ALARACT 339/2013

DTG: 231410Z DEC 13

UNCLASSIFIED/

THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED BY USAITA ON BEHALF OF//DAPE-MPE//

SUBJECT: ENLISTED INVOLUNTARY EARLY SEPARATION PROGRAM

1. REFERENCES.

A. SECTION 1169, TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE (10 USC 1169).

B. SECTION 1171, TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE (10 USC 1171).

C. TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE, CHAPTER 30.

D. TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE, CHAPTER 33.

E. DOD INSTRUCTION (DODI) 1332.14, ENLISTED ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATIONS, 28 AUG 08,

INCORPORATING CHANGE 3, 30 SEP 11.

F. DOD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION (FMR), VOLUME 7A, CHAPTER 2, MAR 11.

G. UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (PERSONNEL AND READINESS) POLICY, REPAYMENT OF UNEARNED

PORTIONS OF BONUSES, SPECIAL PAY AND EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS AND STIPENDS, 21 MAY 08.

H. UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, DIRECTIVE-TYPE MEMORANDUM 12-007, 21 NOV 12, SUBJECT:

IMPLEMENTATION OF MANDATORY TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PARTICIPATION FOR ELIGIBLE

SERVICE MEMBERS.

I. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE ARMY FOR MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS (ASA (M&RA))

MEMORANDUM, SAMR, SUBJECT: ENLISTED INVOLUNTARY EARLY SEPARATION PROGRAM

MEMORANDUM, 9 MAY 12.

J. ASA (M&RA) MEMORANDUM, SAMR, SUBJECT: ENLISTED INVOLUNTARY EARLY SEPARATION

PROGRAM MEMORANDUM, 03 DEC 13

K. ARMY REGULATION 40-501, STANDARDS OF MEDICAL FITNESS, 14 DEC 07, RAR, 4 AUG 11.

L. ARMY REGULATION 601-210, ACTIVE AND RESERVE COMPONENTS ENLISTMENT PROGRAM, 8 FEB 11,

RAR 12 MAR 13.

M. ARMY REGULATION 601-280, ARMY RETENTION PROGRAM, 31 JAN 06, RAR 15 SEP 11.

N. ARMY REGULATION 635-5-1, SEPARATION PROGRAM DESIGNATOR CODES, 10 DEC 07, RAR 4 AUG 11.

O. ARMY REGULATION (AR) 635-200, ACTIVE DUTY ENLISTED ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATIONS, 6 JUN 05,

RAPID ACTION REVISION (RAR), 6 SEP 11.

P. HQDA EXORD 054-12, IN SUPPORT OF ARMY TRANSFORMATION, 29 DEC 11.

Q. ALARACT 142/2012, 24 MAY 12, DAPE-MPE, SUBJECT: ENLISTED INVOLUNTARY EARLY SEPARATION

PROGRAM.

2. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE.

A. AS PART OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT (NDAA) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012, CONGRESS

AMENDED 10 USC SECTION 1171 AUTHORIZING AN EARLY DISCHARGE UP TO 12 MONTHS (FORMERLY

THREE MONTHS) UNDER REGULATIONS PRESCRIBED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY WITHOUT

IMPACT TO ANY RIGHT, PRIVILEGE, OR BENEFIT THAT A MEMBER WOULD HAVE HAD IF HE OR SHE HAD

COMPLETED HIS OR HER ENLISTMENT OR EXTENDED ENLISTMENT, EXCEPT THAT THE MEMBER IS NOT

ENTITLED TO PAY AND ALLOWANCES FOR THE PERIOD NOT SERVED.

B. ON 24 MAY 2012, THE ARMY G1 RELEASED ALARACT MESSAGE 142/2012 ANNOUNCING CHANGES TO

THE ARMY ENLISTED INVOLUNTARY EARLY SEPARATION PROGRAM, APPROVED BY THE ASSISTANT

SECRETARY OF THE ARMY FOR MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS (ASA M&RA) FOR IMPLEMENATION

ON 1 JUNE 2012.

