Can you still PCS with only 18 months left on your contract?

2023-05-23T02:41:33-04:00

My friend and I both got orders for the same place (CONUS) but they got flagged and can’t leave until it’s lifted. It’s been almost 5 months since I left but they are still stuck there and now their unit is telling them that they have to extend there (OCONUS) because there’s not enough time left on their contract to PCS. But I’ve seen and know people who’ve PCS with less than that remaining on their contracts.

Response by COL Randall C. made May 23 at 2023 8:16 AM

2023-05-23T08:16:33-04:00

Short answer: Likely no.

Generally the least amount of a Service Remaining Requirement (SRR) you'll have in order to PCS to a new assignment is 24 months (for a CONUS to CONUS assignment) unless it is waived by HRC. There are some special considerations (humanitarian, returning from overseas contingency operations, etc.) that only require a six month SRR, but that are just that - special exceptions which probably don't apply in this situation.

Additional SRR timelines:
● CONUS to OCONUS requires that they have a SRR long enough to meet the prescribed tour length of the overseas tour.
●OCONUS to CONUS requires you to have a 6 or 12 month SRR depending on if you went unaccompanied (6) or accompanied (12).
● Finally, there are assignment specific restrictions that will dictate a SRR (for example, a CONUS recruiting assignment will require 36 months SRR)

AR 614-200* (Enlisted Assignments and Utilization Management) has the retainability requirements as well as any other general requirements that would apply.
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* AR 614-200 - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN14314_AR614-200_FINAL.pdf

ARN14314_AR614-200_FINAL.pdf

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2023 11:00 PM

2023-05-23T23:00:55-04:00

Here is my thinking....How bad did your friend screw up that a Flag was still in place 5 MONTHS after you left? A Transferable Flag is for Code J (ACFT Failure), Code K (ABCP), and for Code H (Punishment Phase of UCMJ). The list for NON-Transferable Flags is pretty long. I suggest you look up DA Form 268 to see why someone CANNOT PCS with a Flag. Then, try to answer your own question.