Entry Level Performance and Conduct Discharge (Entry Level Separation)
Army
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Contents
AR 635-200 Active Duty Enlisted Administrative Separations (28 Jun 2021)
Comments: To view or download the complete regulation, click on the link to it in the box above these comments.
Chapter 11. Entry Level Performance and Conduct
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11–2. Basis for separation
Separation of a Soldier in entry-level status may be warranted on the grounds of unsatisfactory performance and/or unsatisfactory conduct as evidenced by:
a. Inability.
b. Lack of reasonable effort.
c. Failure to adapt to the military environment.
d. Minor disciplinary infractions.
11–3. Separation policy
a. This policy applies to Soldiers who—
(1) Enlisted in the RA, ARNG, or USAR.
(2) Are in entry-level status, undergoing IET, and, before the date of the initiation of separation action, have completed no more than 180 days of creditable continuous active duty or IADT or no more than 90 days of Phase II under a split or alternate training option (see the glossary for precise definition of entry-level status).
Note: The Department of Defense has changed the length of entry-level status to 365 dyas of creditable continuous active duty or IADT or no more than 180 days of Phase II under a split or alternate training option. See the ALARACT below. It also removes the stipulation that a soldier must still be in IET to qualify for an entry-level separation.
(3) Have demonstrated that they are not qualified for retention. The following conditions are illustrations of conduct and/or performance that disqualify Soldiers for retention:
(a) Cannot or will not adapt socially or emotionally to military life.
(b) Cannot meet the minimum standards prescribed for successful completion of training because of lack of aptitude, ability, motivation, or self-discipline.
(c) Have demonstrated character and behavior characteristics not compatible with satisfactory continued service.
(4) Have failed to respond to counseling (recorded on DA Form 4856).
b. Enlisted women who become pregnant while still in entry-level status—
(1) Will be involuntarily separated under this chapter when the training activity commander with separation authority, in conjunction with the medical officer (obstetrician), determines that she cannot fully participate in the required training for the MOS concerned because of her physical condition.
(a) The training commander will furnish the training requirements to the obstetrician.
(b) Soldiers separated for pregnancy that occurred after entry on active duty or IADT are entitled to maternity care
in a military medical facility only per AR 40–3.
(2) Will be retained when she can fully participate unless she requests separation under chapter 8 of this regulation.
c. Nothing in this chapter precludes separation under another provision of this regulation when such separation is warranted. However, if separation of a Soldier in entry-level status is warranted by reason of unsatisfactory performance (see chap 13) or misconduct (minor disciplinary infractions (see para 14–12a)), separation processing will be accomplished under this chapter. As an exception, Soldiers with less than 181 days of continuous active service who
have completed IET, been awarded an MOS, and been assigned to a follow-on unit for duty will be processed for
discharge under the appropriate chapter (see chap 13 or 14 or another appropriate chapter).
11–4. Counseling and rehabilitation requirements
Counseling and rehabilitation requirements are essential when entry-level performance and conduct are the reason for separation. Military service is a calling different from any civilian occupation, and a Soldier should not be separated when this is the sole reason for separation unless efforts at rehabilitation have failed. Before initiating separation action, commanders will ensure that the Soldier receives adequate counseling and rehabilitation (see chap 1, section II)
Entry–level status
a. For RA Soldiers, entry-level status is the first 180 days of continuous active duty or the first 180 days of continuous active duty following a break of more than 92 days of active military service.
b. For ARNGUS and USAR Soldiers, entry-level status begins upon enlistment in the ARNG or USAR. For Soldiers ordered to IADT for one continuous period, entry-level status terminates 180 days after beginning training. For Soldiers ordered to IADT for the split or alternate training option, entry-level status terminates 90 days after beginning Phase II AIT. (Soldiers completing Phase I BT or basic combat training remain in entry-level status until 90 days after
beginning Phase II.)
Note: The Department of Defense has changed the length of entry-level status to 365 dyas of creditable continuous active duty or IADT or no more than 180 days of Phase II under a split or alternate training option. See the ALARACT below.
c. Service that is not creditable per DoD 7000.14–R, Volume 7A, is excluded from the period of entry-level status
AR 135-178 Army National Guard and Army Reserve Enlisted Administrative Separations (7 November 2022)
- Source
- AR 135-178 Army National Guard and Army Reserve Enlisted Administrative Separations (7 November 2022) (3.1 MB)
Comments: To view or download the complete regulation, click on the link to it in the box above these comments.
