Army
Regulation 135–178
Army National Guard and Reserve
Enlisted
Administrative
Separations
Headquarters
Department
of the Army
Washington, DC
12
January 2017
UNCLASSIFIED
SUMMARY of CHANGE
AR 135–178
Enlisted Administrative Separations
This mandated revision, dated 12 January 2017— o Implements
Army Directive 2016–35, Army Policy on Military Service of Transgender Soldiers
(para 6–7a). o Changes term “bar(s) to reenlistment” to
“bar(s) to continued service” (throughout).
Headquarters
*Army
Regulation 135–178
Department
of the Army Washington, DC
12
January 2017 Effective 12 January 2017
Army National
Guard and Reserve
Enlisted Administrative Separations
Applicability. This
regulation applies to Army internal control process. This
Army
National Guard/Army National regulation contains internal
control proviGuard of the United States and U.S. Army sions in accordance with
AR 11–2 and idenReserve Soldiers not serving on active duty tifies key internal controls that must be evaluated (see
appendix B).
Proponent and exception authority.
The proponent of this regulation is the
Dep- Supplementation. Supplementation
of uty Chief of Staff, G–1. The proponent has this regulation and establishment
of comthe authority to approve exceptions or mand and local forms are
prohibited withwaivers to this regulation that are consistent out prior
approval from Deputy Chief of with controlling law and regulations. The Staff,
G–1 (DAPE–MP), 300 Army Pentaproponent may delegate this approval au- gon,
Washington, DC 20310–0300.
thority, in writing, to a division chief within the proponent agency or
its direct reporting Suggested improvements. Users
are
History. This
publication is a mandated unit or field operating agency, in the grade invited
to send comments and suggested improvements on DA Form 2028 (Recom-
of colonel or the civilian
equivalent. Activ-
revision. The portions affected by
this man- mended
Changes to Publications and Blank
ities may request a waiver
to this regulation
dated revision are listed in the
summary of Forms)
directly to Headquarters, Depart-
change. by providing justification that
includes a ment of the Army, Deputy Chief of Staff,
full analysis of the
expected benefits and
Summary. This
regulation implements must include formal review by the activ- G–1
(DAPE–MPE–IP), 300 Army Penta-
Department of Defense Instructions
ity’s senior legal officer. All waiver re- gon, Washington, DC
20310–0300.
1332.14. It establishes
policies, standards, quests will be endorsed by the commander Distribution. This
publication is availa-
and procedures governing the
administra- or senior leader of the requesting activity ble in
electronic media only and is intended
tive separation of certain enlisted
Soldiers and forwarded through their higher head- for command level
B for the Active Army
of the Army National Guard
of the United quarters to the policy proponent. Refer to and A for the Army
National Guard/Army
States and the United States Army
Reserve. AR 25–30 for specific guidance. National Guard of the United States,
and
the U.S. Army Reserve.

Contents
(Listed by paragraph and page number)
Chapter 1
General Provisions, page 1
Section
I
General,
page 1
Purpose • 1–1, page 1 References • 1–2,
page 1
Explanation of abbreviations and terms • 1–3, page
1
Responsibilities • 1–4, page 1 Statutory
authority • 1–5, page 2
Separation processing goals • 1–6, page 2
DA Form 5138 (Separation Action Control Sheet) • 1–7,
page 3
Medical processing and evaluation • 1–8, page 3
Precedence of referral to the Physical Disability
Evaluation System and administrative separation • 1–9, page 5

*This
regulation supersedes AR 135–178, dated 18 March 2014.
