By DFAS Cleveland      August 2026

As Army Echoes recently made the exciting pivot to become a fully digital publication, it is the perfect time for us at DFAS to talk about the power of digital connection with us, both now and into the future.

In the same spirit of digital access to Army Echoes, DFAS is making our appeal to all Soldiers awaiting pay in the Gray Area: if you haven’t already, take action today and log into your "Future Retiree" myPay account so DFAS and the Army can stay in touch during your time in the Gray Area.

A special kind of myPay account for Gray Area Retirees

If you are a Soldier awaiting pay in the Gray Area, did you know there is a special kind of myPay account available for you? It’s called a “Future Retiree” myPay account, and it was designed to help us keep you up to date with important information.

The key actions every Gray Area Retiree needs to do is log into myPay, access this “Future Retiree” account, and make sure your updated contact information is on file. Once you have an active account with a current email address, DFAS can deliver helpful information and timely reminders directly to your inbox, including links to digital newsletters from both the Army and DFAS.

One of the most exciting uses for this “Future Retiree” myPay account is that it enables us to deliver customer notifications. For example, we will deliver a SmartDoc email notification to Gray Area Retirees during the month of their 59th birthday. Most Soldiers awaiting pay in the Gray Area become eligible to apply to the Army for retired pay at age 60. This SmartDoc email comes to you just as you turn 59, giving you adequate time and information on how to prepare to apply for retirement using the Army's specific procedures.

The “Future Retiree” myPay account and these helpful SmartDoc messages are only available if you have a myPay account and have a current email address on file. Please help us spread the word about this digital capability to your fellow Gray Area Retirees! To assist, we also created a “Gray Area Future Retiree myPay Login Tips” guide to help users leverage this important account and receive SmartDoc email updates. You can find this guide on the main Gray Area Retiree webpage at: https://www.dfas.mil/grayarea.

"Helpful Tips & Tools for Retirees New to Retired Pay" reference guide

As your time in the Gray Area concludes and you prepare to apply for retired pay, a lot of information comes your way—and fast! To help ease your transition, our "Helpful Tips & Tools for Retirees New to Retired Pay" reference guide remains a key resource. This guide is your compass for understanding and managing your retired pay with confidence.

Key highlights of the guide include navigating the transition to a monthly pay cycle, accessing your monthly Retiree Account Statement (RAS), 1099-R tax forms through myPay, and other important information about managing retired pay. You can find this guide at: https://www.dfas.mil/RetiredMilitary/plan/Gray-Area-Retirees/.

Streamlining processes with digital tools

DFAS offers powerful digital tools to make managing your affairs simpler and more secure. Please familiarize yourself with these tools at your own convenience.

• The New DD Form 2656 Smart Wizard: The Smart Wizard "takes the form out of the form" by providing guided assistance. As an Army Gray Area Retiree getting ready to apply for pay, you can use our new DD 2656 Smart Wizard, which is found on our Forms Library, at: https://www.dfas.mil/RetiredMilitary/forms/. Introduced to simplify your retired pay application, this innovative tool walks you through the complex DD Form 2656, ensuring all necessary fields are completed accurately to help prevent processing delays. Remember to submit it directly to the Army and follow all Army-specific processes and requirements! The Smart Wizard tools are provided exclusively for user convenience. Under no circumstances are these tools meant to circumvent established administrative procedures or mandatory counseling requirements.

• AskDFAS Online Upload Tools: Located at: https://www.dfas.mil/dfas/AskDFAS/, our AskDFAS submission tools are the modern alternative to mail and fax. You can upload your completed forms and requests as a PDF directly from your device, ensuring a faster and more reliable submission to DFAS.

Remember: You must actively submit a retirement packet!

Reminders and Resources

If you are an Army Gray Area Retiree getting ready to apply for retired pay, please remember that your application for retired pay must be submitted directly to the Army Human Resources Command Gray Area Retirements (GAR) Branch, and NOT to DFAS.

The Army has its own unique processes and timelines for handling applications. At DFAS, we want every Soldier to receive their retired pay as soon as they are eligible, so familiarizing yourself with the Army’s specific procedures is a critical first step. That’s why we worked together with the Army to create special focus webpages with important information on the application process tailored specifically for you, at: https://www.dfas.mil/armygrayarea. As you prepare for this important life transition, use these digital resources to ensure you can manage your retired pay successfully from day one.