Getting put on assignment can be stressful to any Soldier. When a Soldier is placed on assignment to a duty location they do not want to go to, or they just do not want to leave their current duty assignment for a number of reasons, there is still a way out of it–though everyone should be aware that a request for an assignment deletion is never guaranteed. Branch managers at HRC place Soldiers on assignment for a variety of reasons, and they are only ones who can tell you what that reason is. Because of this, deletions, though not impossible, are a matter of timing, unit strength, and justification.
When attempting to delete assignment orders, make sure you give a reason that is justifiable and logical.
In order to request an assignment deletion, you must fill out a DA Form 4187 requesting deletion of assignment. A format for the DA Form 4187 can be acquired from your S1. Ensure you give a reason that is justifiable and logical. Just remember, the more information, the better. Also be sure to attach any supporting documentation you have such as doctor’s medical notes, memos from your child’s school, school reservation letters, etc. The documentation of course will depend on your situation. The DA Form 4187 must be signed by you, your company, battalion, and in some units, the brigade commander. Your DA Form 4187 will be routed to your S1 for input into the system (EDAS) or will be sent to your branch manager for approval. Based on my experience, branch managers usually make a decision within a week. Your S1 should be able to give you status updates.
If your request is disapproved but you would like a later report date, consider a deferment request using the same procedures above.
Comments
Russ
My unit fell under stop movement and my orders were deleted for Ft. Polk and I received an EMPD message that reflected this about 6 weeks ago. I came down on orders to go to Ft. Leonard Wood Mo about 2 weeks ago so I contacted branch which told me that I was to move on to my next assignment. I informed my chain of command and my commander said that I needed to deploy with the unit and told my Platoon SGT that we needed to look into getting my orders deleted. Im a 12M firefighter and this is an ammunition company of which I will be doing no firefighting at all during this mission. I want to PCS and Im not sure if they have the power to get my orders deleted? As stated before I contacted branch and informed them of my situation but the best they could give me was that I was to move on to my next assignment and that HRC coded me for release and that I did not fall under the stop move. I have less than 3 months till Im suppose to PCS or deploy, and Im trying to see if the balls in my court (as in I would have to consent to the deployment) or if its as easy for them as a phone call or paperwork to get them deleted. Any assistance in these matters would be of great help.
Mark Gerecht
Russ,
Deploying units have the ability to request people remain in the unit for operational deployments. Your status will depend on the needs of Fort Lenoard Wood. For example if FT Leonard Wood is critically short your MOS or you are on orders to arrive to a unit that will be deploying or has a higher priority mission you will most likely remain on orders for Leonard Wood. I recently heard the Army is not allowing REUP CONUS to CONUS moves because there is no money for these moves. Therefore it stands to reason if they are not doing it for REUP actions they most likely will apply the same action to stateside to stateside moves. You might try calling your branch and asking them what the odds of a deletion are, you can also let them know you would like to remain on orders for Leonard Wood. If your slot to Leonard Woods is a higher priority assignment you stand a good chance of going to Leonard wood
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TOP
Russ
This was very helpful and I’m just gonna have to ride it out. Thank you for the info!
SGT NICK
You should not tell anyone your on orders when you get the epmd message. Usually your unit wont notice until its too late for deletion. Tours are suppose to be 4 years now instead of three because of the recent budget cuts, so keep that in mind. Deletion requires a request by your first O-6 in your coc to HRC with supporting documents to why your orders should be deleted.
Deployments are not as hot as they use to be. Units are usually only sending key leaders (SFAT) or half of their unit at most to combat. This is probably why a blanket stop move wasnt put in for your whole unit by HRC.
Hope this Helps.
SGT (P) Sabrosky
I am a SGT, E-5 promotable. It looks like I have enough promotion points to make my E-6 in June. My branch manager put me on pending orders for when my unit comes of GRF status. If I get promoted prior to my orders coming down, are the orders still good? Can Get them deleted?
Clifford
I was finishing a deployment and about 4 months ago learned that my wife filed for divorce.
I went to my SGM to inquire about the possiblity of being PCS’ed closer to where my ex wife and daughter live.
After being given the offer I accepted and I signed a 4187 to be re-assigned. On it it was checked “reassignment extreme family problems,” in the remarks section it states “1.SM request reassignment to Fort Campbell, KY or in vicinity” and “2. SM has served 24 months at USARCENT Shaw AFB, SC”
The second part is key because I am fenced in at USARCENT as it is a 3 year required tour.
