"Declination of continued service" How is it taking care of soldiers by forcing them to sign a DA Form 4991?

No I agree that helping soldiers get out of the service is advantageous if that is what the soldier wants. But if the soldier has a better opportunity outside the military with a civilian job but has not received a job offer yet. So may want to reenlist but also may get out; He is forced to stop any progress in his career to wait on a job offer. VIA signing a 4991.
But a average soldier who does not come down on orders but has less time in service remaining can continue to advance his career through military schools.

You said for SM #2 the " He or she isn't willing to PCS"

I never said they were not willing to PCS They just don't want to extend or reenlist at that current moment in time. If they could PCS without extending or reenlisting they would.

It is intellectually dishonest to say that everyone put the needs of the army first.

Is a married father going to miss the birth of his first born to stay at the office till 1800 writing a 4856? Because he could write it in the morning or in 2 days but that wouldn't be putting the army first. This situation also isn't life or death.

Why do so many get out between 20 and 23 year? Vast majority of SFC and MSG I've seen get out in this time frame. They could both serve another decade.

Saying that an individual doesn't put the service first is insinuating if not directly saying that they are not living the Army Values "Selfless service".

Again the SM in this situation are being forced to sign a 4991 and NOT choosing to do so on there own free will. They are uncertain if they want to continue serving in the military.

Off topic continuation...
How many years does someone have to serve before they can stop putting, as you said "the service first"? Did not President George Washington say "Have I not yet done enough for my country?"

Are these not the words of George Washington
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation."

SSG (Join to see) - I did not say that - I said when you sign a dec statement, you are putting your wants and needs above the service, you are forcing someone else to take the assignment instead of yourself. if everyone can decline assignments as they please, then places like Sill, Drum, Korea would not have the required personell to get the job done. The needs of the Army will always be first priority to those that run the Army. And to put it bluntly, you choose to sign a declination of continued service statement, that choice has consequences. So I have no sympathy nor empathy for someone who signs one.

SSG (Join to see) - He is not being forced to sign anything - he can accept the assignment. yes - at certain times in your career, you will be challenged by an assignment that you would rather not go to, or pick up a SRR that will force you to choose between deccing it, or reenlisting. suck it up and make the choice, then live with the consequences.

But to say you either have to re-enlist (Which states it is not truly voluntary), or sign a DEC statement saying you cannot work a federal job following separation (Which is true to today), is essentially forcing a re-enlistment on a service member who plans on moving on with his or her own life. That's a hell of an ultimatum, and by the way, even as service members you still have the rights of any US Citizen. If that is how the military treats a volunteer force, they won't see numbers sustained or rising and I think that's a big mistake. If someone feels they no longer wish to stay in the service, there is no reason to make that person feel obligated to stay by forcing his or her hand. Yes, while you are in the service you must comply with all orders while you are in, but you're also stunting the so-called "Assisted transition" out of the military.