View source for Guidelines for Enlistment, Re-enlistment, Discharge, and Retirement

{{header}}
[[Category:Regulations]]
{{DocRelInfo
|articlenumber  = 7CAV-R-019
|scope = Guidelines for Enlistment, Re-enlistment, Discharge, and Retirement
|version = Version 2.0
|effectivedate  = 16FEB19
|lastmodifieddate = 20FEB24
|approvingauthority  = Regimental Commanding Officer
|pointofcontact  = Regimental Chief of Staff
}}


'''''THIS DOCUMENT MAY NOT BE EDITED WITHOUT GENERAL STAFF APPROVAL'''''


=Introduction=
==Purpose==
This document prescribes the guidelines and processes for enlistment, re-enlistment, discharges, and retirements of members from the 7th Cavalry Regiment (7CAV). It provides principles of support, standards of service, policies, tasks, rules, steps, and classifications governing all work required in the field to support the process of joining or leaving our community.

==Responsibilities==
# The Regimental Command Staff (Regimental Commanding Officer and Executive Officer) will serve as the senior officials on matters concerning enlistment, re-enlistment, discharges, and retirements; and will provide supervision of said policy formulation, procedures, goals, systems, and standards.
# The Regimental Chief of Staff (COS) or their designate will be responsible for the execution and implementation of this regulation within the Regiment. Furthermore, the COS will supervise the functions prescribed in this regulation and serve as the final authority for all combat units and departments for enlistment, re-enlistment, discharge, and retirement classifications.

=Enlistments and Re-Enlistments=
The Regimental Command Staff will provide a centralized process for the enlistment or re-enlistment of all members of the 7th Cavalry Gaming Regiment.

This regulations will define:
# The procedures involved with the enlistment of a new Trooper, and re-enlistment of Troopers into the Regiment.
# The requirements and standards for enlistments, and re-enlistments.

==Standards of Service==
The Standards of Service are as follows:
# Only the following billets are authorized to approve new Enlistments:
## The primary approval authority will be the Regimental Recruiting Oversight Officer (ROO) and the Aide to the ROO.
### Regimental Recruiting Department (RRD) HQ by delegation
### Recruit Training Command (RTC) HQ by delegation as needed
## General Staff
# Only the following billets are authorized to approve Re-Enlistments:
## Regimental Recruiting Oversight Officer (ROO) and the Aide to the ROO.
### Regimental Recruiting Department (RRD) HQ by delegation
## General Staff
# In the instance where an enlistment or re-enlistment is in dispute and final determination will be made by the Regimental Recruiting Oversight Officer, Regimental Chief of Staff, or their designate.

==The Enlistment Process==
The enlistment process begins once a trooper has completed the enlistment application.  The approval authority responds to the enlistment application per established procedure, ensuring the enlistee meets the following minimum requirements:

===Minimum Requirements===

{{Template: Minimum Requirements}}

===Probationary Period===
All new enlistments will be under a 60 day probationary period from the date of their enlistment. Under this probationary period, new members can be removed from the unit if judged not a good fit for the Regiment by General Staff, regardless if the new member has graduated boot camp and been assigned a combat line unit already or not.  Discharges for this type of separation will be processed as Entry-Level Separations or other discharge status and must be approved by a member of General Staff.

==The Re-Enlistment Process==
Re-enlistment occurs when a currently discharged or retired member requests to return to active status in the Regiment. The process begins when the re-enlistee completes and submits the re-enlistment application.

Once the re-enlistment application is received the approving authority must review MILPACS to ensure the re-enlistee meets the following criteria:
# Anyone having received a Less than Honorable - Eligible for Re-enlistment, General, Honorable Discharge, or Retirement classification is eligible to re-enlist.
# Troopers must have no more than 2 discharges within a 3-year period. If a Trooper has received 3 discharges within the same 2-year period, they will not be eligible for re-enlistment.
# Any trooper receiving an AWOL or Less than Honorable - Eligible for Re-enlistment discharge must be interviewed by the approval authority to ensure that the re-enlistee is aware of the requirements and is able to meet them.
# Troopers who have received a Less than Honorable - Eligible for Re-enlistment discharge must wait six (6) months before they can re-enlist.
# Any Trooper that has received a Less than Honorable Discharge - Not Eligible for Re-enlistment will not be eligible for re-enlistment. After a period of six (6) months has elapsed, they are able to appeal their discharge classification.

