Does anyone know new RCP for 2016?

SPC (Join to see) per request:
New Army retention regulation took effect May 1 2015.

The Army’s principal regulation for re-enlistments and service extensions has been updated to consolidate all the messages and directive changes of the past year, including the new retention control points, authorization for Selective Retention Bonuses and a straight-forward listing of the basic eligibility requirements for re-enlistment under the Precision Retention Program in force during the drawdown.

While re-enlistment criteria can vary from one specialty to another, age and citizenship requirements cannot be waived, nor can retention control points.

To qualify for re-enlistment, soldiers must be 18 years or older on the date of re-enlistment, and not more than 62 at their new expiration term of service date.

Soldiers with fewer than 10 years of federal service may re-enlist for periods of two, three, four, five or six years of service, provided they meet requirements for retention.

Staff sergeants and higher who have 10 or more years of service will be permitted to re-up for an indefinite period, unless otherwise specified by the Army.

Soldiers who have completed 20 or more years of active federal service will not be allowed to re-up or extend for a term of service that will carry them beyond the last day of the month they reach age 62.

Soldiers may serve in the Regular Army up to the retention control point for their rank, or until age 62, whichever occurs first.

Retention control points, the high-year tenure limits for the ranks of private through command sergeant major, have seen several adjustments since the force buildup of 10 years ago, and likely will see a further tightening as the Army moves deeper into the drawdown, according to Pentagon sources.

Under the most recent change (Oct.1), Regular Army and Active Guard and Reserve (Army Reserve) soldiers selected for promotion to sergeant first class and master sergeant no longer attain an extended RCP until actual pin-on to the higher rank.

While further changes are possible, the following RCPs will be in effect May 1:

• Private and private first class: five years’ active service

• Corporal and specialist: eight years

• Corporal and specialist (promotable): eight years

• Sergeant: 14 years

• Sergeant (promotable): 14 years

• Staff sergeant: 20 years

• Staff sergeant (promotable): 20 years

• Sergeant first class: 26 years

• Sergeant first class (promotable): 26 years

• First sergeant and master sergeant: 29 years

• First sergeant and master sergeant (promotable): 32 years

• Command sergeant major and sergeant major: 32 years

The revised regulation continues cash incentives for soldiers who extend their careers under the Selective Retention Bonus program.

SRBs are paid to soldiers who re-enlist for a designated period in military occupational specialty that is classified as critical because it does not have sufficient retention levels to sustain the force.

Basic criteria for a bonus require that active component soldiers have no more than 20 years of service, re-enlist for at least three years, or extend their enlistment for 12 months or more, and be in the rank of private first class or higher and have at least 17 months of continuous service at the time of re-enlistment.

SRBs will continue to be paid in a lump sum, and will not exceed $25,000 for each year of additional obligated service, up to maximum of $100,000 per bonus. Total bonus payments over a soldier’s career cannot exceed $200,000, unless exempted by the Defense Department.

SRB re-enlistments will not exceed six years, and will not be paid for any active federal service beyond 24 years.

AR 601-280 (Army Retention Program) was published April 1, and will take effect May 1.

An electronic version of the revised A601-280 can be accessed from the Army Publishing Directorate homepage.

There is no new RCP change for 2016. That was a misprint in the Army Times

Please read the following MILPER. It is the current MILPER Message on RCP.


MILPER Message Number
14-070

Proponent
AHRC-EPF-R

Title
CHANGE TO RETENTION CONTROL POINTS (RCP) FOR ENLISTED SOLDIERS SERVING IN THE REGULAR ARMY (RA) AND THE TITLE 10 ACTIVE GUARD RESERVE (AGR) PROGRAM

...Issued: [11 Mar 14]...






A. HQDA ALARACT MESSAGE 026/2014, DAPE-MPE, CHANGE TO RETENTION CONTROL POINTS FOR ENLISTED SOLDIERS SERVING IN THE REGULAR ARMY OR UNDER THE ACTIVE GUARD RESERVE TITLE 10 PROGRAM, 31 JAN 14.

B. ARMY DIRECTIVE 2014-03 (RETENTION CONTROL POINTS), 28 JAN 14.

C. ARMY REGULATION 135-18 (THE ACTIVE GUARD RESERVE (AGR) PROGRAM), 1 NOV 04.

D. ARMY REGULATION 140-10 (ASSIGNMENTS, ATTACHMENTS, DETAILS, AND TRANSFERS), 15 AUG 05.

E. ARMY REGULATION 140-111 (THE U.S. ARMY RESERVE REENLISTMENT PROGRAM), 9 MAY 07.

F. ARMY REGULATION 600-8-19 (ENLISTED PROMOTIONS AND REDUCTIONS), 30 APR 10.

G. ARMY REGULATION 601-210 (ACTIVE AND RESERVE COMPONENTS ENLISTMENT PROGRAM), 7 JUN 07.

H. ARMY REGULATION 601-280 (ARMY RETENTION PROGRAM), 31 JAN 06 (RAR 15 SEP 11).

I. MILPER MESSAGE 11-096 (CHANGE TO RETENTION CONTROL POINTS (RCP) FOR ENLISTED SOLDIERS SERVING INTHE REGULAR ARMY OR UNDER THE ACTIVE GUARD), 25 MAR 11.


