From the Fort Knox Legal Assistance Office
Legal Briefs
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY BARS TO
REENLISTMENT
QUALITATIVE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (QMP)
Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the policies and procedures for the Army’s retention/reenlistment
programs. There are two forms of retention/reenlistment bars: (1) local bars, or (2) Department of the Army (DA)
imposed bars that are part of the Army’s Qualitative Management Program (QMP). AR 635-200 sets for the policies
for bars, called QMPs.
What is a Local Bar to Reenlistment?
A local bar to reenlistment is the administrative tool used to deny reenlistment to substandard Soldiers. Only
Soldiers of “high moral character, personal competence, and demonstrated adaptability” to the requirements of military
service will be reenlisted into the Army. With that standard, the AR authorizes these bars to be used against Soldiers
whose immediate separation is not warranted but whose reenlistment is not in the best interest of the Army. Local bars
to reenlistment are imposed by a Soldier’s chain of command. The focus of the local bar is not separation, but whether
a Soldier should be allowed to serve beyond ETS.
What is a Department of the Army (DA) Imposed Bar?
AR 635-200 describes the Department of the Army (DA) imposed bars. A DA imposed bar (QMP) is imposed
on noncommissioned officers of staff sergeant and above. The members of the Sergeant First Class selection board,
and the Master Sergeant selection board impose these bars during their periodical reviews on the official files of
Soldiers that are eligible for possible promotion. The selection boards may impose the QMP bar if negative
information is found in the Soldier’s Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) that will prevent future promotion.
Negative information may include non-judicial punishment (Article 15s), General Officer Reprimands (GOMORs), and
poor career evaluations (NCOERs). The purpose of a QMP is to separate the Soldier from the Army. The philosophy
behind doing so is since the Soldier has negative information that will prevent future promotion, they should be moved
out of the Army. In a sense, these bars are part of the Army’s “up or out” philosophy.
Local Bars Versus Department of the Army (DA) Imposed Bars:
Local bars to reenlistment are imposed by a Soldier’s chain of command. The focus is on whether the Soldier
should be allowed to serve beyond ETS, not on forcing the Soldier out prior to ETS. DA imposed bars (QMPs) are
different. Members of the Sergeant First Class selection board, and the Master Sergeant selection board impose QMPs
based on negative information found in the Soldier’s file that will prevent him/her from being promoted in the future.
The focus of a QMP is separation, because without the possibility for promotion, the Soldier should be moved out of
the Army.
