AR 635-200 covers Active Duty Enlisted Administrative Separations. In all, there are 12 chapters covering a wide variety of information about separating enlisted soldiers from the Army. In essence, this Army Regulation is the like the “Bible” of military separations. It covers just about every aspect of Enlisted Separations that you could possibly think of. It is a great resource for Company Commanders and S1 Personnel.
In the paragraphs below, I want to summarize what you will find in Army Regulation 635-200. Let’s get started.
Chapter 1: General Provisions
This chapter covers the authority, responsibility, flags, the process, how to cut orders, guidelines on separation, the separation authority, effective date of discharge, medical processing, the Mobilization Asset Transfer Program, bars to re-enlistment, separating soldiers in foreign countries and much more.
Chapter 2: Procedures for Separation
This chapter covers the procedures for separation, to include how to notify a soldier and how to conduct an administrative board.
Chapter 3: Character of Service
This covers the Character of Service and covers the different types of administrative separations to include a Bad Conduct Discharge, Dishonorable Discharge, etc.
Chapter 4: Separation for Expiration of Service Obligation
This covers the process of separating soldiers who finish their time, soldiers eligible for retirement and voluntary separations for people in INDEFINITE Status.
Chapter 5: Separation for the Convenience of the Government
This section is for soldiers with personality disorders, surviving sons and daughters, discharge of aliens, soldiers who did not meet certain medical requirements, concealment of arrest record and many other things.
Chapter 6: Separation Because of Dependency or Hardship
This section covers soldiers in special situations where they face a hardship by deploying or by staying on Active Duty. This might include caring for an elderly parent or taking care of a special needs child.
Chapter 7: Defective Enlistments, Re-Enlistments and Extensions
This chapter covers erroneous and fraudulent enlistments where either the recruiter or soldier lied/made a mistake to enter the Army.
Chapter 8: Separation of Enlisted Women – Pregnancy
This chapter covers all aspects of separating pregnant soldiers from the military.
Chapter 9: Alcohol or Drug Abuse Rehabilitation Failure
This chapter covers the process for separating soldiers who fail the drug and alcohol program.
Chapter 10: Discharge in Lieu of Trial by Court Martial
This chapter covers in the ins and outs of a soldier’s decision to be discharged from the military instead of facing a court martial.
Chapter 11: Entry Level Performance and Conduct
This chapter covers separation policies for soldiers in their Initial Entry Training. It provides the authority, basis for separation and more.
Chapter 12:Retirement for Length of Service
This chapter covers every aspect of retirements from the 20 year law to the 30 year law. It also discuses computation of service, certificates, place of retirement, date of retirement and much more.
Final Thoughts
In most cases, Army Regulation 635-200 will be used by Administrative Personnel in the S1 Office. However, Small Unit Leaders, such as Company Commanders and First Sergeants should have “general knowledge” about how these procedures work. And they should also keep a copy of AR 635-200 in their leader’s library at all time.
Do you have any more information about AR 635-200 you can add? Do you have any questions? You can post them below. Thank you.
Chuck Holmes
Former Army Major (resigned)
Publisher, Part-Time-Commander.com
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com
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Questions about DD-214 – Days Accrued leave pay: undetermined , box 18- Nothing Follows, Box 25 – PARA 13-4 AR 635-200, BOX 26 – JMB, BOX 27 – 3, BOX 28 – UNSUITABILITY-PERSONALITY DISORDERS BOX – 29 – NONE. I have some many questions regarding these code definitions. At these time I am trying to make a claim if approved can I change anything for box’s 25 thru 28. While Service time No negativity reprimands, AIT acting E-6 of My Platoon, Permanent Station: Positive remarks
My husband received Chapter2 AR635-200 SPD:LBK.
He was Relief rom active duty. I don’t understand why? He is no longer here. I just wished, I knew more.He died of Prostate Cancer of 5/12/21. I just want to know, what happened.
I was honorably discharged under ch.5-5 (parenthood) in 95. I put $1200 in for the GI-Bill and was in for 26 months. The Army is saying I have no rights to my GI Bill. I was reading though, if your separation was honorable and voluntarily, then you do. Is this correct???
Ok I have a discharge that reads AR 635-200 para14 – 33a under honorable conditions. But I can’t find para 14 – 33a anywhere for definition.
AR635-200 under honorable conditions
I got a honorable discharge from the US army in 1975 I stayed in 3 months I finished AIT and basic so can I get any kind of benefits
Army para 5-39ar 635-200 SPD JNF
I was Discharged around 1965 from the U.S. Army with a 635-208 discharge. My question is: Just what does that mean, exactly. Thank you
It is an other than honorable discharge. Read more on justanswer.com
What does it mean to get a bad conduct discharge under at 635-200 chapter 3 section IV
I still don’t understand what a ar 635-200 ch 200 is please explain
what is ar 635-200 chapter2
It covers the procedures for separation.
What kind of discharge will you get for AR 635-200 (not passing a pt test) ?
So… I got out with a Chapter 4 during the downsizing in '93. They took my Separation pay back because I was a "no show" for Reserves. I was assigned to 3 different units and none of them knew I was supposed to be there. So when VA was researching me for unemployable status due to military injury, one unit decided to honorably discharge me 10 years later! !
I am looking forward to reading Chapter 6: Separation Because of Dependency or Hardship because I would like to know all the dependencies and hardships that are considered especially hardship. I read a synopsis on Google books about this chapter in AR 635-200 Army Regulation, so that I understand what defines all possible dependencies, but not hardships.
Army Regulation 635-200 certainly hits home the complexities faced by military personnel. Separation protocols for misconduct definitely need to be specific to guide Commanding Officers in handling soldiers that did not follow regulations. Separation guidelines for issues such as medical and hardships make clear the Army understands real world situations and offers some flexibility for Commanding Officers tasked with overseeing personnel.
AR 635-200 is a must have resource for any S1 Shop. I refer to this daily (ful-time S1 NCO). It’s like the separations Bible for Army personnel.
Jake