Since redeploying, taking leave, visiting family and friends I do not feel that I should be reassigned for extreme family problems.
My divorce has gone well, I skype with my daughter and I will get joint custody.
Yes Fort Campbell is much closer the the Northern Indiana area where my ex and daughter live, but I really love my job here in South Carolina.
I am a 31 year old SPC who joined late, and while I wish I could do all the high speed things that Campbell has to offer I know in my heart that I look to finish my last 2 years, and to move to Indianapolis where I have family, friends, job opportunities, and school.
I went to my personnel section and requested that my 4187 be terminated, they said it was no problem.
My problem now is that my SGM still wants me to go, even though we have not spoke in 3 months and many things have happened since then.
My questions is, isn’t it my choice as it was my request in the first place?
What are my rights in this matter, and if the 4187 is approved, will I be able to cancel it, even if orders are cut?
I am going to behavioral health as this extra stess is weighing heavily on me and I just want to get on with my new life where I am at with my current organization and not have to start all over some place new where I most likely will not like the work envornment. Thanks V/R SPC Clifford
Mark Gerecht
SPC Clifford,
Assignments can at times be a difficult process. Once you initiated the 4187 and your command agreed to release you your branch can make the assignment as they deem appropriate. That means they can leave you were you are at, send you to Campbell or another location of their choosing. You have a couple of options: 1 discuss the matter with the chain of command and request their assistance, 2 submit a 4187 requesting your previous request be terminated and that you remain on home station, 3 Consider contacting your branch office directly and discussing the issue with your assignment manager and asking them what they need to void the assignment.
Once you offer yourself up for assignment the issue is out of your hands and you are placed at the needs of the Army. If orders are cut chances are slim they will be deleted.
Hope this helps.
Clifford
Thanks for the reply CSM Gerecht very helpful and I will do my best to follow your advice.
SGT Nick, I understand where you are coming from but your comments are not helpful at all.
I know all about child custody thank you, and my wife and I have already agreed on joint custody so that is not an issue.
Although, moving my already beat up crap 3 times in 3 years is an issue for me.
I was going to BH before I found out about the divorce and more frequently once I did find out, I have other issues too and I do need to speak with someone, I have been dealing with depression for a long time now and I am not going as a ploy to get my way or anything crazy like that I just need a Doc to tell me I’m not crazy because I don’t have anyone to talk to and I mean nobody.
I know I am never in a position to demand anything as I voluntary enlistee, but I do feel that if my leadership want’s to take care of soldiers that my case should be reconsidered.
I have a great place where I am renting only 200 per month, my daughter can still visit, and I most likely won’t deploy. If I go to Campbell I won’t dodge a deployment to AFG so much for seeing my daughter.
Go see her on a 4 day right? Ok sure then I have CQ on the weekend then I have to pay someone to cover for me, then I’m spending all this extra money to go see her and to deal with her Mom more than I need too, no thanks. I’ve done my time at a combat division I just want to finish my time here at a command unit and be done with active duty.
I love so many things about the Army but at the end of the day it just isn’t worth it for me anymore.
Thanks for the input guys
SGT NICK
You going to behavioral health and demanding rights will only make the unit want to get rid of you even more. Those 4187’s are very important actions that were not entirely thought through on your end. Also just because things are going fine now doesnt mean in a few months family problems could suddenly go downhill again.
I recommend taking the Campbell assignment. Remember if your child stays with you for up to six consecutive months of a year you can live off post/on post and collect BAH. Court documents would have to be provided stating such but that is much better than “skype” time with your children.
*All views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, The Department of Defense or the US Army.*
Pfc Gross
im currently stationed in korea and i filled a form to AIP for the money but family situations at home and numetas amounts of deaths have happened in the last 7months. I want to cancel it with the da 4187 but my CO is making it hard for me even though i volunteered is there anything i can do or talk to?
SGT NICK
Why did you extend in an overseas assignment, and for how long? Usually the AIP has a specific amount of months you must sign up for. I don’t know how you are going to get out of it other than a compassionate reassignment if the deaths are in your immediate family or someone in your immediate family is really sick.
You could call branch but they probably wont release you until the AIP period is up. Try to take a special assignment as well, airborne, SF support or ranger and that can really help you get stateside.
