Overstrength MOS: how to re-enlist

By Sgt. 1st Class Mark Monhollen, Fort Sill Assistant Inspector GeneralJuly 25, 2013

FORT SILL, Okla. -- For the past few years you may have noticed that your ranks have gotten smaller and smaller. As we all know, the Army is downsizing. This article is for unit commander's who have overstrength military occupational specialty (MOS) within their command and need to know what to do when he or she has a Soldier in an overstrength MOS.

The Army introduced the Commander's Allocation Process (CAP) On Sept. 21, 2012, under the All Army Activities (ALARACT) message 259/2012. The CAP with the latest issue and further explained of military personnel (MILPER) message 13-142, dated June 10, 2013.

The CAP is not a new re-enlistment category, but a force alignment tool that empowers commanders to re-enlist fully qualified Soldiers in an overstrength MOS for continued service in their primary MOS without requesting an exception to policy from Human Resources Command.

This applies to regular Soldiers with an ETS date within the G1 prescribed re-enlistment eligibility window. Remember, the Soldier must be fully qualified for retention in accordance with Army Regulation 601-280 and be recommended for continued service by their immediate commander.

Soldiers selected for re-enlistment under the Commander's Allocation Process are eligible to re-enlist for any re-enlistment option in accordance with Army G1 policy for overstrength MOSs.

There are guidelines the commander must follow to ensure Soldiers serving in a CAP MOS/skill level are counseled by their career counselor on the impact of continued service in an overstrength MOS and the potential for reclassification opportunities.

This MILPER message shows the current overstrength MOS/skill level for commanders of Soldiers within their command who are authorized for continued service in their primary MOS. These MOS/skill levels are a subset of the overstrength population on the current in/out calls.

Commanders are not authorized to exceed the number listed in the CAP without an exception from the retention and reclassification branch at HRC. Once a commander has achieved their maximum number for a specific MOS/skill level, the Army Retain System will restrict the commander's ability to approve a reenlistment for continued service in the MOS/Skill Level.

The CAP is managed at the ACOM/ASCC/DRU level. ACOM/ASCC/DRU commanders will distribute allocations for the CAP throughout their command and their command career counselors will serve as their subject matter expert (SME) for this process.

Soldiers serving in MOS/Skills that are listed in this MILPER message, which consists of 19D1, 25B1, 25Q1, 74D1, 88M1, 91D1, and 92A1, who were not approved for continued service in their PMOS via the CAP, may request re-enlistment through their unit career counselor.

These Soldiers are only authorized to re-enlist for the Army training re-enlistment option unless approved for another option by HRC.

A Soldier re-enlisting for a new MOS must select a shortage/balanced MOS indentified on the current in/out calls. HRC will deny retention for any Soldier who does not qualify for an MOS identified as an Army requirement by HRC.

If denied, Soldiers will have the immediate re-enlistment prohibition reason (IMREPR) code "9F" (Denied retention by Secretary of the Army-Force Shaping/Requirements) placed in their record by HRC no earlier than six months prior to their ETS date. There is no guarantee a Soldier will receive their requested MOS.

HRC will evaluate the Soldier's qualifications, along with Army requirements, and make a reclassification determination. Once HRC makes a reclassification determination, the Soldier will have 14 calendar days to re-enlist.

Soldiers who decline the MOS offered by HRC are considered afforded the opportunity to re-enlist for continued service in the Army, providing those Soldiers remain otherwise qualified.

Soldiers who decline the MOS offered by HRC remain eligible to resubmit their request for retraining at a later date in accordance with current retention policies.

Soldiers are encouraged to continue with their self development and consider serving in the Army outside their current MOS. Soldiers remain eligible for continued service with the USAR/ARNG as they transition from the active component, providing they are otherwise qualified.

Additional guidance for career counselor processing is to be announced in a subsequent Army Retain message. The reference for this information is ALARACT 259/2012, MILPER Message 13-029 and MILPER Message 13-142. If you have any questions or concerns pertaining to the Commanders Allocation Process, see your unit career counselor.