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LTC Philip Berry, the problem with your planning is that (as I understand from your message) you want to either PCS not long after finding out that you were selected for promotion or separate from the Army while you’re still in Europe. Those are two COAs that are at odds with each other (more in a bit).

According to the guidance in the regulation*, you need to submit your FSTE NLT 6 months (assuming you're not at NATO, then it's 12 months) before your DEROS. However, you do not have to do another full-tour as you can request any amount of time up to that in your request.

As to what justification, the approval authority will be your ACOM/ASCC/DRU (not sure which applies to you), but I would recommend you come up with something other than "I want to wait to see if I'm passed over so I can get out in Europe". Any family commitments overseas to apply? Education options that you're pursuing while there? Social commitments you have? The command will likely be inclined to approval the request if there's no impact to them (they haven't started requesting backfills, you're not in a CSL position, etc) and will consider the personal impact to you (according to your justification) if they can't. The earlier you get your FSTE in, the more likely there will be minimal impact to them.

For the O6 PSB FY23 board, they met on 18 OCT 22 and the results were released to commanders on 31 JAN 23*. The timeline for the FY24 board SHOULD be the same. It’s possible they would be delayed until March 2024 if they hit a snag somewhere, but if not, they will be late January/early February as well.

Now to the advice.

Officer retirement requests must arrive at HRC between 9 to 12 months out from the requested retirement date*. This means that if your plan is to retire in Europe you would need to figure the normal release date of the list (say early February, 2024) add a few months “just in case” (early May, 2024) and then another year for the processing of your retirement packet as well as all those things you need and SHOULD do when retiring from the Army.

So, if you want a timeline that covers all bases, that would put it at May, 2025 (which would be a FSTE requesting a 10 month extension). This SHOULD give you time to have the list released and, if not selected for promotion, enough time to submit your retirement packet and be approved so you can retire while still in Europe. The more you pad the date on the backend, the more secure you should be that dates will align.

Now, if you ARE picked up for promotion, you’ll have a better idea of where your sequence number on the list would be than others, but unless you're towards the end of the range of consideration for your board (31 JUL 20) you'll likely be promoted by the time your DEROS comes around.

O6s overseas are considered “Immediately Available” and reassigned to an installation that has a position for someone with your rank and skills, or if nothing is available, then a request should be sent to HQDA to reassign you. In other words, you’ll be reassigned within theater or HQDA will put you assign you.

Good Luck!
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* AR 614-30 – Overseas Service - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN6427_AR614-30_WEB_Final.pdf
* MILPER 23-230 (FY24 AC COL PSB Board) - https://www.hrc.army.mil/milper/23-230
* HRC Separations and Retirement Information Sheet - https://www.hrc.army.mil/asset/18107

Sir, are you not at or near your service limitation? If so that further complicates maters. Please look up Col. Cudworth he will have great advice in accordance with policy.