Stand-to! update Beginning May 2022, STAND-TO! will no longer be published on Army.mil and/or distributed to its subscribers. Please continue to learn about the U.S. Army on www.army.mil and follow @USArmy on our social media platforms. Thank you for your continued interest in learning about the U.S. Army.

Qualitative Service Program

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

What is it?

  • The Qualitative Service Program (QSP) establishes the use of formal enlisted centralized board processes to identify noncommissioned officers (NCOs) for involuntary separation from active-duty in order to:
  • – Improve grade/MOS readiness at NCO levels by satisfying force structure requirements
  • – Enhance the quality of the NCO Corps by retaining NCOs with the greatest potential for continued contributions
  • – Support sustainment of viable career paths across MOS/skill levels in an all-volunteer Army

What has the Army done?

In June 2012, the Army implemented a QSP designed to provide the Army the means to achieve a congressionally-mandated end-strength. The QSP denies continued service to NCOs who are excess to decreasing requirements. The process provides the Army an ability to align the force by MOS and grade ensuring a desired grade and experience mix is balanced across a multitude of occupational career paths.

What does the Army have planned?

The Army implements QSP beginning with the centralized selection boards convening after April 1, 2012. The QSP boards considers NCOs (E6-E9) for potential denial of continued service when an NCO possesses a specific primary military occupational specialty (PMOS)/grade where the Army’s operating strength projection exceeds its goals. It further considers NCOs (E6-E9) for potential denial of continued service when an NCO possesses a specific PMOS/grade where promotion stagnation exists.

Why is it important to the Army?

The Army must shape the force to meet future requirements, using processes that support retaining those leaders, identified through a centralized selection process, with the greatest potential for future contributions to the Army. The Army has to ensure that the enlisted strength meets requirements at the MOS and grade level, as it continues to evolve human resource (HR) policies to support development of adaptive NCO leaders, who are skilled in their core competencies. The Army G-1 put into place a series of HR policies designed to support the principles of the Army Leader Development Strategy (ALDS). These changes foster a balance of training, education, and experience while encouraging life-long learning and development.

Resources:

Subscribe to STAND-TO! to learn about the U.S. Army initiatives.