Controversy Over EX Colonel Samsideen Sarr’s Rank Status Laid To Rest: Retirement Explained.

By Ebou Conteh

I am not an expert in military affairs but I have served a day or two in uniform. I feel I will do your readers a disservice by opting to keep quiet about former Gambian soldiers calling them-selves retired or Gambians in the US military who hype up their ranks in the US military. I have access to US military data bases and I will start calling out people, when I do I will present readers irrefutable prove. Call this “keeping them honest” if I can borrow this phrase from Anderson Cooper of CNN.

Service members who remain on active duty or serve in the Reserves or Guard for a sufficient period of time depending on the country may retire and receive retired pay. Service Members who become disabled while on duty may be medically retired and receive a disability retirement. Retirees also retain the privilege to use base facilities, such as the Commissary and gym. In the US, Retired Service members receive retirement pay for he rest of their lives. Retired Soldiers are issued a military identification card that shows prove of their retirement status. Retirees can wear a military uniform and any medal, campaign ribbon or decoration they were authorized to wear while on active duty or in reserve status. Like our cultures back home, the military has customs and traditions that cannot be ignored.

In the US military twenty years on active duty or equivalent time spent in what is known as “qualifying service” as a reservist is the basic eligibility requirement for military retirement. Service members who reach 20 years of active or qualifying reserve service can receive retired pay that increases each year through a cost-of-living adjustment.

Retirees never completely sever their responsibilities to the military. Technically, they still are subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and most can be recalled to active duty after they retire. Retirement is a status that does not come by easily because of the privileges that comes with the status. Just because a soldier attains a rank while on active duty does not mean that you keep that title for the rest of your life, a soldier has to retire in order to keep that title.

There are numerous examples of Four Star Generals who lose a rank and retire at a lower rank. For example if General Doe is a four star General and commits an act that is unbecoming an Officer and loses a rank he becomes a three start General (LT General) If General Doe decides to retire he cannot call himself a General because he is a Lt. General at the time of retirement.

If General Doe gets separated from the military due to his actions or decides to leave the military on his own rather that face the embarrassment of a rank reduction he cannot call him self General Doe Retired. He become a Mr. DOE, he becomes a veteran due to his military service but not a retiree. Calling your self RETIRED without fulfilling the retirement criteria is just like calling your self a doctor without holding a PHD or a Medical Degree. This is called a false title just like a self appointed doctor without the credentials.

My point is this; Retirement is Special in the military tradition, a special ceremony is held in honor of the retiree, the title retired does not come easily; one has to earn it through hard work discipline and all the sacrifice that come with military service. There is a reason why the Mandinkas say Sogarry Yah Batta Warra Ta, Ta to Nato Left Right.

I am waiting for someone to show me literature that states or proves that Gambian Soldiers can retire at any length of service. I do not hold any grudges against any one but I will be dammed if I see the truth and refuse to speak out. Bring it if you want to but you better come correct.