ALARACT 066/2012 DTG R 141359Z MAR 12 UNCLASSIFIED/ THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN SENT BY THE PENTAGON TELECOMMUNICATIONS CENTER ON BEHALF OF DA WASHINGTON DC//DAPE-MSO// SUBJECT: ENLISTED QUALITATIVE SERVICE PROGRAM (QSP) A. DODD 1304.20, ENLISTED PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (EPMS), 28 JUL 05 B. DODI 1332.14, ENLISTED ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATIONS, WITH CHANGE 3 DATED 30 SEP 11 C. HQDA MEMORANDUM (SAMR), SUBJECT AS ABOVE, DATED 14 NOV 11 D. HQDA MEMORANDUM (SAMR-PO), SUBJECT REINSTATEMENT AND REVISION OF THE QUALITATIVE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (QMP), 23 JUL 09 E. HQDA MEMORANDUM (DAPE-MPE-PD), SUBJECT AS ABOVE, DATED 13 MAR 12. F. ARMY REGULATION 635-200, ACTIVE DUTY ENLISTED ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATIONS, RAR 003, 6 SEP 11 1. THIS MESSAGE ANNOUNCES THE ENLISTED QUALITATIVE SERVICE PROGRAM (QSP). IT APPLIES TO THE ACTIVE COMPONENT (AC) AND THE ACTIVE GUARD/RESERVE OF THE US ARMY RESERVE (USAR). 2. THE QSP IS A PERFORMANCE-BASED, FORCE-SHAPING PROCESS DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY NCOS FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY IN AN EFFORT TO: A. IMPROVE NCO GRADE/MOS READINESS LEVELS BY SATISFYING FORCE STRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS. B. ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF THE NCO CORPS BY RETAINING NCOS WITH THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ARMY. C. SUPPORT SUSTAINMENT OF VIABLE CAREER PATHS ACROSS GRADES AND MOS IN AN ALL-VOLUNTEER ARMY. 3. THIS INITIATIVE STEMS FROM ONGOING EFFORTS BY THE DCS, G-1 TO REVIEW PERSONNEL POLICIES TO ALIGN THE FORCE BY MOS AND SKILL LEVEL, ENSURE APPLICATION OF THE ARMY LEADER DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, SATISFY ENLISTED AUTHORIZATIONS WHILE ENSURING ATTAINMENT OF THE DESIRED GRADE AND EXPERIENCE MIX IS BALANCED ACROSS OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS, ACHIEVE MANDATED END-STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS, AND RETAIN SOLDIERS WITH THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS.
4. THIS PROGRAM COMBINES THE EXISTING QUALITATIVE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (QMP) WITH TWO NEW BOARDS; THE OVER-STRENGTH QUALITATIVE SERVICE PROGRAM (OS-QSP) BOARD AND THE PROMOTION STAGNATION QUALITATIVE SERVICE PROGRAM (PS-QSP) BOARD TO ENABLE CONTINUED SERVICE DECISIONS IN SUPPORT OF ENLISTED ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATION POLICIES IN AR 635-200. THE THREE COMBINED BOARD PROCESSES ARE: A. QUALITATIVE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (QMP) BOARD. CONDUCTED IAW THE REVISED REINSTATEMENT OF THE QMP (REF D) APPROVED BY THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE ARMY (MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS) ON 23 JULY 2009, THE QMP BOARD CONSIDERS SENIOR NCOS (E7 THROUGH E9) FOR DENIAL OF CONTINUED SERVICE WHOSE PERFORMANCE, CONDUCT, AND/OR POTENTIAL FOR ADVANCEMENT MAY NOT MEET ARMY STANDARDS. B. OVER-STRENGTH QUALITATIVE SERVICE PROGRAM (OS-QSP) BOARD. IAW AR 635-200, PARAGRAPH 16-7, THE OS-QSP BOARD WILL CONSIDER NCOS (E6 THROUGH E9) FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY THAT ARE IN A SELECT MOS/GRADE WHEN THE ARMY 12- MONTH OPERATING STRENGTH PROJECTIONS EXCEED GOALS (AS DETERMINED BY THE DIRECTOR, ENLISTED PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT DIVISION (EPMD), US