Posted on May 30, 2014
Fact or Fiction? A Soldier Being Separated for Lack of a Family Care Plan Can Receive an End of Tour (ETS) Award.
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If a Soldier cannot or chooses to not maintain a valid Family Care Plan and is being separated for that reason, can they still receive an End of Tour (ETS) Service Award ICW?
Army
Awards
Transition
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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Each case should be weighted individually. If this chapter is under honorable conditions, why wouldn't you submit them for an award.
Sometimes, life can throw you a screw ball and the Army isn't an easy place to be a single parent.
Sometimes, life can throw you a screw ball and the Army isn't an easy place to be a single parent.
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CSM Mike Maynard
Sir - all Soldiers being separated, even under honorable conditions, must still be flagged and being flagged does seem to prevent receiving an award.
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What would you do if your best Soldier's spouse dies and they can't establish a long term Family Care Plan because they have no extended family and can't find anyone they know and trust to watch the child?
Unless it's in black and white that you can't I say you should give an award if it's earned.
Unless it's in black and white that you can't I say you should give an award if it's earned.
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CSM Mike Maynard
There you go again sir - giving a precise example of why blanket policies are not a good policy.
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CPT (Join to see)
CSM Mike Maynard -, Sir, AR 635-200 Chapter 6 http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r635_200.pdf is the place in the regulation you're looking for to take care of this particular Soldier appropriately.
The Family Care Plan chapter in general is a tool to move apathetic Soldiers, who do not take their duties seriously and fail to take appropriate steps to guarantee their family and personal readiness, out of the Army. Failing to have an effective FCP can cause team and unit failure when these Soldiers are asked to perform their assigned duties (deploy in defense of the nation). Short falls are discovered when the unit goes to the field or complete JRTC (or similar) rotations. If the Soldier is being chaptered for FCP - leaders at all levels should make sure that the action is appropriate (and that the Soldier deserves the FCP Chapter/doesn't qualify for a different chapter method - as in the example above). No exemptions needed.
When it comes time for the award (or not), there shouldn't be any questions. All we have to do, as Army Leaders, is the right thing. The "defining point" in your question is the "cannot" or "chooses not". Cannot: Leaders will find a way to separate the Soldier another way. Chooses Not: No award necessary. So, I think that cuts the field appropriately.
The Family Care Plan chapter in general is a tool to move apathetic Soldiers, who do not take their duties seriously and fail to take appropriate steps to guarantee their family and personal readiness, out of the Army. Failing to have an effective FCP can cause team and unit failure when these Soldiers are asked to perform their assigned duties (deploy in defense of the nation). Short falls are discovered when the unit goes to the field or complete JRTC (or similar) rotations. If the Soldier is being chaptered for FCP - leaders at all levels should make sure that the action is appropriate (and that the Soldier deserves the FCP Chapter/doesn't qualify for a different chapter method - as in the example above). No exemptions needed.
When it comes time for the award (or not), there shouldn't be any questions. All we have to do, as Army Leaders, is the right thing. The "defining point" in your question is the "cannot" or "chooses not". Cannot: Leaders will find a way to separate the Soldier another way. Chooses Not: No award necessary. So, I think that cuts the field appropriately.
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I see the point of quite a few of the folks on here that if their service was honorable and the only reason for their being discharged was that they couldn't create a workable Family Care Plan, why wouldn't they deserve a Decorataion (the correct terminology for those that have heartburn using ETS or End of Tour) Award. btw, pg 46 of AR 600-8-22 shows an example (12a - reason is PCS), (10 - award is MSM).
But............................
The actual Regulation is specific and clear - a Soldier that is flagged for separation (which must be done when separating someone for Family Care Plan) cannot be put in for an award. The only exceptions are for APFT and ABCP under certain conditions. Additionally, you cannot lift the flag until they have been assigned to the transition point (basically separated).
Maybe the Army sees this as them not fulfilling their obligation. We would have spent considerable time/resources in training them and their unanticipated departure would leave a unit with a gap until we could train/resource another Soldier for that position.
I would be interested if someone could find an exception or caveat that would allow a Soldier separated under the Family Care Plan to receive an award for their service.
But............................
The actual Regulation is specific and clear - a Soldier that is flagged for separation (which must be done when separating someone for Family Care Plan) cannot be put in for an award. The only exceptions are for APFT and ABCP under certain conditions. Additionally, you cannot lift the flag until they have been assigned to the transition point (basically separated).
Maybe the Army sees this as them not fulfilling their obligation. We would have spent considerable time/resources in training them and their unanticipated departure would leave a unit with a gap until we could train/resource another Soldier for that position.
I would be interested if someone could find an exception or caveat that would allow a Soldier separated under the Family Care Plan to receive an award for their service.
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SFC (Join to see)
I agree CSM I have one processing for FCP. THE flag means no award regardless of their service.
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