C. THE PURPOSE OF THIS ALARACT MESSAGE IS TO ANNOUNCE EXPANSION OF THE ARMY'S ENLISTED

INVOLUNTARY EARLY SEPARATION PROGRAM, APPROVED BY THE ASA (M&RA) ON 03 DECEMBER 2013.

THIS MESSAGE SUPERSEDES REFERENCES I AND P.

3. POLICY. EFFECTIVE 1 JANUARY 2014, THE REVISED ENLISTED INVOLUNTARY EARLY SEPARATION

PROGRAM AUTHORIZES A PERIOD OF INVOLUNTARY EARLY SEPARATION UP TO 12 MONTHS PRIOR TO

CONTRACTUAL ETS FOR REGULAR ARMY ENLISTED SOLDIERS ASSIGNED TO AN ACTIVE ARMY UNIT

DEPLOYING IN SUPPORT OF A NAMED CONTINGENCY OPERATION OR AN ACTIVE ARMY UNIT

SCHEDULED FOR INACTIVATION.

A. ACTIVE ARMY UNITS DEPLOYING IN SUPPORT OF A NAMED CONTINGENCY OPERATION WITH A

LATEST ARRIVAL DATE (LAD). REGULAR ARMY ENLISTED SOLDIERS ASSIGNED TO THESE UNITS ARE

CONSIDERED TO HAVE AN IMPOSED SERVICE REMAINING REQUIREMENT (SRR) FOR THE DURATION OF

THE DEPLOYMENT PLUS 90 DAYS FOR POST DEPLOYMENT STABILIZATION. REGULAR ARMY ENLISTED

SOLDIERS WHO HAVE AN ETS 180 DAYS PRIOR TO LAD THROUGH THE FIRST 179 DAYS OF THE

SCHEDULED DEPLOYMENT (LAD-180 THROUGH LAD+179) WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE SRR BY THEIR

COMMAND. ONCE NOTIFIED, THESE SOLDIERS WILL HAVE 45 DAYS TO MEET THE SRR. SOLDIERS WHO

ELECT NOT TO REENLIST OR EXTEND TO MEET THE SRR WITHIN 45 DAYS MAY BE SUBJECT TO

INVOLUNTARY EARLY SEPARATION. THE PERIOD OF EARLY SEPARATION MAY BE UP TO 12 MONTHS

PRIOR TO CONTRACTUAL ETS, PROVIDED THE SOLDIER HAS AT LEAST 36 MONTHS, BUT NOT MORE

THAN 71 MONTHS, OF TOTAL SERVICE AT THE TIME OF SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY. NOT ALL

SOLDIERS WILL SEPARATE 12 MONTHS EARLY, BUT THE PERIOD OF TIME REQUIRED TO SEPARATE WILL

BE AS CLOSE TO LAD-180 AS POSSIBLE. SOLDIERS WITH MORE THAN SIX MONTHS (180 DAYS OR MORE)

TO CONTRACTUAL ETS AT LAD WILL DEPLOY WITH THE UNIT.

(1) SOLDIERS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SEPARATION UNDER THIS PROGRAM ARE THOSE WHO WILL HAVE LESS

THAN 36, OR MORE THAN 71, MONTHS OF TOTAL SERVICE AT THE TIME OF SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE

DUTY; DO NOT MEET MEDICAL FITNESS STANDARDS FOR RETENTION, AS DETERMINED BY THE MEDICAL

TREATMENT FACILITY (MTF) COMMANDER OR ATTENDING MEDICAL OFFICER; ARE BEING PROCESSED

FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATION UNDER ANY OTHER PROVISION OF AR 635-200; ARE PENDING TRIAL

BY COURT-MARTIAL; ARE BEING INVESTIGATED FOR ALLEGEDLY COMMITTING AN OFFENSE UNDER THE

UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE; OR HAVE AN APPROVED RETIREMENT CODE IN THE TOTAL ARMY

PERSONNEL DATABASE (TAPDB).

