Comments: To view or download the complete regulation, click on the the link to it in the box above these comments.

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5-2. Entry on initial active duty for training

a. The procedures in this paragraph apply when an *enlisted Soldier ordered to enter on IADT refuses or fails to comply with the order.* It is applicable to Soldiers who enlisted for the *standard training option or for the alternate (split-training) option.* This paragraph is not applicable to an officer scheduled to enter on IADT to complete the OBC (see para 5-5a(2)(b)).

Comments: "IADT" is Initial Active Duty Training or Initial Active Duty for Training.

b. *If an extenuating circumstance did not exist and the Soldier refuses to comply with the IADT order, the guidance counselor cancels the training reservation. The appropriate separation authority processes the ARNGUS Soldier for discharge from the ARNGUS and as a USAR. The USAR Soldier is processed for discharge under the entry level performance and conduct provision,* AR 135-178, chapter 14 (typo: should be chapter 8).

Comments: National Guard U.S.; "USAR" is U.S. Army Reserve. A member of the Army National Guard is under the jurisdiction of the member's state as well as the Army; this regulation only refers to discharge from the Army. States may have different regulations that result in different consequences.

(1) The MEPS guidance counselor notifies the commander of the Soldier's ARNGUS or USAR unit of assignment. The commander conducts an investigation to determine the Soldier's whereabouts and the reason for noncompliance with the IADT order.

Comments: "MEPS" is Military Entrance Processing Station.

(2) The unit commander establishes whether extenuating circumstances (for example, sickness, injury, hospitalization, or a death in the Soldier's family) prevented the Soldier from reporting to the MEPS. The commander notifies the guidance counselor of the results of the investigation with the final determination.
(a) If such circumstances existed and the Soldier will report for entry on IADT, the guidance counselor cancels the training reservation. A new date for entry on IADT is coordinated with the unit commander and the individual. The commander notifies the MEPS in writing that an amendment of the IADT order is required.
(b) On the failure of a Soldier to report to the MEPS on the date scheduled for entry on IADT for Phase II of the alternate (split-training) program, the procedures described in b(1) and (2), above, are followed.

Comments: "Phase II" is the second half (Advanced Individual Training or AIT) of the training in the Alternate Option, also known as Split-Training or Split-Option.

(c) If circumstances are determined to have prevented the individual from reporting for Phase II training, and the Soldier will report for entry on IADT for Phase II, the guidance counselor cancels the training reservation. A new date for entry on IADT for Phase II is coordinated by the guidance counselor with the unit commander and the Soldier. Written notification is made to the MEPS by the unit commander that an amendment to the IADT order is required. Delays in reporting for entry on Phase II are governed by the provisions of AR 601-25.
(d) If extenuating circumstances did not exist and the Soldier refuses to report for entry on IADT for Phase II, the guidance counselor cancels the training reservation. The appropriate separation authority processes the Soldier for discharge in an entry level status according to AR 135-178, chapter 5.

"IADT" is Initial Active Duty Training or Initial Active Duty for Training. "ARNGUS" is Army National Guard U.S.; "USAR" is U.S. Army Reserve. 
A member of the Army National Guard is under the jurisdiction of the member's state as well as the Army; this regulation only refers to discharge from the Army. States may have different regulations that result in different consequences. "MEPS" is Military Entrance Processing Station. "Phase II" is the second half (Advanced Individual Training or AIT) of the training in the Alternate Option, also known as Split-Training or Split-Option. 

5-5. Mandatorily ordered to active duty or active duty training
a. The procedures in this paragraph apply when a Soldier has been called or ordered to AD or ADT in compliance with a contractual agreement or by operation of law and fails to report. This paragraph does not apply to entry or IADT or AT Soldiers. Calls or order to AD or ADT may include, but are not limited to the following:
(1) The Soldier is called or ordered to AD and assessed into the Active Army based on-
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(c) Enlistment in the USAR for entry on AD according to Title 10, United States Code, Section 12103.
(d) Ordered to AD in time of war or national emergency according to Title 10, United States Code, Sections 12301 and 12302, Title 10, United States Code, or for a Presidential Selected Reserve Call-up according to Title 10, United States Code, Section 12304.
(e) Order to AD for proceedings under the UCMJ according to Title 10, United States Code, Section 802.
(2) The Soldier not being accessioned into the Active Army and ordered to ADT-
(a) For not more than 45 days having failed to perform satisfactorily (10 USC 10148).
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b. The policy and procedures governing AWOL and desertion described in other chapters of this regulation apply when an ARNGUS or USAR Soldier is called or ordered to AD in the Active Army under a above, but without proper to authority, fails to report as ordered.
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d. A Soldier ordered to AD as a member of a USAR or ARNGUS unit being activated, and without proper authority fails to report is processed as follows:
(1) Soldier will be accessed onto AD on the rolls of the assigned unit, and placed in AWOL status.
(2) Commander of assigned unit informs the Deserter Control Officer at the USAR RSC or state Adjutant General office.
(3) USAR and ARNGUS Soldiers who are AWOL for 30 consecutive days are immediately DFR.

