Posted on Jan 4, 2024
How early should I be sent home from a deployment to out process? Has the three-month rule changed?
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My ETS leave starts May 15th. I am currently deployed and have been told before and when I got here that I will be sent home 3 months prior to out process. Today I was informed that I would not be leaving until March which leaves me to 2 months to out process. According to HRC the three month rule applies and was published June 13th of 2023. I’ve been told that the rule could have changed. Is anyone aware of this and if not how do I go about getting this resolved? I appreciate any help you may be able to offer.
Posted in these groups: 
ETS/EAS
Deployment
ETS/EAS Deployment
Posted 4 mo ago
Responses: 1
Nope. That's still what's in place on HRC's website*. The latest information (as of 8 NOV 23) is on HRC's "Stop Movement (SM) and Combat Deployment" page* which links to that 13 JUN 23 page*.
It is possible that they misread the guidance as 60 days is the NLT time for deployed Soldiers who PCS, not ETS.
As to "the rule could have changed" - is this your commander telling you this or someone else?
If someone else, I would first address it in a nice manner and show them the latest (8 NOV 23) reference to it as being unchanged and ask them to provide more current information showing that it was changed (other than a hypothetical "the rule could have changed"). If no resolution, exercise the open door policy and talk to your commander.
If it is your commander who is stating this after you have shown them the current army policy, then you can try influencing through the 1SG/CSM by laying out the same information with them and asking them to intercede on your behalf.
If your leadership is being told that is the policy (60 days for ETS Soldiers) by higher, then your issue isn't with your unit.
If you don't get anywhere with the 'influence route', then contact the Actions, Policy and Procedures Branch (contact info on stop movement page) and see if the information is policy or directive in nature. If directive in nature, then it carries the weight of an order. If policy, then it's standard guidance, but commanders can change based on operational necessity (however, commanders need to be able to defend to higher why they changed the policy).
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* HRC (Stop Movement (SM) and Combat Deployment) - https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Stop%20Movement%20(SM)%20and%20Combat%20Deployment
* HRC (Stop Move (SM) Procedures) - https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Stop%20Move%20(SM)%20Procedures
It is possible that they misread the guidance as 60 days is the NLT time for deployed Soldiers who PCS, not ETS.
As to "the rule could have changed" - is this your commander telling you this or someone else?
If someone else, I would first address it in a nice manner and show them the latest (8 NOV 23) reference to it as being unchanged and ask them to provide more current information showing that it was changed (other than a hypothetical "the rule could have changed"). If no resolution, exercise the open door policy and talk to your commander.
If it is your commander who is stating this after you have shown them the current army policy, then you can try influencing through the 1SG/CSM by laying out the same information with them and asking them to intercede on your behalf.
If your leadership is being told that is the policy (60 days for ETS Soldiers) by higher, then your issue isn't with your unit.
If you don't get anywhere with the 'influence route', then contact the Actions, Policy and Procedures Branch (contact info on stop movement page) and see if the information is policy or directive in nature. If directive in nature, then it carries the weight of an order. If policy, then it's standard guidance, but commanders can change based on operational necessity (however, commanders need to be able to defend to higher why they changed the policy).
--------------------------------------------
* HRC (Stop Movement (SM) and Combat Deployment) - https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Stop%20Movement%20(SM)%20and%20Combat%20Deployment
* HRC (Stop Move (SM) Procedures) - https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Stop%20Move%20(SM)%20Procedures
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SGM Erik Marquez
" Soldiers who do not reenlist or extend will be returned to their home stations a minimum of 90 days prior to start of transitional leave for transition processing."
Its a directive, not policy, or at least was for sure a few years ago...I suppose at the 2023 issueance it could have changed, but never saw that while I was in.
Its a directive, not policy, or at least was for sure a few years ago...I suppose at the 2023 issueance it could have changed, but never saw that while I was in.
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