NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU 111 SOUTH GEORGE MASON DRIVE ARLINGTON VA 22204-1382 ARNG-HRR 15 December 2016 MEMORANDUM FOR NG J1 RRF (All-Entire RRF) SUBJECT: SMOM 17-012, Updated Suitability Review Procedures 1. References: a. Army Regulation 601-210, Active and Reserve Component Enlistment Program, dated 31 August 2016. b. Army National Guard Accessions Options Criteria (AOC). c. SMOM 14-018, Recruiting Improprieties, dated 27 February 2014. 2. Effective 1 March 2017 or once the requirements are met in accordance with this message; States, Territories, and the District of Columbia will have the ability to conduct suitability reviews at their approved level in accordance with AR 601-210. Recruiting and Retention Battalion (RRB) Operation NCOs will meet the training requirements outlined in Para. 8a below, prior to approval for the State, Territory, or District of Columbia being able to process their own suitability reviews. This message supersedes paragraph 4-2 in AR 601-210. 3. ARNG-HRR-O (Accession Suitability Office - ASO) is developing a three day Operations NCO Suitability Course to be conducted at Fort Knox, KY. Guidance will follow on prerequisites and coordinating instructions to send current and future Operation NCOs to the training. 4. Applicants with a criminal history, regardless of disposition of charges, must have a suitability review for determination of enlistment. ARNG recruiters will forward requests for suitability reviews through command channels along with a recommendation to the reviewer for consideration. Suitability reviews are performed in accordance with the Department of Defense (DoD) principle that an individual whose pattern of behavior poses a serious question as to their fitness for service should be given a special review at an appropriate level before being accepted or rejected for service. Acceptability for enlistment of persons who have records of court convictions or other adverse dispositions is based on conduct standards given in this section. a. These standards screen out: (1) Applicants who are legally precluded from serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
(2) Applicants whose background poses serious questions about fitness for service. (3) Applicants who are unsuitable for participation in special programs. (4) Applicants who are likely to pose serious disciplinary problems. b. Such cases divert manpower resources from performing military missions. Applicants will be advised that all arrests, convictions, or other adverse dispositions must be revealed. Recruiting personnel will obtain the criminal history of all applicants. ARNG AOC, Table 3, indicates the appropriate level as determined by the Department of the Army. 5. The suitability review must be accomplished prior to projecting the applicant for MEPS processing to physical and enlist. If a suitability review is determined to be required on an applicant currently going through MEPS processing, the processing at the MEPS must be suspended until the review is complete. Suitability review will be conducted on the following offenses prior to any processing on all applicants (the appropriate review level is also noted): a. Combination of four or more non-traffic and misconduct offenses per AR 601-210, tables 4-2 and 4-3 (RRC). b. Two or more misconduct offenses per table 4-3 (AR 601-210, para 4-10) (RRC). c. One or more major misconduct offenses per AR 601-210, table 4-4 (see para 4-11) or charges considered felonies under the local law, regardless of disposition (RRC). d. Domestic battery/violence offense, as defined in note 1 of table 1 in the AOC ANNEX-A (Director, ARNG. e. Any charge of a sexual nature (anything that would be considered a SHARP violation) (Director, ARNG). f. Carrying or possessing a weapon on school grounds. Any incident (whether charges were filed or handled informally by the school) related to carrying or possessing a weapon on school grounds, regardless of the disposition and type of weapon will be treated as a serious offense. A suitability review is required prior to any processing. Prior to submission, all applicable court documents, police incident reports (if applicable), letter from school official describing the nature of the incident, applicant statement, as well as any company and battalion commander recommendations. (Director, ARNG). 6. Applicants who conceal any offenses that require a waiver will be discharged. All ARNG applicants discharged under this paragraph will incur a 6-month waiting period from date of separation orders and require a fraudulent enlistment waiver from Director, 2
