Officer Separations
Officers may be separated for substandard duty performance, misconduct, or other adverse information in their record.
Officer discharged solely for substandard duty performance must receive an honorable discharge.
Separation of "probationary" officers is much faster than that for "non-probationary" officers.
If the officer elects to have her case heard by a board of inquiry, a board consisting of at least three officers -- including one O-6 -- will convene and recommend whether or not to separate the officer.
The Secretary of the military service is the final approval authority regarding whether to retain or discharge an officer.
Prior to elimination, the officer may tender his/her resignation, request discharge, or apply for retirement if eligible.
learn more about administrative actions
Suspension of favorable personnel actions is mandatory if an investigation that may result in disciplinary action or financial loss is initiated on a Soldier by military or civilian authorities, or if a Soldier is arrested.
When commanders learn of derogatory information that involves a military member or civilian employee with access to classified information, the commander must report the information to the security manager and decide whether to suspend the member or employee's access.
Officers may be separated for substandard duty performance, misconduct, or other adverse information in their record.
Enlisted administrative separations may be favorable (e.g. retirement or honorable separation at the end of an enlistment) or unfavorable (e.g. separations based on misconduct or unsatisfactory performance), and either voluntary (initiated by servicemember) or involuntary (initiated by commander).
The selective reenlistment program (SRP) is designed to ensure only enlisted members who consistently demonstrate the capability and willingness to maintain high professional standards are offered the privilege of continued military service.
Commanders and supervisors are encouraged to use administrative tools to encourage and correct individual behavior. Such tools include counseling, admonition and reprimand.
The intent is to correct rather than punish behavior.
Commanders are tasked with maintaining good order and discipline within their units.
In the military justice system, commanders have a quasi-judicial role in that they make decisions that are made by prosecutors or judges in the civilian sector.
Nonjudicial punishment (NJP) provides commanders with a means of maintaining good order and discipline without resorting to criminal prosecution.