AR
135–178 • 12 January 2017 i
UNCLASSIFIED
Section
II
Authority
to Order and Accomplish Separation, page 6
Authority to order separation prior to expiration of
service obligation • 1–10, page 6
Authority to order separation of
Soldiers having more than 18 but fewer than 20 years of qualifying service for
retired pay • 1–11, page 6
Referrals to Headquarters, Department of the Army •
1–12, page 6
Authority to convene administrative separation boards
for non-unit Soldiers • 1–13, page 6
Actions required of commanders
having separation authority regarding Soldiers' incentives and entitlements •
1– 14, page 7
Section
III
Instruction in
Benefits of an Honorable Characterization of Service on Discharge, page 7
Purpose of instruction • 1–15, page 7
Presentation of instruction • 1–16, page 7
Contents of instruction • 1–17, page 7
Applicability and time of instruction • 1–18,
page 8 Recording • 1–19, page 8
Section
IV
Bars
to Continued Service, page 8
General • 1–20, page 8
Discharge initiation and processing • 1–21, page 8
Section
V
Mobilization
Asset Transfer Program, page 8
Policy • 1–22, page 8
Eligibility for the Mobilization Asset Transfer
Program • 1–23, page 9
Ineligible for the Mobilization Asset Transfer
Program • 1–24, page 9
Separation authority determination of mobilization
potential • 1–25, page 9
Requirements on retention, transfer, or reassignment
to the individual ready reserve • 1–26, page 10
Chapter 2
Guidelines on Separation and
Characterization, page 11
Section
I
Separation, page 11
Scope • 2–1, page 12
Guidance • 2–2, page 12
Limitations on separation actions • 2–3, page 12
Counseling and rehabilitation • 2–4, page 13
Section
II
Suspension
of Separation, page 14
Suspension • 2–5, page 14
Action during the period of suspension • 2–6, page
14
Section
III
Characterization
or Description of Service on Separation, page 14
Types of characterization or description • 2–7,
page 14
General considerations • 2–8, page 15
Characterization of service • 2–9, page 15
Limitation on characterization of service • 2–10,
page 16
Separation where service is uncharacterized • 2–11,
page 17
Section
IV
Discharge
Policy, page 17
Separation counseling for Soldiers being discharged •
2–12, page 17
Orders • 2–13, page 18
Discharge before expiration of the service obligation
• 2–14, page 18
Discharge after expiration of the service obligation
• 2–15, page 18
Effective date of discharge • 2–16, page 18
Notification of discharge • 2–17, page 19
Notification of discharge of a Soldier who cannot be
located or is absent in the hands of civil authorities • 2–18, page 19
Certificates • 2–19, page 19
Preparation of certificates • 2–20, page 19
Amendments and corrections to certificates • 2–21,
page 19
Chapter 3
Guidelines for Separation,
page 20
Section
I
Application,
page 20
Scope • 3–1, page 20
Guidance • 3–2, page 20
Counsel for respondent • 3–3, page 20
Screening and counseling of victims of sexual assault
• 3–4, page 21
Section
II
Separation
Using the Notification Procedure, page 21
Notice under the notification procedure • 3–5,
page 21
Additional notice requirements • 3–6, page 22
Response • 3–7, page 22
The initiating commander's report to the separation
authority • 3–8, page 23
Action by intermediate commanders • 3–9, page 23
Action by separation authority • 3–10, page 23
Section
III
Separation
Using The Administrative Board Procedure, page 23
Notice under the administrative board procedure •
3–11, page 23
Additional notice requirements • 3–12, page 24
Response • 3–13, page 24
The initiating commander's report to the separation
authority • 3–14, page 25
Action by intermediate commanders • 3–15, page 25
Waiver • 3–16, page 25
Action by the separation authority on commander's
recommendation • 3–17, page 25
Hearing requirements • 3–18, page 26
Action by separation authority on board
recommendations • 3–19, page 28
Disposition of proceedings • 3–20, page 29
Errors and discrepancies noted before accomplishing
separation • 3–21, page 29
Disposition of the case file • 3–22, page 30
Section
IV
Additional
Provisions Concerning Soldiers Confined by Civil Authorities, page 30
Proceedings when Soldier is confined by civil
