAL GUARD
BUREAU: NG.NCR.NGB-ARNG.MBX.ARNG-COMP-ENTITLEMENT@ARMY.MIL.
15.H. (U) FINANCIAL EDUCATION ONLY: USARMY.PENTAGON.HQDA-DCS-G-
9.MBX.FINANCIAL-LITERACY@ARMY.MIL.
16. (U) THIS MESSAGE SUPERSEDES ALL PREVIOUSLY ISSUED GUIDANCE NOT
IN ACCORDANCE WITH REFERENCE 1.J.
17. (U) THIS ALARACT MESSAGE EXPIRES 6 NOVEMBER 2026.