ARNG, along with any additional waivers as noted in AR 601-210 and the AOC. 7. The burden is on the applicant to prove to waiver authorities that he or she has overcome his or her disqualifications for enlistment and that his or her acceptance would be in the best interests of the ARNG. All required supporting documents (court dockets, police reports etc.) must be obtained for the suitability review. 8. The required documents for the submission of any level of suitability review are: a. Accurately completed SF86. b. Legal documents: (1) Court documents and probation reports. (2) DD 369s from where applicant lived, worked and attended school (city, country, state for 3 years prior to application into the ARNG and location(s) where arrested). (3) Completion of court mandated courses and programs. c. Handwritten applicant statement detailing all offenses above traffic. d. Suitability Checklist, completed and signed by the RRNCO and NCOIC. 9. Processing of Recruiting Retention Battalion (RRB) level suitability reviews: a. The RRC will designate a V7 qualified Operations NCO with the added responsibility of processing state level suitability reviews. The Ops NCO must have access to GCRc and attend the Suitability Course within 180 days of assignment of additional duty. Ops NCOs without the V7 ASI can attend the suitability course but must obtain the V7 ASI prior to being granted privileges from ARNG-HRR. b. Recruiters will complete the enlistment packet in Recruiter Zone (RZ) with 100% accuracy. A projection for, "other processing; admin" will be made to generate a GCRc record. c. The NCOIC will validate the completeness of the packet. The NCOIC will inform the Ops NCO that the packet is complete and request a SR be completed at the appropriate level. d. The Ops NCO will thoroughly review all suitability reviews for completeness in ERM. Once satisfied that the suitability review is complete in accordance with regulatory guidance the OPs will determine the approval authority (DARNG or RRC). e. If it is a RRC level SR, the RRC will review the suitability paperwork, set up an 3
interview time to conduct a personal interview with the applicant (if necessary) and determine if the applicant has overcome his or her disqualifications for enlistment and if his or her acceptance would be in the best interests of the ARNG. Reviewers at every level will apply the "whole person" concept when considering suitability reviews to ensure time is not wasted on unqualified applicants. f. The Ops NCO must review the suitability checklist, listing all of the applicant's charges and the reason for approval or disapproval. A workflow in GCRc will be created. Approval to process for enlistment will be annotated on the DD Form 1966 in the remarks section. 10. Processing of NGB level suitability reviews: a. The RRB Ops NCO will "recommend approval" on the workflow in ERM to forward the workflow to the ASO. b. The ASO will review the packet for completeness and return the workflow approved, disapproved or return without action requesting more information through ARISS. The chain of command and guidance counselors will be notified of the status in via workflow email. c. Suitability reviews for RE Codes will be completed prior to NGB level waiver submission. 11. The ASO will: a. Compile the SR reports from the RRBs monthly and report any trends to DARNG and DA-G1 as requested. b. Review RRB level suitability reviews for accuracy. RRBs found to have approved a combination of 3 suitability reviews that either resulted in an erroneous or fraudulent enlistment or performed at the wrong level will lose their suitability approval privileges. Applications for reinstatement will be sent to ARNG-HRR-O Branch Chief. Exceptions will be reviewed and approved by the ARNG-HRR Division Chief. c. Be the proponent to train and advise RRB Ops NCOs and staff. The ASO will publish a SMOM consisting of a welcome letter, course schedule, any course prerequisites, training agenda, and lodging information. The ASO office will announce the number of training seats available monthly to train RRB Ops NCOs and Operations staff. RRBs will request attendance of their assigned Operations NCO to the Suitability Course through the POCs annotated on the bottom of this message once notified by the ASO office. All costs associated with this training requirement will fall on the RRB to support. 12. Validity Periods: Suitability reviews are valid for 6 months from the date of approval. 13. Unless otherwise specified in the suitability review, prior ASO level disapprovals may 4
be reconsidered at the same ASO level pending warranted waiting periods based on the situation. 14. Reporting requirements: RRB Operations personnel are required to submit a list of all suitability reviews, name, PRID and final action NLT the 5th business day of each calendar month to the ASO. The ASO maintains accountability for all actions involving SRs. This list will be sent to the ASO mailbox: usarmy.knox.ngb.mbx.arng-accessionssuitability@mail.mil. 15. Performing suitability reviews at the State level is optional at this time. States may continue to use the ASO to process state level suitability reviews if they desire. 16. Points of contact for this message is Theodore Ingram at theodore.r.ingram.civ@mail.mil or phone (502) 626-1299, 0084, or 2402 and SFC Samuels at nsilo.k.samuels.mil@mail.mil or phone (703) 607-0944. MONIE R. ULIS COL, IN Chief, Strength Maintenance Division Army National Guard 5