===Appeals===
If a trooper is ineligible for re-enlistment they must attempt to have their last discharge classification changed to one that would allow for re-enlistment per the process found below. Dishonorable Discharges cannot be appealed.

===Primary Billets===
Troopers who re-enlist will not be eligible for any primary leadership positions/billets for a period of 90 days following re-enlistment.

===Secondary Billets===
Troopers who re-enlist will not be eligible for a secondary or support department billet for a period of 30 days following re-enlistment.

===Re-attending Bootcamp===
Troopers who re-enlist who have not attended bootcamp for the version of the game they are re-enlisting for are reinstated at the rank appropriate per the [[Rank Promotion and Reduction Guidelines#Section IV: Demotion Due to Discharge|Rank Promotion and Reduction Guidelines]] and must attend the appropriate bootcamp at that rank.

===NFA Pending Prior To Discharge===
Troopers who discharge with an active No Favorable Action (NFA) period are to complete the duration of the NFA from time of re-enlistment. For example, if a Trooper receives a 30 Day NFA and discharges 3 days later, they are to serve the remainder of the NFA upon re-enlistment. The NFA does not, in and of itself, null re-enlistment.

===MILPAC Records===
MILPAC record if not already present due to prior website migration, will be created after a 30 day break-in period from the date the re-enlistment was processed.

=Discharges and Retirements=
The Regimental Command Staff will provide a centralized process for the discharge or retirement of all members of the 7th Cavalry Gaming Regiment.

This regulation will define:
# The procedures involved with the discharge of a Trooper from the Regiment.
# The definitions and different level of discharge.
# The standards for Retirement.

==Standards of Service==
The Standards of Service are as follows:
# Company Commanders (or their designate) are responsible for initiating the discharge process and removal from the Regiment.
# The S1 Department is responsible for the final processing and documentation of all discharges and retirements, as well as determining time in service (TIS) and time in grade (TIG).
# The Regimental Chief of Staff (COS) or their designate will be responsible for the final categorization of discharges and retirements.

==The Discharge Process==
===Commencing the Discharge===
The discharge process begins once a Trooper has completed a Personnel Action Form (PAF) for discharge. If a Trooper is requesting Retirement, they must state as such on the PAF. PAF's that do not note a request for retirement will be processed as a discharge with no special privileges.  For retirement and Honorable Discharges that are eligible to discharge at their previous highest active rank per [[Rank Promotion and Reduction Guidelines]], they must also request it on the PAF. 

Once a member has submitted their PAF for discharge they are clear to join any other organization without having to worry about repercussions from the 7th Cavalry Gaming Regiment. As long as a PAF has been submitted within 7 days of joining another unit, they will avoid any conflict with [https://wiki.7cav.us/wiki/General_Orders General Order 8 Unit Dedication].

===Processing a Discharge===
Once the PAF is filed, the Company Commander (or their designate) will be responsible for the classification and initial processing of the discharge/retirement.
# If the Trooper is requesting retirement, the PAF will be referred to the COS or their designate for review and approval.
# If there is a question about the classification of a discharge, the PAF will be referred to the COS or their designate for classification.

'''Any discharge cannot be finalized and posted until 24 hours have elapsed from the initial PAF submission. This is a mandatory time requirement without exception. Once finalized, cancellations are not allowed and the Trooper has to re-enlist.'''

===Post Discharge Activities===
After the discharge or retirement has been classified, the S1 Department will document the discharge/retirement in MILPACS appropriately.

==Command Authority Responsibilities==
===Classification of Discharge===
The Company Commander (or their 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.

===Chief of Staff Role===
The Regimental Chief of Staff or their designate will make the final determination when the classification of a discharge or retirement is in dispute.

=Discharge Classifications=
==Entry-Level Separation==
Entry-level separations are for enlistees who do not complete the boot camp process or deemed unsuitable for the unit as new members. Troopers re-enlisting after an Entry-Level Separation are brought back at the rank of Recruit and must re-complete the boot camp process.

Additionally, a Trooper can be discharged under Entry-Level Separation by the authority of S2 regardless if they have completed the boot camp process or not.

