Department of Defense INSTRUCTION

1 Department of Defense INSTRUCTION NUMBER January 27, 2014 Incorporating Change 5, Effective June 12, 2020 USD(P&R) SUBJECT: enlisted Administrative Separations References: See Enclosure 1 This DoD INSTRUCTION (DoDI) (Reference (a)), in accordance with theauthority in DoD Directive (DoDD) (Reference (b)). DoD policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures governingadministrative separation of enlisted Service members from the Military Services. Sections 518, 572(a)(2), and 578 of Public Law 112-239 (Reference (c)).Implements Section 570A of Public Law 116-92 (Reference (z)). This INSTRUCTION OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staffand the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense , the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities in the Department of Defense (referred to collectively in this INSTRUCTION as the DoD Components ).

2 The term Military Services, as used in this INSTRUCTION refers to the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Marine Corps. to administrative separation proceedings initiated on or after the effective date ofthis INSTRUCTION unless the Secretary of the Military Department concerned determines that it should be applied in a particular case in which proceedings were initiated before that date. It is DoD policy that:DoDI , January 27, 2014 Change 5, June 12, 20202 readiness of the Military Services be preserved by maintaining high standards ofperformance, conduct, and discipline. separation promotes the readiness of the Military Services by providing an orderly means to: (1)Evaluate the suitability of persons to serve in the enlisted ranks of the MilitaryServices based on their ability to meet required performance, conduct, and disciplinary standards.

3 (2)Maintain standards of performance, conduct, and discipline through characterizationof service in a system that emphasizes the importance of honorable service. (3)Achieve authorized force levels and grade distributions.(4)Provide an orderly means of discharge for enlisted are used to strengthen the concept that military service is a unique calling,different from that of a civilian occupation. The acquisition of military status, whether through enlistment or induction, involves an individual s commitment to the United States, their Military Service, fellow citizens, and fellow Service members. , training, and equipping newly accessed enlisted Service members represent asubstantial investment. separation of enlisted Service members prior to completion of their obligated service periods results in a significant loss of investment and generates a requirement for increased accessions.

4 Will provide enlisted Service members with the training, motivation, andprofessional leadership to enable them to meet required standards of performance, conduct, and discipline. (1)Reasonable efforts should be made by the chain of command to identify enlistedService members who exhibit the likelihood for early separation and improve their chances for retention through counseling, retraining, and rehabilitation. (2) enlisted Service members who do not demonstrate the commitment or potential forfurther service should be separated. enlisted Service members may be discharged or released from active servicebefore expiration of their obligated service to further their education at a college, university, or vocational or technical school when it is determined that discharge or release is appropriate.

5 Enclosure 6 of this INSTRUCTION contains procedures for enlisted Service member separations on the basis of school enrollment. See Enclosure , January 27, 2014 Change 5, June 12, 20203 5. PROCEDURES. See Enclosures RELEASABILITY. Cleared for public release. This INSTRUCTION is available on the DoDIssuances Website at SUMMARY OF CHANGE 5. The administrative changes to this issuance are a result of thepublication of Section 570A of Public Law EFFECTIVE DATE. This INSTRUCTION is effective January 27, 1. References2. Responsibilities3. Reasons for Separation4. Guidelines on separation and Characterization5. Procedures for Separation6. Procedures for Early Release of enlisted Military Personnel for College, Vocational, or Technical School Enrollment Glossary DoDI , January 27, 2014 Change 5, June 12, 2020 CONTENTS 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS ENCLOSURE 1: REFERENCES.

6 6 ENCLOSURE 2: RESPONSIBILITIES ..8 ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF Defense FOR MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS (ASD(M&RA))..8 SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS ..8 ENCLOSURE 3: REASONS FOR separation ..9 EXPIRATION OF SERVICE OBLIGATION ..9 SELECTED CHANGES IN SERVICE OBLIGATIONS ..9 CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT ..10 DISABILITY ..14 DEFECTIVE ENLISTMENTS AND INDUCTIONS ..14 ENTRY LEVEL PERFORMANCE AND CONDUCT ..18 UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE ..19 DRUG ABUSE REHABILITATION FAILURE ..19 ALCOHOL ABUSE REHABILITATION FAILURE ..20 MISCONDUCT ..21 separation IN LIEU OF TRIAL BY COURT-MARTIAL ..22 SECURITY ..24 UNSATISFACTORY PARTICIPATION IN THE READY RESERVE ..24 SECRETARIAL PLENARY AUTHORITY ..25 REASONS ESTABLISHED BY THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS ..25 WEIGHT CONTROL FAILURE.

