Is there a way to get an early ETS for a college program?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 16:52:42 -0400

Early ETS question. I am wanting to apply for the MSSA program for the 1-Sep-2020--> 18-Dec-2020 option. My ETS is not until 04-Apr-2021. Is there an ETP to bump my ETS back until mid-feb so they start of the program is within 180 days of my ETS? The program is a full time, 16 week course taken at a university. Thanks for any help!

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Oct 30 at 2019 5:53 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 17:53:49 -0400

Check with Retention NCO but you are asking a lot.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 30 at 2019 5:56 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 17:56:30 -0400

There was a question about this a few months ago, look for a MILPER Message. The last one expired. The other source is AR635-200

Link to the MILPER is behind the CAC wall. https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/RRB%20Milper%20Messages

AR635-200
5–16. Early separation to further education
Soldiers may be discharged or released from active duty for the convenience of the Government, up to 90 days before ETS, in order to attend a specific term at college, university, vocational school, or technical school.
a. Soldiers serving initial enlistments of less than 3 years, members of the ARNGUS or USAR serving on ADT, and former senior ROTC cadets ordered to active duty because of breaches of contract are ineligible for separation under this paragraph.
b. To qualify for early separation, eligible Soldiers must—
(1) Not be mission essential to their assigned organizations, as determined by commanders concerned.
(2) Clearlyestablishthatthespecificschooltermforwhichtheyseekearlyseparationisacademicallythemostopportune time for them to begin or resume their education, and that delay of school enrollment until normal ETS would cause undue personal hardship.
(3) Provide a statement from an appropriate school official (for example, a registrar or director of admissions) indicating acceptance for enrollment (without qualification or in a probationary status) in a full-time resident course of instruction. The statement must also reflect that the latest acceptable registration date for the school term falls within the 90–day period preceding the Soldier’s ETS.
(4) Show that they are able to pay, or have already paid, school entry fees.
c. The college or university must offer courses of instruction leading to an associate, baccalaureate, or higher degree and must be approved by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The vocational or technical school must offer a course of in- struction of no less than 3 months’ duration and must be approved by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
d. The effective date of early separation under this paragraph normally will not be earlier than 10 days prior to the date classes convene, except when Soldiers may be separated up to 30 days prior to the date classes convene if evidence is submitted that the 10-day period is clearly insufficient. This is not intended as authority to permit separation a full 30 days prior to class starting date in every case but to provide a reasonable latitude in justifiable cases to authorize separation on a date that will give the Soldier adequate time to register and enter the school on time. Examples include Soldiers returning from overseas and those who must move their families to the school location.
e. Accrued leave will be used to the maximum extent possible, as transition leave, in conjunction with early separation under this paragraph.
f. For characterization of service, see paragraph 5–1.
g. Commandersspecifiedinparagraph1–19areauthorizedtoorderseparationunderthisparagraph.Thecriteriainchapter 1, section VII, will govern whether Soldiers will be released from AD with transfer to the IRR, or discharged.
h. Combining this paragraph with other early release programs to effect separation more than 90 days before ETS is not authorized.

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Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Oct 30 at 2019 6:06 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 18:06:23 -0400

Follow the advice of you retention NCO. I have never heard of anything beyond 90 days for college. Thank you for your service.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2019 8:09 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 20:09:21 -0400

No you cannot. You are not asking to drop early for college, you're asking to drop early to be eligible for a CSP program because they have to be taken within 180 days of ETS. The fact that it's conducted at a college is irrelevant. The 90 day college drop request is for Soldiers who will ETS in the middle of a school semester and separating early will allow them to begin the semester without having to wait for the next one.
What you can do is extend up to 90 days to allow you to be eligible for the next MSSA program since they have multiple iterations in a year.

Response by SSG Kasius McCall made Oct 31 at 2019 3:11 PM

SSG Kasius McCall — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 15:11:35 -0400

Though you can get out early for college, just had one of my Soldiers do it, the army program for it only allows 3 months early.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2019 3:06 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 03:06:37 -0400

Edit, whether it factors into this or not, I will have 60 days of terminal leave.