authorities • 3–23, page 30
Notification requirements • 3–24, page 30
Chapter 4
Expiration of Service Obligation,
page 64
Basis • 4–1, page 64
The military service obligation • 4–2, page 65
Retention beyond expiration of service obligation •
4–3, page 65
Voluntary separation of Soldiers on indefinite
re-enlistments • 4–4, page 65
Characterization of service • 4–5, page 65
Separation authority • 4–6, page 66
Chapter 5
Selected Changes in Service Obligations,
page 66
Basis • 5–1, page 66
Reduction in authorized strength of the U.S. Army
Reserve or Army National Guard of the United States • 5–2, page 66
Discharge for immediate reenlistment • 5–3, page
66
Discharge on enlistment in another component of the
U.S. Armed Forces • 5–4, page 66
Discharge on appointment as a commissioned or warrant
officer • 5–5, page 67
Separation of cadets on
disenrollment from the Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps or an Reserve
Officers' Training Corps Scholarship Program • 5–6, page 67
Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadet early release
• 5–7, page 68
Discharge of a potential Reserve Officers' Training
Corps/Simultaneous Membership Program participant • 5–8, page 68
Chapter 6
Convenience of the Government,
page 68
Basis • 6–1, page 68
Dependency or hardship • 6–2, page 68
Pregnancy • 6–3, page 70
Surviving sons or daughters • 6–4, page 70
Involuntary separation due to parenthood • 6–5,
page 71
Not medically qualified under procurement medical
fitness standards • 6–6, page 71
Other designated physical or mental conditions • 6–7,
page 72
Characterization of service • 6–8, page 72
Procedures • 6–9, page 72
Separation authority • 6–10, page 72
Chapter 7
Defective Enlistments and Reenlistments,
page 73
Minority enlistments • 7–1, page 73
Erroneous enlistment, reenlistment, and extension •
7–2, page 73
Defective enlistments or reenlistments • 7–3, page
74
Fraudulent enlistments or reenlistments • 7–4,
page 75
Chapter 8
Entry Level Performance and Conduct,
page 76
Basis • 8–1, page 76
Counseling and rehabilitation • 8–2, page 76
Characterization and description • 8–3, page 76
Procedures • 8–4, page 76
Separation authority • 8–5, page 76
Chapter 9
Unsatisfactory Performance,
page 76
Basis • 9–1, page 76
Criteria • 9–2, page 76
Counseling and rehabilitation • 9–3, page 77
Suspension of favorable personnel action • 9–4,
page 77
Medical processing and evaluation • 9–5, page 77
Characterization of service • 9–6, page 77
Procedures • 9–7, page 77
Separation authority • 9–8, page 77
CHAPTER 10
(Rescinded.), page 77
Chapter 11
Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Failure,
page 77
Basis • 11–1, page 77
Characterization or description • 11–2, page 78
Procedures • 11–3, page 78
Separation authority • 11–4, page 78
Chapter 12
Misconduct, page 78
Basis • 12–1, page 78
Conviction by civil court • 12–2, page 79
Procedures for civil court cases in foreign countries
• 12–3, page 79
Related separations • 12–4, page 80
Counseling and rehabilitation • 12–5, page 80
Suspension of favorable personnel action • 12–6,
page 81
Medical processing and evaluation • 12–7, page 81
Characterization of service • 12–8, page 81
Procedures • 12–9, page 81
Separation authority • 12–10, page 81
Chapter 13
Unsatisfactory Participation in the Ready
Reserve, page 81
Basis • 13–1, page 81
Suspension of favorable personnel action • 13–2,
page 81
Characterization of service • 13–3, page 81
Procedures • 13–4, page 82
Separation authority • 13–5, page 82
Chapter 14
Secretarial Plenary Authority,
page 82
Basis • 14–1, page 82
Characterization of service • 14–2, page 82
Procedures • 14–3, page 82
Chapter 15
Separation for Other Reasons,
page 83
Section
I
Reasons
for Separation, page 83
Basis • 15–1, page 83
Characterization of service • 15–2, page 84
Procedures • 15–3, page 84
Separation authority • 15–4, page 84
Section
II
Separation from the
Delayed Entry Program, page 84 Basis • 15–5, page 84
Characterization or description • 15–6, page 85
Procedures • 15–7, page 85
Separation authority • 15–8, page 85
Section
III
Dropping
from the Rolls, page 85
