The majority of approved BEAR participants attend training TDY enroute to a new assignment. In addition, many approved participants receive overseas assignments and some desire dependent travel. BEAR participants should not extend or reenlist to satisfy the SRRs for dependent travel at the old duty station prior to departure for training. Such an extension or reenlistment will reduce, or cause the soldier to lose SRB entitlement. If the soldier desires dependent travel, he or she should submit a request per AR 55-46 at the losing installation. AR 55-46 does not require the soldier to take action regarding SRRs at that time. If the soldier’s request is approved, the approval will be forwarded to the training site where the soldier is undergoing training; however, no action will be taken to process the soldier’s dependents for movement until the soldier successfully completes the training, is awarded the new MOS, and reenlists. Upon reenlistment, dependent travel actions may be accomplished. BEAR Program participants will be afforded a minimum of 30 days reenlistment leave if desired. The training site should request from PERSCOM an adjusted arrival month to allow time for desired leave and dependent travel. In no event should the BEAR Program participant be denied dependent travel solely because of failure to reenlist or extend for that purpose at the losing installation.
Soldiers who decline assignment instructions under the BEAR Program will be processed as shown below, in the section "Removal from the Program."
An SRB is paid only for “additional obligated service” and any time remaining on the extension of enlistment that is executed upon entrance into the BEAR Program is considered “previously obligated service.” An SRB will not be paid for any unserved time remaining on the extension of enlistment at the time of reenlistment following successful completion of retraining into the new PMOS. Soldiers participating in the BEAR Program may be forgiven up to 24 months of “previously obligated extended service” provided they reenlist within 90 days after completion of training.
Extensions to participate in the BEAR Program are accomplished as a condition of acceptance into the program. Cancellation of the extension is not authorized for soldiers who voluntarily withdraw from the program or who are involuntarily removed from the program for any reason (that is, academic failure, punishment under Uniform Code of Military Justice). The soldier is considered, in either case, to have received the benefit of the extension.
Removal from the Program
Soldiers may request release from the program for hardship or compassionate reasons only. Soldiers released from the program will not be considered for reentry into the program, unless documentation is furnished to indicate the reasons for removal no longer exist.
Soldiers who fail to complete the training will be removed from the program, unless the training unit commander recommends that they be retained and rescheduled for a subsequent class date.
When release or removal from the program is necessary, the soldier will be:
- Required to complete the period of service for which he or she extended under the program.
- Reclassified, if appropriate, and reassigned according to the needs of the Army.
