Currently it is possible to reduce your retirement to age 50. This is based on a 90 day for 90 day reduction from age 60. This rule didn't go into effect until late Jan 08. If you do qualify for a reduced retirement, you will still not receive a medical benifit until you are 60, but at least you get the money. There are bills in both houses of congress to backdate the retirement benefit from Jan 08 to 9-11-01. This would bring tens of thousands of guardsmen and reservists closer to retirement. Write your congressman and senator and ask them to support the reduced reserve retirement bill. Most of these questions can be answered at www.roa.org. They are one of the groups that lobby congress for us. I encourage you to join.

MBB