Chapter 5-16: Early Separation to
Further Education
Soldiers may be discharged or released from active duty for the convenience
of the Government, up to 90 days before ETS, in order to attend a specific term
at a college, university, vocational school, or technical school. However,
soldiers serving their initial enlistment of less than 3 years are ineligible
for separation under this chapter. IAW para 5-17, AR 635-200, to qualify for
early separation, eligible soldiers must:
- Not be mission essential to
their assigned organizations, as determined by their immediate commanders.
- Clearly establish that the
specific school term for which they seek early separation is academically
the most opportune time for them to begin or resume their education, and
that delay of school enrollment until normal ETS would cause undue
personal hardship.
- Provide a statement from an
appropriate school official (for example, a registrar or director of
admissions) indicating acceptance for enrollment (without qualification or
in a probationary status) in a full-time resident course of instruction.
The statement must also reflect that the latest acceptable registration
date for the school term falls within the 90-day period preceding the
soldier’s ETS.
- Show that they are able to
pay, or have already paid, any school entry fees.
This chapter action is processed at the unit level (S1).
This chapter is requested by the soldier on a DA Form 4187 which is forwarded
through the chain of command for action by the Brigade Commander.
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1-16 Counseling Required:
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No (1-16a)
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Medical Required:
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No (1-32a)
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Mental Required:
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No (1-32b)
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Approval Authority:
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Bde Cdr (1-19c(1))
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Type of discharge authorized:
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Honorable or General, Under Honorable Conditions (5-1a)
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Documents
Required for Chapter:
- DA
Form 4187 from soldier. The DA Form 4187 will include a recommendation
of approval/disapproval by the Company Commander and forwarded through the
chain of command by endorsement to the approval authority. The
intermediate commander(s) will either disapprove the request or recommend
approval and if recommending approval, will specify which characterization
of discharge is appropriate, either Honorable, or General, Under Honorable
Conditions.
- Statement from soldier
informing chain of command of the reasons why they should approve request
to leave the military 90 days before the scheduled ETS date.
- Affidavit or statement from
school registrar or director of admissions stating that soldier is
enrolled as a full time student. If affidavit shows that soldier is
enrolled on a stand-by basis or enrolled in a probationary status, chapter
cannot be approved and soldier will have to wait for normal ETS before
attending school.
- Financial evidence (i.e.,
enrollment receipts, bank statement) which demonstrate that the soldier
can pay, or already has paid, for any school entry fees.
- Debt
avoidance counseling
- DA Form 2A
- DA Form 2-1 or ERB
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