7 25 ENCLOSURE 4: GUIDELINES ON separation AND CHARACTERIZATION ..27 separation ..27 SUSPENSION OF separation ..29 CHARACTERIZATION OF separation OR DESCRIPTION OF ENCLOSURE 5: PROCEDURES FOR separation ..36 SCOPE ..36 NOTIFICATION ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD PROCEDURE ..39 ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING enlisted SERVICE MEMBERS CONFINED BY CIVIL AUTHORITIES ..46 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN SERVICE MEMBERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS ..46 DoDI , January 27, 2014 Change 5, June 12, 2020 CONTENTS 5 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR enlisted SERVICE MEMBERS BEYOND MILITARY CONTROL BY REASON OF UNAUTHORIZED ABSENCE ..48 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE separation PROCESSING TIMELINES ..49 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INFORMING enlisted SERVICE MEMBERS ABOUT separation POLICY.

8 49 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PRE- separation HEALTH ASSESSMENTS ..50 ADDITIONAL COUNSELING REQUIRED FOR A DISCHARGE UNDER OTHER THAN HONORABLE CONDITIONS RESULTING FROM A CONTINUOUS, UNAUTHORIZED ABSENCE OF 180 DAYS OR MORE ..51 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INVOLUNTARY ADMINISTRATIVE separation OF enlisted SERVICE MEMBERS WHO MADE AN UNRESTRICTED REPORT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ..51 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT TO PROCESS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE separation enlisted SERVICE MEMBERS CONVICTED OF CERTAIN SEXUAL OFFENSES ..51 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR MEMBERS RECEIVING AN OTHER THAN HONORABLE CHARACTERIZATION OF SERVICE ..52 ENCLOSURE 6: PROCEDURES FOR EARLY RELEASE OF enlisted MILITARY PERSONNEL FOR COLLEGE, VOCATIONAL, OR TECHNICAL SCHOOL ENROLLMENT ..53 GLOSSARY ..55 PART I: ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS.

9 55 PART II: DEFINITIONS ..55 DoDI , January 27, 2014 Change 5, June 12, 2020 ENCLOSURE 1 6 ENCLOSURE 1 REFERENCES (a)DoD INSTRUCTION , enlisted Administrative Separations, August 28, 2008, asamended (hereby cancelled)(b)DoD Directive , Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness(USD(P&R)), June 23, 2008(c)Public Law 112-239, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, January 2, 2013(d)Directive-Type Memorandum-19-004, Military Service by Transgender Persons andPersons with Gender Dysphoria, March 12, 2019(e)DoD INSTRUCTION , Inter-Service Transfer of Commissioned Officers, July 25,2017(f)DoD Directive , Political Activities by Members of the Armed Forces, February 19, 2008(g)DoD INSTRUCTION , Conscientious Objectors, July 12, 2017(h)

10 DoD INSTRUCTION , Special separation Policies for Survivorship, May 19, 2017(i)Title 10, United States Code(j)DoD INSTRUCTION , Mental Health Evaluations of Members of the MilitaryServices, March 4, 2013(k)Committee on Nomenclature and Statistics, American Psychiatric Association, Diagnosticand Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, current edition(l)DoD INSTRUCTION , Disability Evaluation System (DES), August 5, 2014, asamended(m)DoD INSTRUCTION , Reserve Component (RC) Member Participation Policy, May 5, 2015(n)Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, 2012(o)DoD INSTRUCTION , DoD Personnel Security Program (PSP), March 21, 2014, asamended(p)DoD Directive , DoD Physical Fitness and Body Fat Program, June 30, 2004(q)DoD INSTRUCTION , Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form214/5 Series), August 20, 2009, as amended(r)DoD INSTRUCTION , Military Personnel Drug Abuse Testing Program (MPDATP), September 13, 2012, as amended(s)DoD INSTRUCTION , Discharge Review Board (DRB) Procedures and Standards, April 4, 2004(t)Section 5303 of Title 38, United States Code(u)DoD Directive , Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program, January 23, 2012, as amended(v)DoD INSTRUCTION , Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) ProgramProcedures, March 28, 2013, as amended(w)Section 528 of Public Law 115-91(x)