(2) UPON SUBMISSION OF A DEPLOYMENT UNIT IDENTIFICATION CODE (UIC) TO HIGHER

HEADQUARTERS, COMMANDERS EXERCISING SPECIAL COURT-MARTIAL CONVENING AUTHORITY WILL

NOTIFY SOLDIERS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY THIS POLICY DUE TO ETS DATES THAT FALL WITHIN THE

WINDOW DETAILED IN PARAGRAPH 3A ABOVE. COMMANDERS WILL MAKE THIS NOTIFICATION AT

LEAST 365 DAYS PRIOR TO LAD (LAD-365), OR IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING NOTIFICATION OF

DEPLOYMENT IF OCCURING LESS THAN LAD-365.

(3) SEPARATION PAY IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR SOLDIERS ASSIGNED TO UNITS SCHEDULED FOR

DEPLOYMENT WHO ARE INVOLUNTARILY SEPARATED UNDER THIS PROGRAM IAW 10 USC, SECTION

1174. SOLDIERS WITH MORE THAN 71 MONTHS OF TOTAL SERVICE AT THE TIME OF SEPARATION FROM

ACTIVE DUTY ARE INELIGIBLE FOR SEPARATION UNDER THIS PROGRAM.

(4) COMMANDERS WITH SPCMCA MAY DISAPPROVE SEPARATIONS UNDER THIS PROGRAM FOR

COMPASSIONATE REASONS OR OPERATIONAL NECESSITY. THIS AUTHORITY CANNOT BE FURTHER

DELEGATED. IN SUCH CASES, THE SOLDIER WILL BE SEPARATED ON HIS OR HER CONTRACTUAL ETS

DATE.

B. ACTIVE ARMY UNITS SCHEDULED FOR INACTIVATION AND SELECTED BY HQDA FOR INCLUSION IN THIS

PROGRAM. 180 DAYS PRIOR TO INACTIVATION OF A UNIT, ARMY HUMAN RESOURCES COMMAND

(AHRC), IN COORDINATION WITH THE SELECTED UNIT AND INSTALLATION, WILL IDENTIFY REGULAR

ARMY ENLISTED SOLDIERS AFFECTED BY THIS POLICY IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPHS B.(1) AND

B.(2) BELOW. THESE SOLDIERS ARE SUBJECT TO AN IMPOSED SRR FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING THEM

ELIGIBLE FOR PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS). THESE SOLDIERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE SRR

THROUGH APPROPRIATE CHANNELS BY COMMANDERS WITH SPCMCA. ONCE NOTIFIED, THESE

SOLDIERS WILL HAVE 45 DAYS TO REENLIST OR EXTEND TO MEET THE SRR. SOLDIERS WHO ELECT NOT

TO REENLIST OR EXTEND TO MEET THE SRR WITHIN 45 DAYS AFTER NOTIFICATION WILL BE SUBJECT TO

INVOLUNTARY EARLY SEPARATION, UNLESS SELECTED FOR LOCAL REASSIGNMENT BY INSTALLATION

ASSIGNMENT AUTHORITIES IN COORDINATION WITH AHRC. AHRC WILL ADJUST ETS DATES TO DATE OF

INACTIVATION PLUS ONE DAY FOR THOSE SOLDIERS NOTIFIED WHO ELECT NOT TO REENLIST OR EXTEND

TO MEET THE SRR. COMMANDERS WITH SPCMCA MAY FURTHER ADJUST THESE ETS DATES, AS

REQUIRED, TO A LATER DATE WITHIN THE 90 DAY WINDOW FOLLOWING INACTIVATION.

