UQR and ACAP, Two Parallel Processes

So there is a little confusion in terms that I want to set straight.  There are two processes involved in ETSing (early termination of service).  One is ACAP, which stands for Army Career and Alumni Program.  ACAP is a service or office on your installation that helps you transition out of the Army.  It can also be called "Soldier for Life" and "TAP (Transition Assistance Program)."  In addition to providing you help finding a job and advice on benefits as a veteran, it is also the mechanism your installation uses to ensure you've received all of the transition briefings.  At the end of your ACAP experience, you'll receive a counseling form that confirms you completed "ACAPing", and you will present this form to the Retention or Separation office.  Without this form you will not be able to receive the all important DD214 separation paperwork.  Without that, you're not officially out of the Army.  But ACAP does not actually start the separation process, it just is briefings to help you in your transition.  To start separating, Officers need to submit a "UQR" or UnQualified Resignation packet.

The UQR packet should include a few memoranda, in accordance with AR 600-8-24.  These forms include a memorandum you sign directed at HRC requesting an Unqualified Resignation from Active Duty and a transition into one of the reserve components for the remainder of your total obligation.  You can opt for National Guard, Reserve, or Inactive Ready Reserve.  The last one means you do basically nothing except update your address once a year in an online system.

The second form is a SHARP statement in which you divulge whether or not you were sexually assaulted while in the Army, and whether or not that experience has contributed to your desire to resign.  This memorandum is also directed at HRC.

Next you will have two separate memoranda, one signed by your Battalion Commander affirming that he or she has counseled you on your options in the military and ensured you have a good transition plan.  The second one is signed by your Brigade Commander and states the same thing.

The final memorandum for your UQR packet is from your local Guard/Reserve Retention office.  This memorandum verifies your inactive obligation, confirms that they tried to sell you on going into the Guard or Reserve, and confirms your desire to go into one of the three reserve mechanisms for your inactive obligation.

With those five memoranda signed, you can then submit the packet to HRC.  Word is it takes them approximately two months to process.  Again, a word of warning, the earliest they are authorized to release you is six months AFTER HRC approves your release.  So if they take longer on your packet than you anticipate and you don't get approval from them until 3 months from your desired ETS date, then you'll have to stay on for at least 3 more months past that date.

Arriving at My New Unit

I knew for months, nearly a year, that I was going to leave the Army, but actually starting the process was both more difficult and easier than I expected.  What would my new commander think of me?  I had heard horror stories about people being practically abused for wanting to ETS, for "abandoning" the unit or the Army.  These people get talked down to and lots of work dumped on them.  Would my new commander be the kind of person to do that?  Would he have had more than his share of the Kool Aid?  Regardless, I knew that ETSing is what I had to do, for myself and for my family, so it wasn't going to change anything.  I could put up with about anybody for 10 months.

Fortunately, the unit seems like a pretty relaxed one so far.  When I arrived and started the installation in-processing, I stopped in at the unit to find out the story.  They did not know where they were going to slot me when I arrived.  Apparently they got word that I would be arriving prior to my promotion being published, so the had my rank wrong and did not have a slot for my rank anywhere.  I had to wait to interview for my position, so a few days later I finally got the opportunity to step into my XO's office and told him my story.  I simply said, "Sir I am planning on ETSing," and he was supportive.  My ETS date minus terminal leave was only 10 months away and he told me he would be sure I had plenty of time to transition out of the Army.  I was given a spot assisting staff and from what I gather it will not be a very time consuming job.  The unit is beginning a rotation a few months before my ETS date and it was implied that I would not be needed for that rotation and I would ETS on time.  The commanders and the staff are all at NTC (National Training Center, Fort Irwin, CA) for an OTC cycle (Observer/Trainer/Coordinator) right now, so I will not meet them until next week, but of the assistant staff and everyone else here right now, it seems like I will not get any pushback at all for wanting to ETS.

The next 10 months look like smooth sailing.  This ruck sack and IOTV (Improved Outer Tactical Vest) should be my last.  Now I just have to finish in-processing, meet the commanders when they return from NTC next week, and talk to S1 about getting my UQR packet compiled.