[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 32, Volume 1, Parts 1 to 190]
[Revised as of July 1, 1998]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 32CFR41.3]

[Page 162-163]
 
                       TITLE 32--NATIONAL DEFENSE
 
              CHAPTER I--OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
 
PART 41--ENLISTED ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATIONS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 41.3  Policy.

    (a) It is the policy of the Department of Defense to promote the 
readiness of the Military Services by maintaining high standards of 
conduct and performance. Separation policy promotes the readiness of the 
Military Services by providing an orderly means to:
    (1) Ensure that the Military Services are served by individuals 
capable of meeting required standards of duty performance and 
discipline;
    (2) Maintain standards of performance and conduct through 
characterization of service in a system that emphasizes the importance 
of honorable service;
    (3) Achieve authorized force levels and grade distributions; and
    (4) Provide for the orderly administrative separation of enlisted 
personnel in a variety of circumstances.
    (b) DoD separation policy is designed to strengthen the concept that 
military service is a calling different from any civilian occupation.
    (1) The acquisition of military status, whether through enlistment 
or induction, involves a commitment to the United States, the service, 
and one's fellow citizens and servicemembers to complete successfully a 
period of obligated service. Early separation for failure to meet 
required standards of performance or discipline represents a failure to 
fulfill that commitment.
    (2) Millions of Americans from diverse backgrounds and with a wide 
variety of aptitudes and attitudes upon entering military service have 
served successfully in the armed forces. It is the policy of the 
Department of Defense to provide servicemembers with the training, 
motivation, and professional leadership that inspires the dedicated 
enlisted member to emulate his or her predecessors and peers in meeting 
required standards of performance and discipline.
    (3) The Military Services make a substantial investment in training, 
time, equipment, and related expenses when persons are enlisted or 
inducted into military service. Separation prior to completion of an 
obligated period of service is wasteful because it results in loss of 
this investment and generates a requirement for increased accession. 
Consequently, attrition is an issue of significant concern at all levels 
of responsibility within the armed forces. Reasonable efforts should be 
made to identify enlisted members who exhibit a likelihood for early 
separation, and to improve their chances for retention through 
counseling, retraining, and rehabilitation prior to initiation of 
separation proceedings. Enlisted members who do not demonstrate 
potential for further military service should be separated in order to 
avoid the high costs in terms of pay, administrative efforts, 
degradation of morale, and substandard

[[Page 163]]

mission performance that are associated with retention of enlisted 
members who do not conform to required standards of discipline and 
performance despite efforts at counseling, retraining, or 
rehabilitation.
    (c) Standards and procedures for implementation of these policies 
are set forth in appendix A to this part.