(1) INVOLUNTARY EARLY SEPARATION APPLIES TO REGULAR ARMY ENLISTED SOLDIERS WHO MEET ALL

OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:

(A) ASSIGNED TO AN ACTIVE ARMY UNIT SCHEDULED FOR INACTIVATION AND THE UNIT IS SELECTED BY

HQDA FOR INCLUSION IN THIS PROGRAM. AHRC WILL NOTIFY UNITS WHO ARE SELECTED FOR

INCLUSION IN THIS PROGRAM.

(B) HAVE A CONTRACTUAL ETS BETWEEN THE DATE OF INACTIVATION PLUS 365 DAYS AND ELECT NOT

TO REENLIST OR EXTEND.

(C) WILL HAVE AT LEAST 36 MONTHS, BUT LESS THAN 15 YEARS OF TOTAL SERVICE AT THE TIME OF

SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY.

(2) SOLDIERS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SEPARATION UNDER THIS PROGRAM ARE THOSE WHO WILL HAVE LESS

THAN 36 MONTHS, OR MORE THAN 15 YEARS OF TOTAL SERVICE AT THE TIME OF SEPARATION FROM

ACTIVE DUTY; DO NOT MEET MEDICAL FITNESS STANDARDS FOR RETENTION, AS DETERMINED BY THE

MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITY (MTF) COMMANDER OR ATTENDING MEDICAL OFFICER; ARE BEING

PROCESSED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATION UNDER ANY OTHER PROVISION OF AR 635-200; ARE

PENDING TRIAL BY COURT-MARTIAL; ARE BEING INVESTIGATED FOR ALLEGEDLY COMMITTING AN

OFFENSE UNDER THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE; OR HAVE AN APPROVED RETIREMENT

CODE IN THE TOTAL ARMY PERSONNEL DATABASE (TAPDB).

(3) SEPARATION PAY MAY BE AUTHORIZED FOR SOLDIERS ASSIGNED TO UNITS SCHEDULED FOR

INACTIVATION WHO ARE INVOLUNTARILY SEPARATED UNDER THIS PROGRAM. TO RECEIVE SEPARATION

PAY, SOLDIERS MUST MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF 10 USC, SECTION 1174, INCLUDING THE

REQUIREMENTS TO BE SERVING ON A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT ENLISTMENT AND TO HAVE

COMPLETED 6 OR MORE YEARS OF SERVICE AT THE TIME OF SEPARATION.

C. IF NOTIFICATION AT SPECIFIED TIMEFRAMES IN PARAGRAPHS 3.A. AND 3.B. ABOVE IS NOT POSSIBLE,

SOLDIERS WILL BE NOTIFIED AS THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY. IN SITUATIONS WHERE A UNIT IS NOTIFIED

OF DEPLOYMENT OR INACTIVATION BEYOND THESE TIMEFRAMES, AHRC WILL IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFY

AFFECTED SOLDIERS WITHIN TAPDB AND UNIT COMMANDERS WITH SPCMCA WILL NOTIFY AFFECTED

SOLDIERS OF EARLY SEPARATION THROUGH APPROPRIATE CHANNELS. ONCE NOTIFIED, SOLDIERS WILL

BE GUARANTEED A MINIMUM OF 45 DAYS TO MAKE A DECISION TO REENLIST OR EXTEND.

D. REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES, COMMANDERS MUST AFFORD SOLDIERS A MINIMUM OF 90 DAYS

FROM DATE OF NOTIFICATION TO THE ADJUSTED ETS DATE TO OUT-PROCESS AND COMPLETE

TRANSITION TASKS. IF 90 DAYS IS NOT POSSIBLE, SOLDIERS WILL SEPARATE ON THEIR CONTRACTUAL

ETS DATE.