Additionally, a Trooper can be discharged under Entry-Level Separation or other discharge status by the authority of General Staff if the Trooper is within their [https://wiki.7cav.us/wiki/Guidelines_for_Enlistment,_Re-enlistment,_Discharge,_and_Retirement#Probationary_Period 60 day probationary period after enlistment], including [https://wiki.7cav.us/wiki/Guidelines_for_Enlistment,_Re-enlistment,_Discharge,_and_Retirement#Conditions_for_Ineligibility_for_Reenlistment Ineligibility for Reenlistment].

==AWOL Discharge==
Absent Without Leave (AWOL) discharges apply to people who are AWOL and Troopers who re-enlist are reduced two ranks/grades upon re-enlistment.

==Honorable Discharge==
In order for a Trooper to qualify for an Honorable Discharge they must meet the following criteria:
# Minimum rank of Private (E-2) at time of discharge.
# No pending or active negative counseling actions or NFA (no favorable actions) at the time of discharge. A negative action is any measure resultant of a Letter of Reprimand, Commander's Hearing, Court Martial, or UCMJ Action.

==Less than Honorable Discharge==
The following conditions apply:
# Any Trooper that discharges while a Letter of Reprimand, Commander's Hearing, or Court Martial is either pending or active while they are in a period of NFA due to a counseling action/UCMJ will receive this discharge.
# Members who receive this discharge classification are not eligible to return for at least six (6) months from the date of their discharge.

===Conditions for Ineligibility for Reenlistment===
The following conditions apply:
# Any Trooper that is discharged by the General Staff as a result of disciplinary action or who has been deemed unsuitable for the unit.
# Members can appeal this discharge classification after a period of six (6) months have passed from the date of their discharge, and if successful, will have their classification upgraded to Less than Honorable, Eligible for Re-enlistment.

==Dishonorable Discharge==
Dishonorable Discharge is used to discharge members who the General Staff feel for whatever reason do not and will not ever belong in the community. Thus, once dishonorably discharged, there is no appeal.

==Retirement==
Retirement is a privilege extended to members that have served the Regiment for an extended period of time. In order to qualify for Retirement the following criteria must be met:
* 2 years of consecutive time in service, or 3 years of total time in service.
* Every 3 months served in a secondary billet is credited as 1 month time in service specifically and only towards retirement time required.
* No current NFA.
* No Article 15/32 punishments within the last year.
* All rules and regulations must continue to be observed. Joining another FPS organization will result in Retirement status being downgraded to Honorable Discharge.
* Retired members have the same access to Discord and Teamspeak as full members.
* Retired members may attend any official Cav events, such as section practices, FTX's, and operations, but do not get any operation medals or credit.

===Downgrading of Retirement Status===
Downgraded Retirements and resumption of retirement status conditions:
* If a Retired Member joins another FPS Organization, their discharge status will changed to Honorable Discharge.
* A Retired member may request to have their retirement status downgraded if they so choose, but must do so in writing submitted to the Regimental Chief of Staff or their designate.
* Resumption of Retired status can be requested by contacting the Chief of Staff or their designate directly.

==Retirement with Honors==
Retirement with Honors is reserved for members with significant, distinguished achievements during their service in the Regiment who have been placed on the Wall of Honor. Members who retire are considered by the General Staff for placement on the Wall of Honor, so Retirement must be achieved first. If selected, their discharge classification will be upgraded to Retired with Honors. All criteria pertaining to regular retirement applies equally to Retirement with Honors. Retirement with Honors can only be obtained with a unanimous vote of the General Staff. When a successful vote has passed, a member of General Staff will make a post in the respective area of the forums, and retroactively upgrade the members MILPAC profile. No action is needed on behalf of S1 during this process.

=Appealing a Discharge Classification=
Discharge classifications can be appealed.

==Conditions of Appeal==
The classification of any discharge may be appealed under the following conditions:
# The trooper must appeal the discharge classification in writing, either by email or the private messaging system within the forums.
# The written appeal must be received within 30 days of the discharge.
# 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 Trooper's behalf.

==Review Authority==
All appeals will be reviewed by the entirety of the General Staff, with a final decision being given by the Regimental Commanding Officer.

=Exceptions=
The General Staff reserves the right to make exceptions to this policy when deemed in the best interest of the 7th Cavalry Gaming Regiment.