https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-your-ets-date-your-last-day-in-the-military-or-first-day-as-a-civilian <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I know it may seem like splitting hairs, but I can&#39;t seem to find the authoritative answer. My HR dept. is saying that I am still a Soldier on my ETS date, but I&#39;ve read elsewhere that the ETS date means the contract (terms of service) is expired and I&#39;m free to be a civilian or enlist in another branch.<br /><br />AR 635-200 didn&#39;t really give me any help. Can anyone answer this definitively with source(s)? it affects my backward planning for terminal leave, outprocessing, and my plans following the Army; only by one day, granted, but still.<br /><br />Thanks in advance! Mon, 04 Jan 2021 09:04:31 -0500 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-your-ets-date-your-last-day-in-the-military-or-first-day-as-a-civilian <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I know it may seem like splitting hairs, but I can&#39;t seem to find the authoritative answer. My HR dept. is saying that I am still a Soldier on my ETS date, but I&#39;ve read elsewhere that the ETS date means the contract (terms of service) is expired and I&#39;m free to be a civilian or enlist in another branch.<br /><br />AR 635-200 didn&#39;t really give me any help. Can anyone answer this definitively with source(s)? it affects my backward planning for terminal leave, outprocessing, and my plans following the Army; only by one day, granted, but still.<br /><br />Thanks in advance! SSG Private RallyPoint Member Mon, 04 Jan 2021 09:04:31 -0500 2021-01-04T09:04:31-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-your-ets-date-your-last-day-in-the-military-or-first-day-as-a-civilian?n=6630887&urlhash=6630887 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Your ETS date is your date of discharge. That day counts for service, the next day you are a civilian SFC Private RallyPoint Member Mon, 04 Jan 2021 09:49:25 -0500 2021-01-04T09:49:25-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-your-ets-date-your-last-day-in-the-military-or-first-day-as-a-civilian?n=6631048&urlhash=6631048 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>When I got drafted, didn&#39;t know it at the time, but I was obligated for 6 years. 2 active and 4 in the reserves. I got a letter and bus ticket for 4 summers in a row and was told to report to Camp Drum, NY. I just threw the letters away and no one ever came after me. My Honorable Discharge came in the mail exactly 6 years later, on the same month and day on which I was drafted. SPC Joseph Kopac Mon, 04 Jan 2021 10:58:48 -0500 2021-01-04T10:58:48-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-your-ets-date-your-last-day-in-the-military-or-first-day-as-a-civilian?n=6631896&urlhash=6631896 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Not sure why you don&#39;t trust your HR. You can always ask your HR to help you under stand what you are not clear on and why it is important to you. If things don&#39;t turn out as planned, you can always go back to that exact person to have your matter corrected. <br />AR 635-200 didn&#39;t provide a definition of ETS as you stated. Whatever your ETS date is, use the following day as freedom from any current military commitment. <br />For Terminal leave, you have to count the day the ETS is on as a Terminal Leave day.<br />For out processing, I recommend you out-process several days prior to taking terminal leave just incase you need to take an action on some matter you hadn&#39;t anticipated.<br />You are not going to be able to swear in to another service on your ETS date, it will have to be the next day.<br />Hope that helps. Col Tri Trinh Mon, 04 Jan 2021 16:05:28 -0500 2021-01-04T16:05:28-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-your-ets-date-your-last-day-in-the-military-or-first-day-as-a-civilian?n=6633996&urlhash=6633996 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It’s on your DD-214 no, my EAS and my inactive reserve dates are clearly listed. Sgt Dale Briggs Tue, 05 Jan 2021 11:21:17 -0500 2021-01-05T11:21:17-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-your-ets-date-your-last-day-in-the-military-or-first-day-as-a-civilian?n=6635251&urlhash=6635251 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The last day of your EAS/ETS is your last day. That’s the day you pickup your DD214. The day after you leave active service is your first day as a civilian. SSgt Christophe Murphy Tue, 05 Jan 2021 22:13:14 -0500 2021-01-05T22:13:14-05:00 2021-01-04T09:04:31-05:00