E. INVOLUNTARY EARLY SEPARATION UNDER THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT AFFECT ANY RIGHT, PRIVILEGE,

OR BENEFIT THAT A SOLDIER WOULD HAVE HAD IF HE OR SHE COMPLETED HIS OR HER ENLISTMENT OR

EXTENDED ENLISTMENT, EXCEPT THAT HE OR SHE IS NOT ENTITLED TO PAY AND ALLOWANCES FOR THE

PERIOD NOT SERVED. A SOLDIER INVOLUNTARILY SEPARATED UNDER THIS PROGRAM WILL NOT BE

REQUIRED TO REPAY THE UNEARNED PORTION OF ANY SPECIAL PAY OR BONUS THAT IS OTHERWISE

RECOUPABLE UNDER 37 USC, SECTION 307; HOWEVER, THE SOLDIER WILL NOT BE PAID ANY

REMAINING UNPAID PORTION OF THE SPECIAL PAY OR BONUS.

4. IMPLEMENTING GUIDANCE. THE COMMANDING GENERAL, AHRC, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR

ESTABLISHMENT OF ALL PROCEDURES AND PROCESSES IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROGRAM, TO INCLUDE

PUBLICATION OF PROCEDURAL GUIDANCE VIA SUPPORTING MILPER MESSAGES.

A. SOLDIERS SUBJECT TO INVOLUNTARY EARLY SEPARATION UNDER THIS PROGRAM MUST COMPLETE

PRE-SEPARATION COUNSELING NO LATER THAN 90 DAYS PRIOR TO SEPARATION. SOLDIERS MUST ALSO

UNDERGO A SEPARATION HEALTH ASSESSMENT (SHA) PRIOR TO SEPARATION.

B. TRANSITION LEAVE IS AUTHORIZED FOR SOLDIERS SUBJECT TO INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION UNDER

THIS PROGRAM.

C. TO ALIGN THIS PROGRAM WITH TRANSITION SERVICE REQUIREMENTS, SOLDIERS SHOULD BE

ENCOURAGED AND AFFORDED THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF TIME TO SEEK TRANSITION ASSISTANCE

THROUGH THE ARMY CAREER AND ALUMNI PROGRAM. REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES,

COMMANDERS MUST AFFORD SOLDIERS A MINIMUM OF 90 DAYS FOR TRANSITION ACTIVITIES TO

ENSURE SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE PREPARED FOR THE TRANSITION FROM ACTIVE SERVICE.

COMMANDERS MUST ENSURE SOLDIERS BEGIN THE TRANSITION PREPARATION AS SOON AFTER

NOTIFICATION AS POSSIBLE.

D. SEPARATIONS UNDER THIS PROGRAM WILL BE ADMINISTERED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF AR 635-

200, CHAPTER 16-7 AND ARE CONSIDERED TO BE DISCHARGES UNDER 10 USC, SECTION 1171.

ACCORDINGLY, COMMANDERS EXERCISING SPCMCA ARE AUTHORIZED TO APPROVE SEPARATIONS

UNDER THIS PROGRAM. THE SERVICE OF SOLDIERS SEPARATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS

PROGRAM WILL BE CHARACTERIZED AS HONORABLE; AND, FOR THE PURPOSES OF POST-SERVICE

BENEFITS, EARLY SEPARATION UNDER THIS PROGRAM IS CONSIDERED TO BE FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF

THE GOVERNMENT. SOLDIERS SEPARATED UNDER THIS PROGRAM WILL BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE

FULLFILLED THEIR TERM OF ENLISTMENT. PROVISIONS OF AR 635-200, CHAPTER 1, SECTION VII, WILL

GOVERN WHETHER SOLDIERS WILL BE RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY WITH TRANSFER TO THE

INDIVIDUAL READY RESERVE, OR DISCHARGED.

E. REASON FOR SEPARATION TO BE ENTERED ON THE DD FORM 214 IS "INSUFFICIENT RETAINABILITY,"

AND SEPARATION PROGRAM DESIGNATOR CODES TO BE ASSIGNED ARE LBM FOR SERVICE INITIATED

RELEASE OR TRANSFER TO ANOTHER COMPONENT AND JBM FOR SERVICE INITIATED DISCHARGE (AR

635-5-1). REENTRY ELIGIBILITY CODE IS RE-1 (AR 601-210).