ARMY HUMAN RESOURCES COMMAND (AHRC)). C. PROMOTION STAGNATION QUALITATIVE SERVICE PROGRAM (PS-QSP) BOARD. IAW AR 635-200, PARAGRAPH 16-7, THE PS-QSP BOARD WILL CONSIDER NCOS (E6 THROUGH E9) FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY WHO ARE IN A SELECT MOS/GRADE WHERE PROMOTION STAGNATION EXISTS AT NCO LEVELS WITHIN THEIR MOS (AS DETERMINED BY DIRECTOR, EPMD, AHRC). PROMOTION STAGNATION IS DEFINED AS WHEN AN MOS'S PROMOTION TIMING OBJECTIVES (PROMOTION PIN-ON RATES, MEASURED IN YEARS OF SERVICE) EXCEED THE DESIRED ARMY AVERAGE. 5. IN ALL CASES, NCOS SELECTED FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION WILL BE GIVEN THE OPTION (WHEN OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE) TO APPLY FOR VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT IN LIEU OF INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION. 6. THE ARMY WILL IMPLEMENT THE NEW OS-QSP AND PS-QSP BOARDS IN CONJUNCTION WITH REGULARLY SCHEDULED NCO PROMOTION BOARDS BEGINNING WITH ITS MOST SENIOR NCOS, AS OUTLINED IN THE FOLLOWING CHART: AFFECTED POPULATION INITIAL BOARD TENTATIVE BOARD CONVENE DATE USAR AGR CSM/SGM/1SG/MSG FY12 USAR SGM/AGR CSM/TPU CSM/SMC SELECTION BOARD 30 MAY 12
AC CSM/SGM/1SG/MSG FY12 AC SGM TRNG & SELECTION BOARD 4 JUN 12 AC SFC FY13 AC MSG SELECTION BOARD OCT 12 USAR AGR SFC FY13 USAR AGR MSG SELECTION BOARD OCT 12 AC SSG FY13 AC SFC SELECTION BOARD FEB 13 USAR AGR SSG FY13 USAR AGR SFC SELECTION BOARD FEB 13 7. APPLICABILITY. THE FOLLOWING AC AND USAR (AGR) NCOS ARE SUBJECT TO POTENTIAL SELECTION FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY BY THE QSP BOARD PROCESSES OUTLINED ABOVE: A. QMP BOARD (AR 635-200, CHAPTER 19 & REF D ABOVE): (1) ALL CSM/SGM WITH A MINIMUM OF 19 YEARS ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE AND NO MORE THAN 31 YEARS OF ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE. (2) ALL 1SG/MSG WITH A MINIMUM OF 19 YEARS ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE AND NO MORE THAN 28 YEARS OF ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE. (3) ALL SFC WITH A MINIMUM OF 19 YEARS ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE AND NO MORE THAN 25 YEARS OF ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE. B. OS-QSP AND PS-QSP BOARDS (AR 635-200, CHAPTER 16-7): (1) ALL CSM/SGM WITH AT LEAST THREE YEARS IN GRADE AND LESS THAN 31 YEARS OF ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE AS OF THE SCHEDULED BOARD DATE WHEN THEIR MOS IS FORMALLY ANNOUNCED BY HQDA MESSAGE. (2) ALL 1SG/MSG WITH AT LEAST FOUR YEARS IN GRADE AND LESS THAN 28 YEARS OF ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE AS OF THE SCHEDULED BOARD DATE WHEN THEIR MOS IS FORMALLY ANNOUNCED BY HQDA MESSAGE. (3) ALL SFC WITH AT LEAST FOUR YEARS IN GRADE AND LESS THAN 25 YEARS OF ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE AS OF THE SCHEDULED BOARD DATE WHEN THEIR MOS IS FORMALLY ANNOUNCED BY HQDA MESSAGE. (4) ALL SSG WITH AT LEAST FOUR YEARS IN GRADE AND LESS THAN 21 YEARS OF ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE AS OF THE SCHEDULED BOARD DATE WHEN THEIR MOS IS FORMALLY ANNOUNCED BY HQDA MESSAGE. IN ALL CASES, AND WHEN OTHERWISE QUALIFIED, A SSG APPROVED FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY AS A RESULT OF AN OS-QSP OR PS-QSP BOARD MAY SEEK VOLUNTARY RECLASSIFICATION INTO A SHORTAGE MOS. ALL REQUESTS TO RECLASSIFY MUST BE APPROVED BY AHRC WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE SOLDIER'S OS-QSP OR PS-QSP NOTIFICATION MEMORANDUM. WHEN A SOLDIER CANNOT BE SCHEDULED FOR A FUNDED TRAINING SEAT THAT STARTS WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE NOTIFICATION MEMORANDUM, INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION ORDERS WILL BE
