What is the process for a voluntary separation for Chapter 8 (pregnancy)?

2016-08-19T23:27:12-04:00

i asked to be chaptered after i found that i was pregnant two months ago. yesterday, my company commander told me that he literally has no idea of how to initiate a chapter 8 because he's never had to do it before. (i'm in an infantry unit) my s-1 is also completely clueless about it and the reg is not specific at all. does anyone have any experience with this that can offer any help?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2016 11:33 PM

2016-08-19T23:33:15-04:00

You can ask JAG to to call your commander. They can explain the whole process.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2016 11:46 PM

2016-08-19T23:46:40-04:00

You should be discharge due to the hardship. Your discharge should still be under honorable conditions. Email me at [login to see] . I've come across a few females that I have help came back into the military after they were initial discharged due to being pregnant. I can send you what the paperwork should look like. It won't be till Monday before I can send it.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 20 at 2016 1:39 AM

2016-08-20T01:39:33-04:00

I don't know but this is a good forum to find a few resident experts.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Aug 20 at 2016 8:21 AM

2016-08-20T08:21:29-04:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member Congratulations are in order from all. As 1LT Sandy Annala suggests, it's regrettable the service is losing a 'good trooper' for any reason. Good people are hard to come by. It appears you have already gotten plenty of good advice on how to proceed. I am still shaking my head at why on god's green earth a SM cannot get help from their COC on something like this. What kind of leadership are these people as to claim ignorance of a simple admin procedure and yet not break a leg finding out how to proceed? Even the Bn S1 claiming ignorance? Very sorry for you having to jump through hoops of fire to accomplish what you're seeking.

Response by SGT Bryan Stanley made Aug 20 at 2016 8:29 AM

2016-08-20T08:29:45-04:00

Technology being what it is today, I'm surprised that none of your immediate chain of command could not find this information by doing an automated search of the regulations. Best wishes for you and the baby.

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Aug 20 at 2016 11:17 AM

2016-08-20T11:17:51-04:00

Navy is fairly specific that Sailors are NOT discharged just for pregnancy anymore. When I was a Company Commander way back int eh 1970's, yes. That was an easy and automatic reason for discharge, but no longer.

Today Sailors on Sea Duty are kept on ships until the 20th week of Pregnancy and then transferred to shore duty. The only real reason for discharge is failure to comply Family Care Plan and that is USUALLY Honorable, but sometimes General, depending on the circumstances of course.

I really HATE to lose a good service member for any reason, but your case is not a good reason. There has to be a way for your chain of command to work to solve this issue. YES, difficult but not impossible. TAD, no cost transfer of one of you, innovative out of the box thinking by SOMEONE in your chain.

Best of luck SPC Private RallyPoint Member, Gene

Response by SSG Mark Franzen made Aug 20 at 2016 12:09 PM

2016-08-20T12:09:47-04:00

When I was in 43 years ago I had a female soldier get out of the Army because she was supposedly pregnant but come
To find out from one of her female friends that she used someone else's urine to be discharged under being pregnant
So she wouldn't have to go to the Field but it something I will never forget.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Aug 20 at 2016 12:48 PM

2016-08-20T12:48:07-04:00

Okay...but I am sure the Battalion or Brigade S1 does. Recommend doing a 4187 requesting separation under that chapter. Look at the chapter itself in I believe AR 635-200. It will tell you the criteria that must be met. That applicable criteria should be hit point by point in the narrative block on the 4187. If I remember correctly, it is the O-6 level approval authority, endorsed by the company and BN commanders. It will say in 635-200 what authority level it is.

I can't believe your First Sergeant had not seized control of this unless there is more to the story. Taking your question at face value, do a 4187 through the appropriate commander.

Epilogue: para 1-19 indicates Special Courts Martial convening authority is the signature authority for approval of this chapter. That is your BDE Commander. At the BN S1, who did you talk to? The PFCIC might not know, but the NCOIC should. If they don't, they need to Google directions to CIF, go there, turn in all their crap, and find another job.

There is also a counseling requirement you need to be administered and include with the packet.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2016 1:04 PM

2016-08-21T13:04:15-04:00

AR 635-200 for Active
AR 135-178 for Guard and Reserves.

S-1 should be able to handle that, there should be a Paralegal somewhere in your BN that can answer this and if not research the answer. Get all the information you need for the separation, find your legal guy if your shop can't get you answers, and also ask about reenlisting once your pregnancy is done if that's something you're still interested in or going to IRR.

Response by SP5 Jean Cassup made Jun 17 at 2018 4:46 PM

2018-06-17T16:46:10-04:00

Need info about AR635. Told can't get DD214. My MOS's also are not what they were. Who do I call. Prefer not go into detail here.

Response by TSgt James Potter made May 15 at 2019 12:19 PM

2019-05-15T12:19:54-04:00

I see that this is 3 years old but why get out? You still need insurance, a job, etc. Will the Army let pregnant females retrain to another MOS, something less demanding on your body?

Response by Sgt Dejuana Simon made May 15 at 2019 8:35 PM

2019-05-15T20:35:33-04:00

Never heard of it and why would you be separated you can still perform you duty