5. EXCEPTIONS.

A. ACTIVE ARMY UNITS DEPLOYING IN SUPPORT OF A NAMED CONTINGENCY OPERATION WITH A LAD.

(1) COMMANDERS WITH SPCMCA MAY DISAPPROVE SEPARATIONS UNDER THIS PROGRAM FOR

COMPASSIONATE REASONS OR OPERATIONAL NECESSITY. THIS AUTHORITY CANNOT BE FURTHER

DELEGATED. IN SUCH CASES, THE SOLDIER WILL BE SEPARATED ON HIS OR HER CONTRACTUAL ETS

DATE.

(2) IN THE EVENT THAT A UNIT SCHEDULED TO DEPLOY IN SUPPORT OF A NAMED CONTINGENCY

OPERATION RECEIVES A CHANGE OF MISSION THAT (1) DELETES THE DEPLOYMENT ORDER OR (2)

ALTERS THE LAD, THE FOLLOWING GUIDANCE IS PROVIDED FOR SOLDIERS SUBJECT TO SEPARATION

UNDER THIS PROGRAM:

(A) SOLDIERS WHO HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF AN ADJUSTED ETS DATE AND ARE 90 DAYS OR LESS FROM

THEIR ADJUSTED DATE OF SEPARATION WILL CONTINUE TO OUT-PROCESS AND SEPARATE ON THEIR

ADJUSTED ETS DATE.

(B) IF THE UNIT LAD IS CANCELLED, THE AFFECTED SOLDIERS MAY REQUEST TO SEPARATE AT THE

CONTRACTUAL ETS OR ADJUSTED ETS DATE.

(C) IF THE UNIT LAD SHIFTS RIGHT (DEPLOYING LATER), A SOLDIER WHOSE ETS DATE HAS ALREADY BEEN

ADJUSTED WILL SEPARATE ON THE ADJUSTED ETS DATE. BASED UPON THE NEW LAD, A SOLDIER

SUBJECT TO EARLY SEPARATION UNDER THIS POLICY (WHO WAS NOT IN THE ELIGIBLE POPULATION

WITH ORIGINAL LAD) WILL BE NOTIFIED AND HAVE HIS OR HER CONTRACTUAL ETS DATE ADJUSTED

ONLY IF THE SOLDIER CAN BE AFFORDED A MINIMUM OF 90 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF NOTIFICATION

TO THE ADJUSTED ETS DATE. IF THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE, THE SOLDIER WILL SEPARATE ON HIS OR HER

CONTRACTUAL ETS DATE.

(D) IF THE UNIT LAD SHIFTS LEFT (DEPLOYING EARLIER), A SOLDIER WHOSE ETS DATE HAS ALREADY

BEEN ADJUSTED WILL SEPARATE ON THE ADJUSTED ETS DATE.

(E) BASED ON UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND SOLDIER INPUT, THE SEPARATION AUTHORITY MAY ELECT TO

ALLOW THE SOLDIER TO SEPARATE ON THE ADJUSTED ETS DATE OR REVERT TO THE SOLDIER'S

CONTRACTUAL ETS DATE WHEN REQUIRED.

B. ACTIVE ARMY UNITS SCHEDULED FOR INACTIVATION AND SELECTED BY HQDA FOR INCLUSION IN THIS

PROGRAM. SENIOR MISSION COMMANDERS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ADJUST AFFECTED SOLDIERS

BACK TO THEIR CONTRACTUAL ETS FOR COMPASSIONATE REASONS OR UNFORESEEN PERSONNEL

VACANCIES/REQUIREMENTS ON THE INSTALLATION.

6. HQDA POC IS CHIEF, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BRANCH, (DAPE-MPE-PD), ODCS, G-1 (DSN 225-

7991, COMMERCIAL 703-695-7991).

7. EXPIRATION DATE OF THIS MESSAGE CANNOT BE DETERMINED.