The Army is preparing to roll out a new policy that could lead to soldiers diagnosed with a chronic skin condition that causes painful razor bumps and scarring to be kicked out of the service -- an issue that disproportionately affects Black men.
Forcing people out of the military for a policy that wasn’t around when they joined gives the service member some leeway. There’s usually a period of voluntary separation where they can opt in to receive a severance pay and streamline the process. If the service member doesn’t opt for voluntary separation, they are involuntarily separated. This involves a little more paperwork, a longer process, and half the severance pay of a voluntary separation. In both cases it’s an honorable discharge (unless there’s something else criminal at play) and they keep all benefits and entitlements.
I’m more familiar with Navy regulations, but here’s an example from the DEI rollback from March (TW for the shitty title of the message).
Paragraph 5 stipulates the terms of voluntary separation. More specifically:
b. Any remaining military service obligation will be waived for
members requesting voluntary separation; any bonus received prior to 26
February 2025 and subject to a service obligation will not be recouped.
Absent any other basis for separation or disenrollment, USNA and NROTC
midshipmen will not be subject to monetary repayment of education
benefits.
d. Characterization of service will be honorable except where the
member’s record otherwise warrants a different characterization. The
applicable separation program designator codes and associated narrative
reasons for separation will be provided at a later date by an appropriate
official of the Office of the ASN(M&RA) in coordination with the Office
of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
e. For military personnel requesting voluntary separation and
eligible for voluntary separation pay in accordance with references (h)
and (i), CNO and CMC will authorize voluntary separation pay at a rate
that is twice the amount of involuntary separation pay for which the
member would have been eligible in accordance with reference (j).
Voluntary separation pay is not payable to those with less than six years
or more than 20 years of service. No member receiving Voluntary
Separation Pay in accordance with this ALNAV will be required to serve in
the Ready Reserve.
f. CNO and CMC are authorized Temporary Early Retirement Authority
for members with over 18 but less than 20 years of total active-duty
service eligible per reference (k) and separated in accordance with this
ALNAV.
If you have friends, family, or acquaintance who are US military members, please use this information and opportunity to educate, agitate, and organize. Some of these people are about to lose their stability and routine, and it’s important to direct their frustration and blame at the racist policies of this administration, linking it to other intersectionalities, and building camaraderie.
Forcing people out of the military for a policy that wasn’t around when they joined gives the service member some leeway. There’s usually a period of voluntary separation where they can opt in to receive a severance pay and streamline the process. If the service member doesn’t opt for voluntary separation, they are involuntarily separated. This involves a little more paperwork, a longer process, and half the severance pay of a voluntary separation. In both cases it’s an honorable discharge (unless there’s something else criminal at play) and they keep all benefits and entitlements.
I’m more familiar with Navy regulations, but here’s an example from the DEI rollback from March (TW for the shitty title of the message).
Trigger warning
Initial Direction on Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness
Paragraph 5 stipulates the terms of voluntary separation. More specifically:
If you have friends, family, or acquaintance who are US military members, please use this information and opportunity to educate, agitate, and organize. Some of these people are about to lose their stability and routine, and it’s important to direct their frustration and blame at the racist policies of this administration, linking it to other intersectionalities, and building camaraderie.