Regular v Reserve Officers, Retired

George Anthes, the host of City Life, on local access TV, is a retired Air Force Reserve Lieutenant Colonel.  Having reached a certain age, he receives retired pay from the Department of Defense and is covered, medically, by TRICARE.

Cliff Krieger, a sometimes co-host on City Life, is a retired Air Force (Regular) Colonel.  Upon retirement (after almost 30 years of service) he began receiving retired pay from the Department of Defense and is covered, medically, by TRICARE.

So, is there any difference?  In fact, there is and it all goes back to a retired Navy Rear Admiral, Selden G Hooper.  Admiral Hooper retired in 1950, but a few years later was tried for activities after 1950 that were deemed to be conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman.

Of course the Admiral appealed.  It went all the way to the US Supreme Court.  Basically, the finding was that since the Admiral was a Regular officer (and not a reservist who eventually got enough years and points to draw retired pay) he was always subject to court martial, even in retirement.

The Wikipedia article is here.

Here is the line of the UCMJ that tripped up the Admiral.

Retired members of a regular component of the armed forces who are entitled to pay.

Here is the ruling of the Federal Court.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the difference between a retired Reserve (or National Guard) officer and a retired Regular officer.

Regards  —  Cliff