Comments: To view or download the complete regulation, click on the the link to it in the box above these comments.

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6-2. Desertion
a. Army policy during mobilization is to access as ASNJ and identify all ARNGUS and USAR personnel who fail to report on their established reporting date after "no-show" status has been confirmed.

Comments: "ASNJ" is Assigned-Not-Joined.

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(1) The ARNGUS and USAR absentees are accessed as ASNJ to the Active Army on their established reporting date.

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(2) The ARNGUS and USAR personnel are reported as deserters when the gaining unit commander, for Selected Reserve Personnel, or the Commander, HRC-St. Louis, for other than Selected Reserve, determines that the absentee knew of or received his or her mobilization orders and the personnel did not report for AD during the 30 days following their established reporting date.
(3) When the Commander, HRC-St. Louis cannot make a determination whether the IRR Soldier knew of or received their mobilization orders, they may initiate administrative separation actions from the date of such determination but not less than 12 months from the original report date of the mobilization orders.
c. The ARNGUS and USAR personnel who are absent without proper authority after reporting for AD are processed per chapters 2 through 5 of this regulation, unless otherwise stated.

Comments: To view or download the complete regulation, click on the link to it in the box above these comments.

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3-4. Participation before initial active duty for training
Enlistees in the categories described in a through d below are authorized to attend the specified number of inactive duty training (IDT)s or AT with their assigned unit for pay purposes before completing IADT. (All others may voluntarily participate in inactive duty training (IDT)s without pay during the period before IADT.) Failure of a soldier to attend inactive duty training (IDT)s while in the training pipeline awaiting entrance on IADT (to include both phases of the Alternate Training Program) will not subject the soldier to unsatisfactory participation processing of paragraph 4-14.

Comments: IDTs are also known as drills.

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Chapter 4
Absences
Section I
General
4-1. Guidance
This chapter governs absences from Ready Reserve training. It applies to all ARNGUS and USAR soldiers. Table 4-1, Absences, lists reasons for absences, who may excuse or grant exceptions to unexcused absences, basis for approval or disapproval, and the documentation required.

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Section III

Unexcused Absences

4-12. Conditions of unexcused absence

a. An unexcused absence is any absence not covered in sections II and IV.

b. Soldiers will be charged with unsatisfactory participation when without proper authority they
(1) Accrue in any one-year period a total of nine or more unexcused absences from scheduled inactive duty training (IDT)s. (In the case of IMAs who are required to-perform fewer than 48 inactive duty training (IDT)s per year, see paragraph 4-7b(2).)
(2) Fail to obtain a unit of assignment during a leave of absence granted per section IV.
(3) Fail to attend or complete AT.

Comments: "IMA" is Individual Mobilization Augmentation. "AT" is Annual Training.

c. Officers and enlisted soldiers with the exception of ROTC/SMP cadets will be processed for reassignment or separation as prescribed in chapter 6 as soon as possible after the actions in paragraphs 4-6, 4-7, or 4-15a, as appropriate, result in a determination that the soldier is an unsatisfactory participant. ROTC/SMP cadets determined to be unsatisfactory participants may be removed from the SMP and transferred or reassigned to Control Group (ROTC) at the appropriate ROTC Region Headquarters in their cadet status (AR 601-210, para 10-23b).

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4-14. Unexcused absence from unit training assemblies

a. Unsatisfactory participation. A soldier is an unsatisfactory participant (according to para 4-15) when nine or more unexcused absences from scheduled inactive duty training (IDT)s occur during a 1-year period. (See b and c below for computation.) In the case of IMAs required to perform IDT, see paragraph 4-7a(2).

b. Charging unexcused absences. Unless an absence is authorized, a soldier failing to attend a scheduled single or multiple unit training assembly (MUTA) will be charged with an unexcused absence. When absence involves a MUTA (or any portion of a MUTA), the charge will be one unexcused absence for each 4-hour period not attended, but not to exceed four unexcused absences. If absent from a MUTA 5 or MUTA 6, the maximum number of unexcused absences charged is four. Unexcused absences remain charged to the soldier on reassignment or reenlistment in another RC unit.

c. Establishing the 1-year period. For counting unexcused absences, the 1-year period will begin on the date of the absence. It will end 1 year later. Beginning dates will be set for each succeeding unexcused absence. When longer than 1-year elapses from the date of an absence, it no longer will be counted. The new 1-year period will begin on the date of the later absence, if any.

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Chapter 5
Reassignment and Removal from Assignment

Section I
Conditions of Removal
5–1. General
  a. An enlisted soldier must satisfactorily participate with a unit for the period specified by written contract, agreement, or statement of understanding.
  b. Voluntary or involuntary removal from unit participation will be as prescribed by AR 135–178, AR 140–10, or
NGR 600–200, as appropriate, or under additional conditions cited in this section.
  c. The reassignment or transfer of an enlisted soldier to the IRR under the conditions cited in this section is
authorized provided all of the following apply to the soldier:
  (1) Soldier has a remaining statutory or contractual military service obligation.
  (2) Required initial entry training (IET) has been completed and individual has been awarded an MOS.
  (3) The soldier is not within 3 months of the expiration of a statutory or contractual military service obligation,
whichever is the later....

