Will I be able to leave early from my unit rotation if my separation date, with terminal leave, is the same date as my unit's return date?

2024-01-22T08:04:22-05:00

I’m currently on rotation. My ETS date is May 18. With terminal leave, my date of separation is March 2. The unit doesn’t go back home till March 2. Should I expect to leave early or not?

Response by COL Randall C. made Jan 22 at 2024 9:01 AM

2024-01-22T09:01:47-05:00

(NOTE: the info is from earlier this month. HRC's site is acting wonky with the maintenance so, why very unlikely, I wasn't able to reconfirm that nothing has changed in the last three weeks)

Short answer: Yes, you should be sent home early ... in fact, you should have returned already.

For Soldiers separating after returning, Army policy is "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" in order to successfully clear their installation and properly separate from the Army.

90 days prior to March 2, 2024 is December 3, 2023 - I would talk to your unit commander and show him the policy. Unless there is a substantial operational need for YOU to be there, then you need to go back and start clearing.

There was a recent discussion about this on another post* - details and references are there.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/when-should-i-be-sent-home-to-out-process?urlhash=8612988

How early should I be sent home from a deployment to out process? Has the three-month rule...

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...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2024 10:04 AM

2024-01-22T10:04:16-05:00

You should be back in the States clearing right now, actually.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jan 22 at 2024 7:33 PM

2024-01-22T19:33:18-05:00

If you have notified your chain of command, and they have Approved the terminal leave, then you should be returned earky enough to out process.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2024 1:26 AM

2024-02-01T01:26:57-05:00

I did get an answer I’m supposed to leave on Feb. 20. Open door policy time