ARMY AR 135-178

Applicability. This regulation applies to ArmyNational Guard/Army National Guard of the United States and U.S.Army Reserve Soldiers not serving on active duty.

Purpose

a. This regulation sets policies, standards, and procedures toensure the readiness and competency of the U.S. Army whileproviding for the orderly administrative separation of ArmyNational Guard of the United States (ARNGUS) and U.S. Army Reserve(USAR) enlisted Soldiers for a variety of reasons. Readiness ispromoted by maintaining high standards of conduct and performance.The separation policies in this regulation promote the readiness ofthe Army by providing an orderly means to—

(1) Judge the suitability of persons to serve in the Army on thebasis of their conduct and their ability to meet required standardsof duty performance and discipline.

(2) Maintain standards of performance and conduct throughcharacterization of service in a system that emphasizes theimportance of honorable service.

(3) Achieve authorized force levels and grade distribution.

(4) Provide for the orderly administrative separation ofenlisted Soldiers in a variety of circumstances.

b. Department of the Army separation policy is designed tostrengthen the concept that military service is a calling differentfrom any civilian occupation.

(1) The acquisition of military status involves a commitment tothe United States, the Army, fellow citizens, and Soldiers tosuccessfully complete a period of obligated service. Earlyseparation for failure to meet required standards of performance orconduct represents a failure to fulfill that commitment.

(2) Millions of Americans from diverse backgrounds and with awide variety of aptitudes and attitudes upon entering militaryservice have served successfully in the reserve components of theArmy. It is the policy of the Department of the Army to provideSoldiers with the training, motivation, and professional leadershipthat inspires the dedicated Soldier to emulate their predecessorsand peers in meeting required standards of performance andconduct.

(3) The Army makes a substantial investment in training, time,equipment, and related expenses when persons enter into militaryservice. Separation prior to completion of an obligated period ofservice is wasteful because it results in loss of this investmentand generates a requirement for increased accessions. Consequently,attrition is an issue of significant concern at all levels ofresponsibility within the reserve components of the Army.Reasonable efforts should be made to identify Soldiers who arelikely to be separated early, and to improve their chances forretention through counseling, retraining, and rehabilitation priorto initiation of separation proceedings. Soldiers who do notconform to required standards of conduct and performance andSoldiers who do not demonstrate potential for further militaryservice should be separated to avoid the high costs of continuedservice in terms of pay, administrative efforts, degradation ofmorale, and substandard mission performance.

c. This regulation provides—

(1) The authority for separation of Soldiers upon expiration oftheir military service obligation (MSO).

(2) The authority and general provisions governing theseparation of Soldiers before the expiration of their serviceobligation to meet the needs of the reserve components of the Armyand its Soldiers.

(3) The criteria for characterizing or describing militaryservice as being honorable, general (under honorable conditions),or under other than honorable conditions, and when the service isnot characterized.

Edition:

14

Published:

03/18/2014

Number of Pages:

111

File Size:

1 file , 1.1 MB