ISSUED AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS POLICY. C. THE FOLLOWING SOLDIERS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE QSP: (1) SOLDIERS WITH APPROVED RETIREMENTS AS OF THE BOARD CONVENE DATE. SOLDIERS WITH APPROVED VOLUNTARY RETIREMENTS DATED AFTER ANNOUNCEMENT OF A SCHEDULED BOARD OR IN LIEU OF BOARD CONSIDERATION ARE PROHIBITED FROM WITHDRAWING THE RETIREMENT AT A LATER DATE EXCEPT FOR EXTREME COMPASSIONATE/HARDSHIP REASONS. THE CG, AHRC IS THE EXCEPTION AUTHORITY (FURTHER DELEGATION TO A COL-LEVEL DIRECTOR IS OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED). (2) SOLDIERS IN A PROMOTABLE STATUS TO THE NEXT HIGHER GRADE AND MSG PREVIOUSLY SELECTED TO ATTEND THE SERGEANTS MAJOR COURSE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTION TO SGM (NAMES RESIDE ON A VALID SELECTION LIST AS OF THE ANNOUNCED BOARD CONVENE DATE). UPON RECEIPT OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION ON SOLDIERS RESIDING ON A VALID SELECTION LIST, REFER TO AR 600-8-19 FOR APPROPRIATE POLICIES. (3) FOR OS-QSP AND PS-QSP BOARDS, SOLDIERS HOLDING AN MOS/GRADE NOT OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED BY HQDA IN THE BOARD ANNOUNCEMENT MESSAGE. 8. SELECTION CRITERIA. SELECTION FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY IS BASED ON AN NCO'S POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS AND WILL BE DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BOARD'S MEMORANDUM OF INSTRUCTION. WHEN CSM/SGM ARE CONSIDERED, THE BOARD WILL LIMIT CONSIDERATION TO THE SOLDIER'S PERFORMANCE SINCE THEIR LAST PROMOTION AND POTENTIAL FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS COMPARED TO THAT OF THEIR CONTEMPORARIES. 9. NOTIFICATION. SOLDIERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF EARLY SEPARATION THROUGH APPROPRIATE CHANNELS BY COMMANDERS SPECIFIED IN AR 635-200, PARA 1-19. NOTIFICATION WILL BE IAW INSTRUCTIONS FURNISHED IN AHRC IMPLEMENTING INSTRUCTIONS. FOR ALL AFFECTED SOLDIERS, AHRC WILL TOP LOAD A RESTRICTION CODE INTO THE PERSONNEL DATA BASE TO IDENTIFY THEM AS BEING CONSIDERED FOR POTENTIAL DENIAL OF CONTINUED SERVICE UNDER THE QMP, OS-QSP, OR PS-QSP BOARD PROCESSES. 10. SOLDIERS BEING CONSIDERED FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION AS A RESULT OF ANY QSP BOARD PROCESS MAY WRITE TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION ON ANY MATTER CONCERNING THEM THEY FEEL IS IMPORTANT TO THEIR POTENTIAL SELECTION FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY. THE
BOARD (AS ESTABLISHED IN THE NOTIFICATION MEMO) WILL REVIEW EACH AFFECTED SOLDIER'S OFFICIAL MILITARY PERSONNEL FILE (OMPF) ALONG WITH ALL AUTHORIZED DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY THE SOLDIER PRIOR TO MAKING A RECOMMENDATION FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY. 11. SOLDIERS ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE QSP MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ENSURE THEIR RECORDS ARE UPDATED AND NOT MISSING INFORMATION, AS THAT MAY BE LOOKED AT UNFAVORABLY BY THE BOARD. THEREFORE, ALL SOLDIERS IN THE ZONE OF CONSIDERATION BY THE QSP ARE DIRECTED TO REVIEW THEIR PERSONNEL RECORDS ON LINE AT HTTPS://IPERMS.HRC.ARMY.MIL/RMS/LOGIN.JSP AND VERIFY COMPLETENESS AND ACCURACY. FAILURE TO DO THIS WILL NOT SUBSTANTIATE AN APPEAL. 