21.5050—Application requirements for participation.
(a)
An individual, who is otherwise eligible to become a participant, must apply to the Service Department under which he or she serves upon forms prescribed by the Service Department and/or Secretary of Defense.
(c)
Each application must be submitted in time to permit the Service Department to make the required deduction from the individual's military pay for at least 1 month before the applicant's discharge or release from active duty.