Sentenced to imprisonment (10 USC 12684(3)) • 15–9,
page 85
Characterization of service • 15–10, page 85
Procedures • 15–11, page 85
Separation authority • 15–12, page 86
Chapter 16
Failure to Meet Army Body Composition
Standards, page 86 Applicability • 16–1, page 86
Basis • 16–2, page 86
Counseling and rehabilitation • 16–3, page 86
Medical processing and evaluation • 16–4, page 86
Characterization or description • 16–5, page 86
Separation authority • 16–6, page 86
Appendixes
A. References,
page 87
B. Internal
Control Evaluation Checklist, page 92
Figure List
Figure 1–1: Format for an affidavit of service by
mail, page 11
Figure 3–1: Sample memorandum for victims of sexual
assault statement for administrative separations, page 31
Figure 3–2: Format for notification of separation
proceedings when the notification procedure is used, page 32
Figure 3–2: Format for notification
of separation proceedings when the notification procedure is used—continued,
page 33
Figure 3–2: Format for
notification of separation proceedings when the notification procedure is
used—continued, page 34
Figure 3–2: Format for
notification of separation proceedings when the notification procedure is
used—continued, page 35
Figure 3–2: Format for
notification of separation proceedings when the notification procedure is
used—continued, page 36
Figure 3–3: Format for Soldier's
response by endorsement to notification of separation proceedings when the
notification procedure is used, page 37
Figure 3–3: Format for Soldier's
response by endorsement to notification of separation proceedings when the
notification procedure is used—continued, page 38
Figure 3–3: Format for Soldier's
response by endorsement to notification of separation proceedings when the
notification procedure is used—continued, page 39
Figure 3–3: Format for Soldier's
response by endorsement to notification of separation proceedings when the
notification procedure is used—continued, page 40
Figure 3–3: Format for Soldier's
response by endorsement to notification of separation proceedings when the
notification procedure is used—continued, page 41
Figure 3–3: Format for Soldier's
response by endorsement to notification of separation proceedings when the
notification procedure is used—continued, page 42
Figure 3–4: Format for commanding officer's report to
the separation authority, page 43
Figure 3–4: Format for commanding officer's report to
the separation authority—continued, page 44
Figure 3–4: Format for commanding officer's report to
the separation authority—continued, page 45
Figure 3–4: Format for commanding officer's report to
the separation authority—continued, page 46
Figure 3–4: Format for commanding officer's report to
the separation authority—continued, page 47
Figure 3–5: Format for notification of separation
proceedings when the administrative board procedure is used, page 48
Figure 3–5: Format for
notification of separation proceedings when the administrative board procedure
is used—continued, page 49
Figure 3–5: Format for
notification of separation proceedings when the administrative board procedure
is used—continued, page 50
Figure 3–5: Format for
notification of separation proceedings when the administrative board procedure
is used—continued, page 51
Figure 3–5: Format for
notification of separation proceedings when the administrative board procedure
is used—continued, page 52
Figure 3–5: Format for
notification of separation proceedings when the administrative board procedure
is used—continued, page 53
Figure 3–6: Format for Soldier's
response by endorsement to notification of separation proceedings when the
administrative board procedure is used, page 54
Figure 3–6: Format for Soldier's
response by endorsement to notification of separation proceedings when the
administrative board procedure is used—continued, page 55
Figure 3–6: Format for Soldier's
response by endorsement to notification of separation proceedings when the
administrative board procedure is used—continued, page 56
Figure 3–6: Format for Soldier's
response by endorsement to notification of separation proceedings when the
administrative board procedure is used—continued, page 57