12. SPECIAL EVALUATIONS (NCOERS) FOR QSP BOARDS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED. 13. IF SELECTED AND APPROVED FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY, APPEALS ARE LIMITED TO MATERIAL ERROR, NEWLY DISCOVERED EVIDENCE OR THE SUBSEQUENT REMOVAL OF DOCUMENTS FROM THE SOLDIER'S OMPF. APPEALS ARE CONSIDERED BY QSP APPEALS BOARDS NORMALLY CONDUCTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH HQDA CENTRALIZED PROMOTION SELECTION BOARDS. THE DIRECTOR OF MILITARY PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (DMPM), ARMY G-1, IS THE FINAL AUTHORITY FOR DISPOSITION OF ALL QSP DECISIONS. 14. DEPLOYED SOLDIERS SELECTED FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION WILL NOT BE SEPARATED/RETIRED UNTIL REDEPLOYMENT PLUS 180 DAYS (R+180) UNLESS OTHERWISE REQUESTED BY THE AFFECTED SOLDIER. 15. COMMANDERS WILL ENSURE ALL SOLDIERS PENDING INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PROGRAM UNDERGO A SEPARATION HEALTH ASSESSMENT AS REQUIRED BY LAW (SEE, E.G., 10 USC 1145, 10 USC 1177) AND AR 40-501. 16. SOLDIERS ASSIGNED OR ATTACHED TO WARRIOR TRANSITION UNITS (WTU'S) SELECTED FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION WILL BE RETAINED UNTIL FINAL DISPOSITION OF THEIR MEDICAL CONDITION(S) TO INCLUDE PHYSICAL DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM (PDES). SOLDIERS NOT ASSIGNED OR ATTACHED TO A WTU, BUT CURRENTLY IN OR REFERRED TO THE PDES WILL BE RETAINED UNTIL FINAL DISPOSITION OF THEIR MEDICAL CARE OR BOARD PROCESS. SOLDIERS FOUND FIT FOR CONTINUED DUTY WILL BE PROCESSED FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION NO LATER THAN THE 1ST DAY OF THE SEVENTH MONTH FOLLOWING A FIT FOR DUTY FINDING.
17. SOLDIERS SELECTED AND APPROVED FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION AS A RESULT OF THE QSP WILL BE DISCHARGED OR RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY, AS APPROPRIATE, WITHOUT ENTITLEMENT TO A LOCAL SEPARATION BOARD, FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT (FOR PURPOSE OF POST-SERVICE BENEFITS) EFFECTIVE THE 1ST DAY OF THE 7TH CALENDAR MONTH FOLLOWING THE DATE THE BOARD RESULTS ARE APPROVED. CHARACTERIZATION OF SERVICE IS HONORABLE. PRE- SEPARATION COUNSELING MUST BE SCHEDULED AS SOON AS THE SOLDIER IS NOTIFIED OF THE INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION AND COUNSELING SHOULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN THE REMAINING PERIOD OF SERVICE AS REQUIRED BY LAW (10 USC 1142). 18. SOLDIER OPTIONS. WHEN OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE, IN LIEU OF INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION, SOLDIERS MAY, WITHIN 7 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF A FORMAL NOTIFICATION MEMORANDUM AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUCTIONS FURNISHED BY CG, AHRC, ELECT TO: A. APPEAL THE DECISION FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY BASED ON MATERIAL ERROR, NEWLY DISCOVERED EVIDENCE OR THE SUBSEQUENT REMOVAL OF DOCUMENTS FROM THE SOLDIER'S OMPF. B. