Posted on Aug 17, 2015
SGT Intelligence Analyst
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I have heard plenty of RUMINT on signing a declination of orders statement. Does anyone actually know what happens if you sign one of these? I have a lot of time left in service (3 yrs on a 6-yr contract). Some people say you'll get kicked out in 90 days. I do not care about not being able to reenlist or promote.

Let me supplement this by saying that I am looking for actual answers and not, "Hey, buck up and go enjoy your tour." That's not the purpose of this discussion.
Posted in these groups: Re enlistment logo Re-enlistment
Edited 10 y ago
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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Here is my experience with a Declination Statement. I had some time left on my contract (about a yr or so) while I was in Germany. I came down on orders to FT Riley, KS. I went to the base career counselor. I signed the declination statement (which is a self bar to re-enlist). I was not sent out the door sooner. I merely finished my contract time in Germany, hit my DEROS, went home on terminal leave and called it a day.
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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SPC Regan Hamm - Yes. You will be placed in a non-promotable status.
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SFC Chris Guenther
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SGM Matthew Quick
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Seems you are on assignment to an overseas long-tour (Alaska, Hawaii or Japan).

If this is the case, and you do not have enough time to PCS, two things can happen after you process your DCSS:

1. Your branch can waive the service remaining requirement (SRR) and you'll go anyway, or
2. You can be placed on assignment to a location with less SRR.

What can you do? You can request to ETS early, as the DA Form 4991-R states.

Best of luck in your future endeavors...whatever they entail.
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SGT Intelligence Analyst
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No, SGM. My orders are to Ft. Drum.
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SGM Matthew Quick
SGM Matthew Quick
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The SRR for Fort Drum is only 24-months...if you have 24-months left on your contract on report date, you're not eligible to sign a DCSS.

Note: Fort Drum is an AWESOME little post.
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SGT Intelligence Analyst
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SGM Matthew Quick, at this point, it's looking like I am on my way to Drum. Now my question is if I can get a BAH waiver due to the fact that my wife's daughters (my stepkids) cannot leave the state, so they have to stay here in MD. I've read the ALARACT, but there are very strict about which circumstances qualify for the waiver.
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SSG Instructor
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SGM Matthew Quick, am I understanding your response correctly? If you have plenty of time on your contract upon your report date to your next duty station you cannot sign a decline statement? So for example, you're on assignment to Korea (1 yr tour) and you are indef but have 4 yrs till retirement you can't decline the orders or sign a dec statement?
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SFC Brigade Career Counselor
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Edited 10 y ago
It will depend on where you are going and how much time you have left. If you have enough time to meet the SRR for the assignment you cannot submit a DCSS. You need to speak to your career counselor. They will counsel you on it or you could read the DA 4991-r it details in each block the ramifications.
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SPC Motor Transport Operator
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okay so i got orders to korea report date if nov. 10th 2016, and coming back to the states a year from that date, or around there. my ets date is oct 8th 2018, if i sign a dcss it will cancel my orders but will they shorten my original contract?
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What happens if you sign a Declination of Orders Statement?
SGM Senior Adviser, National Communications
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You did not state the length or location of the assignment or if you drew a bonus to enlist. We presume you mean the assignment is overseas. Generally, if you are a first term soldier, who has not yet reenlisted with less than three years of service (check the length of time for "career status" for reup purposes as it changes and may have changed again due to indefinite enlistments) you may decline an overseas assignment and reenlist for something else--only if the levy you are on affects your first term status. In other words, you'd never have a chance to choose your own reenlistment benefits because of the levy. Most soldiers with a three or four year enlistment don't know any better and reenlist unless they are determined to get out. However, if you have 3 years left on your contract, that is not the case. It's not clear how you are able to decline orders with sufficient time remaining to complete a tour (either one year unaccompanied or three year accompanied). In any case, except for 1st term soldiers under narrow conditions, signing a declination usually has the effect of a self-imposed bar to reenlist and you should be counseled regarding the effects, which may also affect promotions or other positive personnel actions. Note again that declination is normally not an option unless you do not have sufficient time to serve on the tour, which would thus require a reenlistment or extension of obligation. You'd have to have a solid reason backed by your chain of command rather than simply declining orders--medical (including dependents) operational deferment/deletion, etc. Additionally, there are cases where a soldier is on the promotion list at the time of levy, the promotion score drops, and the soldier is about to decline the assignment but accepts the promotion. Sometimes folks will say you can't accept the promotion and decline the assignment as they are not contingent upon each other even if you don't have sufficient time in service remaining--however one can accept the promotion and carry it into the Guard/Reserve. The time required to retire in the grade/rank follows different rules.
D
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SGT Intelligence Analyst
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I'd welcome an overseas tour and requested Korea but my branch manager said no.
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SGT Food Service Specialist
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I signed a dec statement a while ago before Covid and am looking into the possibility of canceling it. My career counselor doesn’t know much, all he said is that I need I do 4 years needs of the army. My ets is sep 2022. Any info would be greatly appreciated
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Declination of Continued Service Statement (DCSS is what it is called but it is known as DEX) will end your career
SGT Company Cbrn Nco
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HOW FAST?
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SPC Motor Transport Operator
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is there a time limit on when i can sign a de statement? like if i still had 2 years left can i?
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
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What exactly is a Declination of Orders Statement? In 20 years I've never heard of one. Thanks.
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COL Vincent Stoneking
COL Vincent Stoneking
10 y
I THINK what is being talked about is a "Declination of Continued Service Statement" under AR 601–280. My understanding, and I am NOT an expert, is that it applies in the following situation: You are being PCSed and don't have enough time on your CURRENT enlistment to complete a PCS. You then have the option to reenlist, extend, or decline to do so.

Declining stops the PCS - though you could still get a short tour. It also takes you off of any promotion lists, gives you a 9Q reenlistment code, and does various and sundry other things aimed at starting your separation from the Army.

I don't think it applies in the situation above, as 3 years would be enough to complete the entire PCS. If there is a separate declination of orders, I am with you in having never heard of it.
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
10 y
COL Vincent Stoneking Thank you sir for the clarification.
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SGM Senior Adviser, National Communications
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10 y
The Declination of Continued Service Statement can be used, and effectively creates a self-imposed bar to reenlist as LTC Stoneking relates. However it is often misused in cases where a first term soldier not in "career status" who does not have sufficient time remaining may, in certain circumstances, "decline" an assignment, which would result in a type of operational deletion or deferment since the soldier was not fully "eligible" for assignment. Many people do not know that in such cases the Career Counselor should invoke a first term soldier's right to reenlist for the assignment/school of choice as otherwise the soldier would lose their first-time reenlistment benefits if otherwise eligible. That does not seem to be the case here when the soldier has 3 years remaining on an enlistment.
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SFC Brigade Career Counselor
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It is only used with enlisted Soldiers. And used rarely only when circumstances require it.
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