Career-minded junior enlisted soldiers in nine military occupational specialties could face tougher re-enlistment hurdles under a force-shaping strategy used as part of the drawdown.

The "precision retention" measures first used in 2015 were updated April 22.

They apply to active duty soldiers, primarily first-termers, who have been endorsed by their commanders, but whose specialties are being tightly managed as the Army gets smaller.

Under the precision retention strategy adopted in fiscal 2015, re-enlistment missions for commanders are issued every quarter, rather than annually.

The quarterly regimen allows Big Army to quickly respond to retention priorities throughout the fiscal year by restricting re-ups based on a soldier's rank, MOS, skill level and special qualifications.

The April 22 update to the Precision Retention Program puts restrictions on the following specialties:

09L (interpreter and translator), skill level 1.

12W (carpentry and masonry specialist, SL 1.

13T (field artillery surveyor/meteorological crewmember), SL 1, 2 and 3.

15J (OH-58D armament, electrical and avionics systems repairer), SL 1 and 2.

15S (OH-58D helicopter repairer), SL 1 and 2.

89D (explosive ordnance disposal specialist), SL 1 and 2.

92S (shower/laundry and clothing repair specialist), SL 1 and 2.

94Y (integrated family of test equipment operator and maintainer), SL 1 and 2.

Restrictions also apply to all skill levels of MOS 35P (cryptologic linguist) with language codes HE (Hebrew), SC (Serbo-Croatian, TH (Thai) and UR (Urdu).

Commanders are not required to consider Precision Retention in their decision to re-enlist a soldier.

However, they are required to make sure all soldiers they approve for re-enlistment are in compliance with policies contained in Army Regulation 601-280 (Army Retention Program).

When appropriate, commanders will initiate a bar to re-enlistment on soldiers who are not in compliance with Army re-enlistment standards.

Precision Retention is a process that begins after a commander decides to re-enlist a soldier.

Soldiers in the MOS and skill levels listed above who are approved for retention by their commander must have their re-up request, commander certification (DA Form 3340) and Enlisted Record Brief forwarded to the Human Resources Command by their supporting career counselor.

While no further documentation is required, HRC officials recommend that soldiers and leaders provide memos that articulate accomplishments not described in the record brief or other official personnel documents.

HRC retention officials will then evaluate the soldier's service record and compare his or her accomplishments to other soldiers of that MOS and skill level throughout the Army.

Following the competitive screening, HRC officials will render one of the following decisions:

• Approve re-enlistment in the soldier's current military occupational specialty.

• Direct reclassification to a new MOS.

• Approve an extension to the soldier's current enlistment.

• Deny re-enlistment.

The HRC decision will be relayed to the soldier's supporting career counselor via a memorandum that will include any restrictions to the length of the re-enlistment or extension.

In the event a soldier is denied re-enlistment, HRC will provide the commander with a memo detailing the decision.

Soldiers will have seven days from the HRC approval date to extend or re-enlist.

Soldiers who fail to take action within seven days will have the HRC approval revoked, and will be considered to have been afforded the opportunity to extend their active-duty service.

Soldiers who are denied re-enlistment will have their records annotated with the code "9F," indicating they "have been denied retention by the secretary of the Army."

Soldiers who have at least six years of service may be eligible for separation pay, while all soldiers who are denied retention under this program are eligible for continued military service in the reserve components.

Soldiers with questions about the Precision Retention Program should contact their local career counselor.

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