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION, SOLDIERS MAY REQUEST VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT IN LIEU OF THE QSP UNDER ANY PROVISION OF LAW FOR WHICH THE SOLDIER IS OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE IN LIEU OF INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION AS A RESULT OF SELECTION FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATIOPN FROM ACTIVE DUTY. VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT WILL BE APPROVED FOR THE DATE REQUESTED BY THE SOLDIER EXCEPT RETIREMENT WILL BE EFFECTIVE NO LATER THAN THE 1ST DAY OF THE 7TH CALENDAR MONTH FOLLOWING THE DATE THE BOARD RESULTS ARE APPROVED AND WILL ORDINARILY BE NO EARLIER THAN 90 DAYS FROM THE DATE THE SOLDIER ELECTS THIS OPTION. C. SOLDIERS SELECTED FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION UNDER THE PROVISION OF THE QSP WHO HAVE 18 YEARS OF AFS (AS OF THE DATE DESIGNATED FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION) WILL BE RETAINED ON ACTIVE DUTY UNTIL THE SOLDIER IS ELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT (10 USC 1176). SOLDIERS WHO FAIL TO SUBMIT REQUESTS FOR VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT AND ARE RETAINED UNDER THIS PROVISION WILL BE DISCHARGED FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT UPON ATTAINMENT OF 20 YEARS OF ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR IN AR 635-200. D. ELIGIBLE AGR (USAR) SOLDIERS WITH 20 YEARS OR MORE OF AFS MAY ELECT VOLUNTARY REFRAD WITH CONCURRENT TRANSFER TO THE RETIRED RESERVE. SUCH REFRAD WILL OCCUR 90 DAYS AFTER THE SOLDIER RECEIVES PRE-SEPARATION COUNSELING.
19. SOLDIERS SELECTED FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION BY AN OS-QSP OR PS-QSP BOARD PROCESS WILL BE DISCHARGED OR RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY UTILIZING SEPARATION PROGRAM DESIGNATION (SPD) CODE OF JBM OR LBM, AS APPROPRIATE. IN ALL CASES, SOLDIERS ARE OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE FOR REENTRY AND THE DD FORM 214 WILL BE ANNOTATED WITH A REENTRY CODE (RE CODE) OF "1". SOLDIERS WITH MORE THAN 6 BUT LESS THAN 20 YEARS OF AFS AS A RESULT OF SELECTION FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PROGRAM MAY BE ENTITLED TO FULL INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION PAY (10 USC 1174). WHEN APPLICABLE, BONUS REPAYMENT OF ANY UNEARNED PORTIONS WILL NOT BE SOUGHT AND ANY UNPAID INSTALLMENTS WILL BE MADE TO THE MEMBER IN A LUMP SUM. SOLDIERS DENIED CONTINUED SERVICE (INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY) BY AN OS-QSP OR PS-QSP BOARD ARE ENTITLED TO TRANSITION ASSISTANCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (TAMP) BENEFITS. SOLDIERS WILL BE ISSUED A DD FORM 2765 IDENTIFICATION CARD AND DD FORM 1173 TO THEIR DEPENDENTS. BENEFITS PROVIDE TWO YEARS OF EXCHANGE AND COMMISSARY PRIVILEGES AND MEDICAL (TRICARE AND MTF) FOR 60 DAYS FOR SOLDIERS SEPARATING WITH LESS THAN SIX YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE AND 120 DAYS FOR THOSE WITH SIX OR MORE YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE. 20. THE PROVISIONS OF AR 635-200 PERTINENT TO COUNSELING AND REHABILITATIVE TRANSFER (PARAGRAPH 1-16), NOTIFICATION OF SEPARATION RECOMMENDATION (CHAPTER 2, SECTION I), AND HEARING BEFORE AN ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATION BOARD (CHAPTER 2, SECTION II) DO NOT APPLY TO INVOLUNTARY DISCHARGE UNDER THIS PROGRAM. 21. THE PROVISIONS OF AR 635-200, PARAGRAPH 1-33A APPLY IF SOLDIER REQUIRES REFERRAL TO OR IS UNDERGOING PHYSICAL DISABILITY EVALUATION PRIOR TO THE SOLDIER'S SEPARATION. 22. ADDITIONAL IMPLEMENTING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED BY AHRC BY MILPER MESSAGE. 23. POC IS HQDA, ODCS, G-1 (DMPM), DAPE-MPE-PD. 24. EXPIRATION DATE CANNOT BE DETERMINED.