The Navy has announced a voluntary early separation program for sailors who have a projected separation date prior to October 1, 2006. Continued high reenlistment rates, low attrition, and successful recruiting efforts have once again resulted in a projected surplus of sailors, so the Navy is offering an opportunity to some of them for early discharge.
The Fiscal Year 2006 Navy Early Transition Program is a voluntary program and applies to qualified active duty enlisted sailors including United States Navy, United States Navy Reserve, Full Time Support, and Canvasser Recruiters. Selected Reserve sailors (including mobilized reservist) are not eligible for this program.
Effective immediately, qualified enlisted sailors who have an EAOS on or before 30 September 2006 may submit a request for early separation to their commanding officer. Requested separation dates must be no later than August 15, 2006, and all sailors separated under this program must be discharged by that date. Waivers of the EAOS and separation date will not be granted.
Commanding officers have final disapproval authority over all requests, but not approval authority. In making the decision over whether to disapprove a request or forward a request to the Naval Personnel Command (PERS-4832) for final consideration, commanders have been instructed to carefully weigh rating and Navy Enlisted Classification Codes (NEC) manning levels in their unit, inbound reliefs, and projected operation schedules and requirements.
Not Everyone is Eligible
Sailors of any rating (including non-designated personnel) are eligible for this program, with the following exceptions (waivers will not be granted);
- sailors serving under a Selected Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) Contract, or those serving in ratings eligible for an SRB reenlistment.
- sailors in the SEAL/SWCC/EOD/Diver Programs
- sailors in Nuclear ratings
- sailors who enlisted under the provisions of the National Call to Service (NCS) Program.
- sailors in ratings/NEC's under any "Stop-Loss" order in effect at the time of submission. If "Stop Loss" is put into effect for a member's rating/NEC after separation approval, that approval will be cancelled, and the member will be retained until the Stop Loss is lifted.
Sailors serving on overseas tours may apply for this program, as long as they have already served the minimum DoD-mandated tour length set for their assignment location. Waivers to the DoD minimum area tour lengths will not be granted under this program.
Sailors serving on an enlistment extension which becomes operative prior to September 30, 2006 may request early separation under the program in conjunction with a request to cancel the extension.
Requests for separation under this program must be received by the Naval Personnel Command (PERS-4832) no later than August 1, 2006. Requests received after this date will be returned without action.
Benefits
As this is an early release policy, commanding officers may grant terminal leave. However, Permissive TDY and involuntary separation pay are not authorized, as this is a voluntary separation program.
Sailors enrolled in the Active Duty Montgomery GI Bill (ADMGIB) who are honorably discharged from active duty under this program are entitled to one month of MGIB benefits for each full month served on active duty, up to a maximum of 36 months. Those discharged under this program who have served 20 months of a two-year enlistment, or 30 months of a 3-year or more year enlistment contract will receive the full 36 months of MGIB benefits.
Those serving on active duty for more than 180 days are normally eligible for all Veteran Affairs (VA) benefits, with the exception of the VA Home Loan Guarantee Program benefits, in which 2 years of active duty service is required for eligibility. Voluntary early separation for sailors with less than 2 years active duty is a disqualifying factor for this benefit.
For complete information about this program, see NAVADMIN 06-022.