1. THIS MILPER MESSAGE SUPERSEDES REFERENCE I, AND WILL EXPIRE 2 YEARS FROM ISSUE DATE. THE CONTENTS WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL SUPERSEDED OR RESCINDED.


2. THE ARMY ESTABLISHED NEW POLICIES PERTAINING TO RETENTION CONTROL POINTS (RCP) IN REFERENCE A ABOVE WHICH ELIMINATED THE RCP FOR PROMOTABLE SPECIALISTS AND SERGEANTS. THE NEW POLICY AUTHORIZES SPECIALISTS TO SERVE 8 YEARS AND SERGEANTS TO SERVE 14 YEARS. ADDITIONALLY, SOLDIERS SERVING IN THE REGULAR ARMY (RA) AND TITLE 10 ACTIVE GUARD RESERVE (AGR) PROGRAM WHO EXCEED THEIR RCP, WILL SERVE TO THEIR CONTRACTUAL EXPIRATION TERM OF SERVICE (ETS) DATE UNLESS THEY ARE REDUCED IN RANK, REMOVED FROM A CENTRALIZED PROMOTION LIST OR CLASSIFIED IN SPECIAL REPORTING CODE (SRC) 09U. THIS MESSAGE PROVIDES PROCESSING GUIDANCE FOR ADJUSTMENTS OF THE ETS DATE ON SOLDIERS WHO EXCEED THE RCP AS A RESULT OF BEING REDUCED IN RANK, REMOVED FROM A CENTRALIZED PROMOTION LIST, AND SOLDIERS CLASSIFIED IN SRC 09U.


3. RA AND AGR SOLDIERS WHO ARE REDUCED IN GRADE OR REMOVED FROM A CENTRALIZED PROMOTION LIST AFTER 31 JAN 14 AND EXCEED THEIR RCP AS A RESULT OF THE REDUCTION IN GRADE OR REMOVAL FROM PROMOTION LIST WILL BE SEPARATED NOT EARLIER THAN 90 DAYS AND NO LATER THAN 180 DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE REDUCTION/REMOVAL, REGARDLESS OF THE CURRENT ENLISTMENT AGREEMENT.

A. WHEN A RA SOLDIER IS REDUCED IN GRADE OR REMOVED FROM A CENTRALIZED PROMOTION LIST, THE COMMANDER MUST ENSURE THE CAREER COUNSELOR IS NOTIFIED OF THE REDUCTION. THE UNIT G1/S1 IS RESPONSIBLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICING CAREER COUNSELOR DOCUMENTATION OF THE REDUCTION/REMOVAL. WHEN AN AGR SOLDIER IS REDUCED IN GRADE OR REMOVED FROM A CENTRALIZED PROMOTION LIST THE UNIT G1/S1 IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING HRC PROMOTION BRANCH AND THE RETENTION AND RECLASSIFICATION BRANCH (RRB) THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. THE CAREER COUNSELOR WILL USE THE “EXCEEDS RCP/REDUCTION” REASON CODE IN THE RETAIN SYSTEM TO ADJUST THE RA SOLDIER’S ETS AND RRB WILL ADJUST THE AGR SOLDIER’S ETS IN THE RESERVE DATA MAINTENANCE SYSTEM (RDMS) AS FOLLOWS:

(1) SOLDIERS WHO EXCEED THE RCP FOR THEIR CURRENT GRADE WILL HAVE THEIR ETS ADJUSTED TO 180 DAYS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE REDUCTION/REMOVAL UNLESS THE SOLDIER REQUESTS AN EARLIER SEPARATION DATE AND IS APPROVED BY THE BATTALION COMMANDER, OR THE SOLDIER MEETS THE CRITERIA IN PARAGRAPH 3B OF THIS MESSAGE. ALL SOLDIERS WILL BE PROVIDED A MINIMUM OF 90 DAYS TO SEPARATE. (EXAMPLE: A SSG WITH 15 YEARS OF ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE (AFS) WHO IS REDUCED TO SGT WILL HAVE AN ETS 180 DAYS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE REDUCTION).

