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Enlisted Administrative Separation
AR 635-200
Army Regulation 635-200, Active Duty Enlisted Administrative Separations, provides the grounds under which a
soldier may be separated from the Army. Some of the grounds are voluntary, desired and initiated by the Soldier.
Other are involuntary, prompted by a Soldier’s command. Below are some of the most common voluntary and
involuntary grounds for separation. They’re often called “chapters”, a reference to their location in AR 635-200.
Entry Level Performance and Conduct – Chapter 11
Basis: Unsatisfactory performance or minor disciplinary infractions. Your commander can only use this
type of discharge within your first 180 days of active duty.
Criteria (see paragraph 11-2): Unsatisfactory performance and/or conduct evidenced by (a) inability; (b)
lack of reasonable effort; (c) failure to adapt to military environment; (d) minor disciplinary infractions.
Unsatisfactory Performance – Chapter 13
Basis: After entry-level status, your commander can separate you under this chapter if your performance
has been unsatisfactory.
Criteria (see paragraph 13-2): e.g. Soldier is not trainable, or soldier will be disruptive influence.
Misconduct – Chapter 14
Bases: Conviction by a civil court, conviction by a foreign court, acts of patterns of misconduct.
Criteria for acts or patterns of misconduct (see paragraph 14-12): “Discreditable conduct and conduct
prejudicial to good order and discipline including conduct violating the accepted standards of personal
conduct found in the UCMJ, Army regulations, the civil law, and time-honored customs and traditions of
the Army.”
Homosexuality – Chapter 15
Basis: Homosexual acts, statement(s) that demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts,
homosexual marriage, or attempted homosexual marriage.
Sexual orientation is not a bar to continued service unless manifested by homosexual conduct.
Discharge in Lieu of Trial by Courts-Martial – Chapter 10
Basis: Preferral or referral of charges to courts-martial that includes a punitive discharge as part of
punishment.
Paragraph 10-1 – Soldier may request discharge instead of courts-martial if offense is punishable by Bad
Conduct Discharge or Dishonorable Discharge
Paragraph 10-2 – If Soldier is in this situation, he or she is entitled to consult with Trial Defense Service
attorney before deciding between separation and courts-martial.
For the Convenience of the Government – Chapter 5
Basis: Separation is in the best interest of the Army.
Examples:
o Involuntary Separation Due to Parenthood (para. 5-8) – When parental obligations interfere with
fulfillment of military responsibilities.
o Concealment of Arrest Record (para. 5-14) – If false statements regarding a juvenile or adult
offense were made in enlistment documents.
o To Further Education (para. 5-16) – If Soldier meets certain requirements, may be released from
Active Duty for the convenience of the government up to 90 days before ETS.
o Other Physical or Mental Conditions (para. 5-17) – For conditions that may potentially interfere
with performance of duty (e.g., chronic airsickness, seasickness, sleepwalking, claustrophobia).