5–4. Unit inactivation or relocation
   a. Soldiers who meet the criteria of paragraph 5–1c whose unit is inactivated or relocated will be reassigned/
transferred to the IRR if–
   (1) They now live beyond commuting distance of their unit. (commuting distance is defined in paragraph 5–5.)
   (2) There is no other unit of the same component within commuting distance.
   b. Soldiers’ reassigned/transferred to the IRR under this paragraph will remain assigned to the IRR until they–
   (1) Join or are assigned to another unit.
   (2) Complete their statutory and/or contractual obligation.

5–5. Maximum involuntary travel distance
The maximum distance ARNGUS and USAR soldiers may travel involuntarily between their residence and the inactive
duty training (IDT) training site must be within—
   a. A 50–mile radius of the inactive duty training (IDT) site. It will not exceed 1 1/2 hours of travel time one-way by
car under average traffic, weather, and road conditions
   b. A 100–mile radius of the inactive duty training (IDT) site. (This policy is applicable to enlisted soldiers only.) It
is an alternative that can be applied when all of the conditions in (1) and (2) below can be met. It will not exceed 3
hours of travel time one-way by car under average traffic, weather, and road conditions.
   (1) The soldiers must be assigned to units that normally conduct multiple unit training assemblies (MUTA) on 2
consecutive days (MUTA-4).
   (2) Government-provided meals and quarters must be furnished at the training site.
   c. Round-trip travel from home to perform IDT at the unit to which the soldier is assigned or attached will be at the
soldier’s expense....


Chapter 6

Enforcement Procedures

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6-2. Unsatisfactory participation enforcement procedures
When it has been determined that an ARNGUS or USAR officer or enlisted soldier is an unsatisfactory participant per chapter 4, the immediate commander will initiate proceedings that result in the reassignment, transfer, or separation of the unsatisfactory participant as prescribed in this paragraph. These proceedings are applicable when the unsatisfactory participant is

a. An enlisted soldier assigned to an ARNGUS or USAR unit or an IMA duty position, then-

(1) If the commander determines the soldier has potential for useful service under mobilization, the soldier will be processed under one of the following:

(a) Discharge from the ARNGUS and transfer to the IRR per NGR 600-200, paragraph 8-27g. The commander may also consider grade reduction per NGR 600-200, paragraph 6-44a(1)(f).

(b) Reassignment to the IRR from a USAR TPU or IMA duty position per AR 140-10, paragraph 4-15. The commander may also consider grade reduction per AR 140-158, paragraph 710.1.

(2) If the commander determines the soldier has no potential for useful service under mobilization, the soldier will be processed for discharge from Reserve of the Army status per AR 135-178, chapter 13....

Comments: To view or download the complete regulation, click on the link to it in the box above these comments.

Chapter 13
Unsatisfactory Participation in the Ready Reserve
13-1. Basis
a. A Soldier is subject to discharge for unsatisfactory participation when it is determined that the Soldier is unqualified for further military service because:
(1) The Soldier is an unsatisfactory participant as prescribed by AR 135-91, chapter 4; and
(2) Attempts to have the Soldier respond or comply with orders or correspondence have resulted in
(a) The Soldier's refusal to comply with orders or correspondence; or
(b) A notice sent by certified mail was refused, unclaimed, or otherwise undeliverable; or
(c) Verification that the Soldier has failed to notify the command of a change of address and reasonable attempts to contact the Soldier have failed.
b. Discharge action may be taken when the Soldier cannot be located or is absent in the hands of civil authorities in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2-18 and chapter 3, section IV.
c. Commanders will not take action prescribed in this chapter in lieu of disciplinary action solely to spare a Soldier who may have committed serious misconduct the harsher penalties that may be imposed under the UCMJ.
13-2. Suspension of favorable personnel action
Favorable personnel action will be suspended in accordance with AR 600-8-2 upon initiation of separation processing under this chapter.
13-3. Characterization of service
a. Characterization of service normally will be Under Other Than Honorable Conditions, but characterization as General (under honorable conditions) may be warranted under the guidelines in chapter 2, section III.
b. For Soldiers who have completed entry level status, characterization of service as Honorable is not authorized unless the Soldier's record is otherwise so meritorious that any other characterization clearly would be inappropriate. In such cases, separation for unsatisfactory participation with an Honorable characterization will be approved by the separation authority (para 1-10). As an exception, the separation authority will approve separation with service characterized as Honorable when an administrative separation board has recommended such characterization.
c. When *characterization of service as Under Other Than Honorable Conditions* is not warranted for a Soldier in entry level status under chapter 2, section III, the service will be described as uncharacterized.