(2) SOLDIERS WHO DO NOT EXCEED THE RCP FOR THEIR CURRENT GRADE, BUT HAVE AN ETS DATE THAT EXCEEDS THE RCP FOR THE CURRENT GRADE, WILL HAVE THEIR ETS DATE ADJUSTED TO THE RCP FOR THE CURRENT GRADE OR 180 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE REDUCTION/REMOVAL, WHICHEVER IS LATER. (EXAMPLE: A SGT WITH 6 YEARS OF AFS WHO IS REDUCED TO SPC WILL HAVE THEIR ETS ADJUSTED TO THE DAY THEY ATTAIN 8 YEARS OF AFS).

B. SOLDIERS WHO HAVE BETWEEN 18 AND 20 YEARS OF AFS MAY NOT BE SEPARATED BUT WILL BE PERMITTED TO RETIRE ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH FOLLOWING THE MONTH THEY REACH 20 YEARS OF AFS UNLESS THE SOLDIER IS APPROVED FOR SEPARATION BY THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE ARMY (MANPOWER & RESERVE AFFAIRS). CAREER COUNSELORS/RRB WILL ADJUST THE SOLDIER’S ETS TO THE LAST DAY OF THE MONTH THE SOLDIER REACHES 20 YEARS OF AFS OR 180 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE REDUCTION/REMOVAL, WHICHEVER IS LATER.

C. SOLDIERS WHO HAVE OVER 20 YEARS OF AFS (INCLUDING SOLDIERS SERVING ON INDEFINITE CONTRACTS) WHO EXCEED THEIR RCP AS A RESULT OF THE REDUCTION IN GRADE OR REMOVAL FROM PROMOTION LIST MUST SUBMIT FOR RETIREMENT AND WILL RETIRE NO LATER THAN 180 DAYS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE REDUCTION/REMOVAL. CAREER COUNSELORS/RRB WILL ADJUST THE SOLDIER’S ETS TO 180 DAYS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE REDUCTION/REMOVAL. ONCE THE SOLDIER RECEIVES HIS/HER RETIREMENT ORDERS THE CAREER COUNSELOR/RRB MAY ADJUST THE ETS AGAIN TO MEET THE SEPARATION DATE ON THOSE ORDERS. SOLDIERS WHO DO NOT EXCEED THE RCP FOR THEIR CURRENT GRADE WILL SERVE TO THE RCP FOR THAT GRADE. (EXAMPLE: A MSG WITH 23 YEARS OF AFS IS REDUCED TO SFC WILL HAVE THEIR ETS ADJUSTED TO THE LAST DAY OF THE MONTH THEY ATTAIN 26 YEARS OF AFS).


4. SOLDIERS CLASSIFIED IN SRC 09U, DUE TO BECOMING UNQUALIFIED IN AN AUTHORIZED ARMY MOS, WILL SEPARATE OR RETIRE NOT EARLIER THAN 90 DAYS AND NO LATER THAN 270 DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF CLASSIFICATION. SOLDIERS WHO HAVE BETWEEN 18 AND 20 YEARS OF AFS MAY SERVE TO MEET THE MINIMUM RETIREMENT ELIGIBILITY OR NO LATER THAN 270 DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF CLASSIFICATION, WHICHEVER IS LATER, UNLESS THE SOLDIER IS APPROVED FOR SEPARATION BY THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE ARMY (MANPOWER & RESERVE AFFAIRS). RRB WILL MAKE ALL ETS ADJUSTMENTS FOR BOTH THE RA AND AGR 09U POPULATION.


5. SOLDIERS WHO RECEIVED AN INCENTIVE FOR A SPECIFIC SERVICE OBLIGATION AND ARE SEPARATED PRIOR TO COMPLETING THEIR SERVICE OBLIGATION MUST REPAY A PRO-RATED SHARE OF THE INCENTIVE.


6. ALL SOLDIERS BEING RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY DUE TO EXCEEDING THEIR RCP MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO TRANSFER TO THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD OR ARMY RESERVES.


7. ALL REQUESTS FOR EXCEPTIONS TO THE RCP POLICY FOR MSG (NONPROMOTABLE) AND BELOW WILL BE ENDORSED BY THE FIRST COLONEL (O6) IN THE SOLDIER’S CHAIN OF COMMAND AND PROCESSED THROUGH THE UNIT’S RETENTION OFFICE TO HRC. EXCEPTIONS TO THE RCP POLICY FOR SGM/CSM ARE PROCESSED THROUGH THE ACOM G1 TO DCS G-1, DMPM, ARMY RETENTION.


8. POC FOR ALL INQUIRIES PERTAINING TO THE RETENTION CONTROL POINTS IS THE SERVICING CAREER COUNSELOR. CAREER COUNSELORS WITH QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO THIS MESSAGE WILL CONTACT THE RETENTION AND RECLASSIFICATION BRANCH, HRC, EPMD, [login to see] .