Rhode Island General Laws Title 30. Military Affairs and Defense § 30-4-6. Retirement of members

(a) Any enlisted member of an independent chartered military organization who shall have served as an enlisted member for a period of fifteen (15) years may, upon his or her own application to the governor, be placed upon the retired list of enlisted persons and withdrawn from active service.

(b) When an enlisted person of the militia attains the maximum age provided by the charter of the organization in which he or she enlisted or by rules or regulations made thereunder, that person shall be retired from active service or discharged.

(c) Any commissioned officer who shall have served as a commissioned officer in the militia of the state for ten (10) years, or who shall have served as an enlisted person and officer for thirteen (13) years, may, upon his own application to the commander-in-chief, be placed upon the retired list of officers and withdrawn from active service with the highest rank attained; provided, however, that any officer who shall have served in the armed forces of the United States or the Rhode Island state guard in time of war and has also served as a commissioned officer in the militia of this state for ten (10) years shall be retired with the rank next higher than the highest rank held by that officer, provided, that no officer shall be retired with a rank higher than the rank of colonel. These officers shall be carried on the retired list of the militia and, during any emergency, may be placed on duty by the commander-in-chief.