Early outs of up to six months again are have been authorized for certain Regular Army enlisted soldiers.
Under policies now in effect, senior commanders can approve soldiers voluntarily leaving the voluntary early if they departure of soldiers who have documented job offers in the civilian sector, and those soldiers who are barred from re-enlisting because they are in overstrength military occupational specialties.
These policies reflect similar drawdown-related rules that were in effect in 2014. The current policies are projected to remain in effect through calendar 2015.
Early outs can be approved by commanders with special courts-martial convening authority, or higher. These officers typically are colonels and generals who command garrisons, forts, camps, stations, brigades and regiments.
In assessing applicants for possible separation, approval authorities must determine that a soldier is not mission-essential to his or her unit.
Soldiers can request early separation through their chain of command using a DA Form 4187 (Personnel Action). For assistance, soldiers should contact their local career counselor.
The two eligibility categories are:
Employment-related separations: Soldiers of the Regular Army who are approaching their ETS, or expiration term of service, and who elect not to re-enlist or extend their service on active duty may request early separation 180 days in advance of the ETS for the purpose of accepting employment.
Applicants for early release must provide a written statement from their prospective employer indicating the job offered, whether it is full-time or part-time, the amount of the compensation, and whether that compensation will be salaried or hourly.
The statement also must indicate the start date of the employment, and how early separation from service will facilitate acceptance of the job offer, and how a delay would cause hardship.
The employment must be full time, and support the soldier's income requirements as indicated in the 12-month post-separation budget completed as part of the Transition Assistance Program.
Separation dates normally will be no earlier than 10 days before the employment start date. Approval authorities can extend the separation to 30 days if soldiers require additional time to relocate for employment.
Bars to re-enlistment: The second eligibility category applies to soldiers who are denied re-enlistment under a special program designed to precisely manage the enlisted component of the drawdown by rank and specialty. Soldiers who are barred from re-enlisting can request early separation up to 90 days before their contractual ETS.
MOS and skill levels to be affected by the Precision Retention Program will be announced by the Human Resources Command in an upcoming message to field units.
"Final determinations will be made by HRC based on Army requirements, eligibility for re-enlistment and eligibility for reclassification into a shortage or balanced skill," according to a notice issued by the command Jan. 22.
Soldiers who are denied re-enlistment will be notified six months before their ETS, and will be assigned retention code "9F," indicating they are barred from re-enlisting by the secretary of the Army because of "force-shaping requirements."
Soldiers who are approved for separation under this program will not be required to repay the Army for any unearned portion of a bonus or special pay. Their character of service will be considered "honorable," and the reason for separation entered on their DD Form 214 (separation document) will be "reduction in force."
The following soldiers are not eligible for early separation under this voluntary program:
• Members of the National Guard and Army Reserve.
• Soldiers who were ordered to active duty because they failed to meet the requirements of an educational agreement with the Army.
• Soldiers who will have less than 36 months of total service at the time of separation.
• Soldiers who have an approved retirement code in the Total Army Personnel Database.
