By regulation, National Guard pilots were required to take and pass an annual physical in order to remain in flight status, in the three months prior to a pilot's birthday (in Bush's case, July 6). For reasons that are unclear, Bush apparently chose not to take this mandatory physical examination in mid-1972, thus ending his pilot's career. He never flew again after April 15, 1972. As a result of his failure to take his physical, his flight status was suspended by his "cmdr" (commander) on 1 August 1972, confirmed by then-Col Bobby Hodges on 5 September 1972 and confirmed again by a National Guard Bureau order on September 29, 1972,[14] which meant he no longer was authorized to fly as a pilot. The confirmation order also confirmed the suspension of flight status of Major James R. Bath, a long-time friend of Bush. Following the investigation, the local commander was required to either convene a Flying Evaluation Board to review Bush’s suspension or to forward a detailed report on his case up the chain of command. Either way, there should have been a record of the investigation. There also should be a signed acknowledgment by George Bush of his suspension order but there is none. There is no record of a physical being taken in either 1972 or in 1973, the last two years in which Bush attended drills, and was paid as pilot. Although, according to his released military records, Bush never flew again as a National Guard pilot after April 1972, and was suspended from flying on August 1, 1972, he continued to get paid as a pilot, [18] with flight pay for 52 more days, over 18 months, until his discharge. see source.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush_military_service_controversy