Guidelines for the processing of Discharges and Retirements

This is the Document Release Information
Article Number:	7CAV-R-005
Scope:	Guidelines for the processing of Discharges and Retirements
Version:	Version 1.2
Effective Date:	19JAN2017
Last Modified Date:	DDMMMYYYY
Approving Authority:	GOA.Chance, John T
Point of Contact:	GEN.Kleinman, Harm

THIS DOCUMENT MAY NOT BE EDITED WITHOUT GENERAL STAFF APPROVAL

Section 1: Overview

Purpose

This regulation prescribes the guidelines and processes for discharging troopers from the 7th Cavalry Regiment(7CAV). It provides principles support, standards of service, policies, tasks, rules, steps and classifications governing all work required in the field to support the process of discharging a trooper from the Regiment

Responsibilities

The Regimental Command Staff (Regimental Commander and Executive Officer) will serve as the senior official on matters concerning discharges and retirements, and will provide supervision of discharge policy formulation, procedures, goals, system and standards.

The Regimental Chief of Staff (COS) will be responsible for the implementation of this regulation within the Regiment. Furthermore, COS will supervise discharge and retirement functions prescribed in this regulation and serve as the final promotion authority for all combat units and departments.

Section 2: Principles and Standards

2-1 Principles of Support

The 7CAV Command Staff will provide a centralized process for discharge or retirement of all members of the 7th Cavalry Regiment.

This regulations will define:

1. The procedures involved with the discharge of a trooper from the Regiment.
2. The definitions and different level of discharge.
3. The standards for Retirement

2-2 Standards of Service

The Standards of Service are as follows:

1. Company Commanders (or their designate) are responsible for initiating the discharge process and removal from the Regiment
2. The Personnel Department (S1 Department) is responsible for the final processing and documentation of all discharges and retirements, as well as determining time in service (TIS) /time in grade (TIG)
3. The Chief of Staff will be responsible for the final categorization of discharges and retirements.

Section 3: Policy

3-1 The Discharge Process

3-1.1 The discharge process begins once a trooper has completed a Personnel Action Form (PAF) for discharge. If a trooper is requesting Retirement they should state such on the PAF. PAFs that do not note a request for Retirement will be processed as a discharge with no special privileges.

3-1.2 Once the PAF is filed, the Company Commander (or his designate) will be responsible for the classification and initial processing of the discharge/retirement.

1. If the trooper is requesting retirement the PAF will be referred to the Chief of Staff for approval.
2. There is question in regards to the classification of a discharge, the PAF will be referred to the Chief of Staff for classification.

3-1.3 After the discharge or retirement has been classified, the S1 Department will document the discharge/retirement in MILPACS appropriately

3-2 Commanders Responsibilities

3-2.1 The Company Commander (or his designate) will review the service record of the trooper being discharged to determine the classification of discharge/retirement. Standards for classification are established later in this document.

3-2.2 The Chief of Staff will make the final determination when the classification of a discharge or retirement in dispute.

Section 4 Discharge Classifications

4-1 Honorable Discharge

4-1.1 In order for a trooper to qualify for an Honorable Discharge they must meet the following criteria

1. Minimum rank of Corporal at time of discharge.
2. 1 year (365 Days) of consecutive Time in Service, or 2 years total TIS. Consecutive time in service is defined as time assigned to an active Billet within the Regiment with no periods of Extended Leave of Absense (ELOA). Normal Leave of Absence (LOA) does not count against TIS.
3. No negative actions during the 1 year of consecutive Time in Service. A negative action is any sort of Negative Counseling Statement (NCS), or UCMJ Action.

4-2 General Discharge

4-2.1 In Order for a trooper to qualify for a General Discharge they must meet the following criteria

1. Attain the rank of Private First Class or achieve 1 Month TIS.
2. No pending NCS or UCMJ action.

4-3 General Discharge under Less than Honorable Conditions

4-3.1 This type of discharge is punitive and applies under the following conditions:

1. Any trooper that discharges while an NCS or UCMJ is pending.
2. Any trooper that is discharged to going Absent Without Leave (AWOL).

4-4 Dishonorable Discharge

4-4.1 This type of discharge is punitive and the result of the intentional violation of the General Orders, Code of Conduct, TS3 Rules and Regulations, and the Rules of Engagement (ROE) any supported game.

4-5 Retirement

4-5.1 Retirement is a privilege extended to members that have served the Regiment honorably for an extended period of time. In order to qualify for Retirement the following criteria must be met:

1. 2 years of consecutive time in service, or 3 years of total time in service.
2. No negative actions (NCS or UCMJ) during the last year of service.
3. All rules and regulations must continue to be observed. Joining another FPS organization will result in Retirement status being downgraded to Honorable Discharge

4-5.2 Downgraded Retirements and Resumption of Retirement Status

1. If a Retired Member joins another FPS Organization, their discharge status will changed to Honorable.
2. A Retired Member may request to have their Retirement Status downgraded if they so choose, but must do so in writing submitted to the Chief of Staff.
3. Resumption of Retired status only occurs if the formerly retired member re-enlists and serves the 90 day probationary period first, and then requests retirement status.

Section 5 Disputing a Discharge Classification

5-1 The Classification of any discharge may be appealed under the following conditions:

1. The trooper must appeal the discharge classification in writing, either by email or the private messaging system within the forums.
2. The written appeal must be received within 30 days of the discharge.
3. It will be the responsibility of the appealing party to provide evidence and statements supporting their appeal. The Regiment will not force any of its members to appear on a troopers behalf.

5-2 All appeals will be reviewed by the entirety of the General Staff, with a final decision being given by the General of the Army.

The General Staff reserves the right to make exceptions to this policy when deemed in the best interest of the 7th Cavalry Regiment. Such an exception requires the unanimous decision of the General Staff.