Some people love spending many years in an overseas assignment but I don’t for the same reasons you listed. It’s just way too hard to get back home if emergencies arise.
Hope this helps
*All views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, the Department of the Defense, or the U.S. Army.*
Kandi Hicks
Anybody know the number you can call and see if your on orders?
SGT NICK
You check your ako or ako email you get one as soon as your placed on orders.
SPC Confused
I’ve been reading over regs and just general info about the whole PCS and deferment thing. Given the fact that I have a lot of other factors going on I haven’t decided if the PCS orders I’m on right now is something that I need to take and I’m considering trying to get them deleted. Just wondering how long do I have to decide on whether I want to defer my orders or not. I’ve heard that some soldier’s can have there orders snatched as close to a week of PCSing, not that that would be a late decision I plan on making. Just wondering the time frame on that kind of thing…
SGT NICK
Someone waiting a week before to get their PCS orders changed is something close to a miracle. By that time the military would have already shipped your stuff to the next duty location and you should have been cleared by the installation and your unit by that time as well. It would be wise to take at least two weeks to 30 days pcs leave to your next duty location if you have a family.
Just deciding you do not want to PCS wont cut it. You will have to submit a DA form 4187 signed by your company, battalion, brigade commanders and approved by HRC which is not an easy task. You can get a 90 deferment which is the easiest since your battalion commander can approve that much. 120 days is the maximum allowed deferment but that has to be signed by the first O-6 in your COC, and approved by HRC.
Hope This Helps!!
SGT NICK
Im sorry I did not answer your question, the answers is as soon as possible. These deferment/deletion actions will probably take months so please make a final decision soon.
Kandi Hicks
My husband has orders back to ft Bragg for an airborne slot but he just had back surgery. He want the orders deleted cause he can no longer jump from planes, but I don’t cause I’m from nc and want to go back home. Is it possible his branch manager can place him into another unit that isn’t airborne instead of deleting them?
Mark Gerecht
Candi,
That depends on if a non airborne slot is available and if your husband wants to take the chance of not being upfront with his branch. If he has a profile preventing airborne assignments then he has an obligation to let his assignment manager know this. Otherwise it will simply put another Soldier at a disadvantage and force them to PCS to Bragg to fill a position that should have been filled by your husband. Put yourself in that Soldier’s position.
He could also be up front with his assignment manager and tell them he wants to be assigned to Bragg but cannot Jump any longer. His branch will then ask for proof that he cannot jump (like a profile). If a non airborne slot is available his branch might slot him in it.
Your husband must decide how he wishes to proceed. Arriving at Bragg on Jump status orders and then holding up a profile saying I can’t jump but I got my assignment to bragg might upset some leaders in the chain of command. They could in turn do some checking and possibly consider if UCMJ is appropriate. The odds of that are low but it is a possibility. So it’s his call on how he wants to proceed.
wilcox
I have been awarded the green to gold scholarship and submitted the 4187 to the s1. I was wondering the turn around time till I get my orders it was submitted yesterday. Is their a way to check up on that and to keep pressing?
Mark Gerecht
I would be caution of pressing too hard as that usually turns people off and can have an adverse impact on your final goal. Checking with your S-1 on a weekly basis to get an update on the 4187 status would be acceptable. For example where is it add with regard to the approval process: BNCDR, BDE CDR, HRC, etc. Once the 4187 is at HRC you can then call the appropriate office at HRC and see if they can give you an estimate on how long it will take to process your orders. Having served as an assignment manager I can tell you the orders process is rather quick once the paperwork is in place. Hope this helps shed some light on the issue for you.
SGT NICK
Which commander needs to sign it? I would have never sent something as important as a ROTC packet to S1, getting an ERB update is hard enough. I would have personally given it to the company commander/1SG and urge its importance. They would have it pushed it through faster then you sending it on your own, especially if your not a senior NCO or someone special.
wilcox
My 1sgt did help me push it through. It needed a signiture from the sco and the battalion co. I wanted to know if there is a way to keep tracking how to get my orders faster once the 4187 has been submitted.
SGT NICK
In that case TOP is right once HRC has the paperwork you will get an email emilper message from HRC, probably within 72 hours. Make sure you get a copy of the 4187 after it is signed and regardless if they said they sent it to HRC you can call HRC and verify, if not just scan and email it to them yourself.-Hope this helps