Section II
Separation from the Delayed Entry Program
14–5. Basis
A Soldier who enlisted in the USAR under the DEP in accordance with AR 601–210 must be processed for separation if they satisfy the conditions in paragraphs 14–5a or b, and may be processed for separation if they satisfy the conditions in paragraphs 14–5c or d.
a. Upon enlistment in the regular Army (para 5–4a).
b. On discovery that the USAR enlistment is defective. The Soldier will be processed for separation under para 7–3.
c. The Soldier is found to be ineligible for enlistment in the regular Army.
d. The Soldier declines enlistment in the regular Army and is not being ordered to active duty as a Reserve of the Army
(10 USC 12103(b)).
14–6. Characterization or description
a. The service of a Soldier discharged on the basis of paragraph 14–5a, is not characterized. (See DD Form 4 (Enlistment/Reenlistment Document Armed Forces of the United States), section G.)
b. The separation of a Soldier on the basis of paragraph 14–5c or paragraph 14–5d, will be described as an entry level separation and the service will be uncharacterized.
ALARACT 022/2024 ENTRY LEVEL STATUS
- Source
- ALARACT 022/2024 ENTRY LEVEL STATUS (50 KB)
Comments: To view or download the complete regulation, click on the link to it in the box above these comments.
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1.D. (U) AR 635–200, ACTIVE DUTY ENLISTED ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATIONS
2. (U) PURPOSE: IN ACCORDANCE WITH REFERENCES 1.A. AND 1.B., THIS MESSAGE ANNOUNCES AN EXCEPTION TO ARMY POLICY THAT DEFINES WHEN ENLISTED SOLDIERS ARE IN AN ENTRY-LEVEL STATUS PURSUANT TO REFERENCE 1.D. ... THE PROVISIONS OF THIS MESSAGE APPLY TO REGULAR ARMY, ARMY NATIONAL GUARD/ARMY NATIONAL GUARD OF THE UNITED STATES, AND U.S. ARMY RESERVE ENLISTED SOLDIERS.
3. (U) POLICY: EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, PURSUANT TO REFERENCE 1.B., AVAILABLE AT HTTPS://ARMYPUBS.ARMY.MIL/EPUBS/DR_PUBS/DR_C/NOCASE-POG_217531-000-WEB-1.PDF, AN EXCEPTION TO POLICY IS APPROVED REGARDING THE DEFINITION OF ENTRY-LEVEL STATUS IN REFERENCE 1.D. UPON ENLISTMENT, A SOLDIER QUALIFIES FOR ENTRY-LEVEL STATUS DURING––
3.A. (U) THE FIRST 365 DAYS OF CONTINUOUS ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE; OR THE FIRST 365 DAYS OF CONTINUOUS ACTIVE SERVICE AFTER A BREAK OF MORE THAN 92 DAYS OF ACTIVE SERVICE.
3.B. (U) A RESERVE COMPONENT SOLDIER WHO IS NOT ON ACTIVE DUTY OR WHO IS SERVING UNDER A CALL OR ORDER TO ACTIVE DUTY FOR 365 DAYS OR LESS BEGINS ENTRY-LEVEL STATUS UPON ENLISTMENT IN A RESERVE COMPONENT. ENTRY-LEVEL STATUS FOR SUCH A RESERVE COMPONENT SOLDIER TERMINATES––
3.B.1. (U) 365 DAYS AFTER BEGINNING TRAINING IF THE SOLDIER IS ORDERED TO ACTIVE DUTY FOR TRAINING FOR ONE CONTINUOUS PERIOD OF 180 DAYS OR MORE, OR––
3.B.2. (U) 180 DAYS AFTER THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND PERIOD OF ACTIVE DUTY TRAINING IF THE SOLDIER IS ORDERED TO ACTIVE DUTY FOR TRAINING UNDER A PROGRAM THAT SPLITS THE TRAINING INTO TWO OR MORE SEPARATE PERIODS OF ACTIVE DUTY. FOR THE PURPOSES OF CHARACTERIZATION OF SERVICE OR DESCRIPTION OF SEPARATION, THE SOLDIER’S STATUS IS DETERMINED BY THE DATE OF NOTIFICATION AS TO THE INITIATION OF SEPARATION PROCEEDINGS.
4. (U) THE AFOREMENTIONED DEFINITION REPLACES BOTH THE TERM “ENTRY-LEVEL STATUS” IN THE GLOSSARY OF REFERENCE 1.D., IN ADDITION TO THE ENTIRETY OF PARAGRAPH 11–3A(2). IT ALSO REMOVES THE LAST SENTENCE IN PARAGRAPH 11–3C.
Note: This paragraph removes the requirement that the soldier must still be in training status to receive an ELS discharge. Soldiers who have completed IET (entry level training) are still considered entry level and eligible to be discharged with an ELS.
5. (U) ALL OTHER PROVISIONS OF REFERENCE 1.D. RELATED TO ENLISTEDADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATIONS REMAIN IN EFFECT.