A. DA Pam 600-3, Officer Talent Management, 14 April 2023.
B. DA PAM 600-25, U.S. Army Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Guide, 11 September 2023.
C. AR 135-18, The Active Guard Reserve Program, 4 August 2025.
D. AR 614-30, Overseas Service, 26 March 2025.
E. AR 614-100, Officer Assignment Policies and Procedures, 8 May 2024.
F. AR 614-200, Enlisted Assignments and Utilization Management, 27 June 2025.
G. AR 600-8-24, Officer Transfers and Discharges, 8 February 2020.
H. AR 635-200, Active Duty Enlisted Administrative Separations, 30 June 2025.
I. AR 140-111, U.S. Army Reserve Reenlistment Program, 2 March 2018.
J. Memorandum, Office of the Chief, Army Reserve (OCAR), Subject: United States Army Reserve (USAR) Active Guard Reserve (AGR) Manning Guidance, 22 July 2025.
K. Army Directive 2025-18, Appearance, Grooming, and Army Body Composition Program Standards.
L. Army Directive 2026-08, Permanent Change to Timeline for Requesting Voluntary Retirement from Active Service.
M. MILPER Message 25-257 (subject: Stabilization for Soldiers – High School Seniors) , 10 July 2026.
N. MILPER Message 26-204 (subject: FY27 U.S. Army Reserve Active Guard (AGR) Soldier Identified to Move (SIM) Permanent Change of Station (PCS) during Distribution Cycle 27-02 (IPPS-A Marketplace)), 1 June 2026
1. This MILPER message expires NLT 30 September 2027 and supersedes reference N, which is now REVOKED.
2. This message announces the start of the FY27 PCS Marketplace Cycle 27-02.
3. This message provides guidelines and assignment considerations to assist Soldiers Identified to Move (SIM) during Distribution Cycle (DC) 27-02, conducted in the IPPS-A Marketplace and scheduled from 30 September 2026 through 28 October 2026.
4. The HRC, Talent Management Division (TMD) and Health Services Division (HSD), will issue SIM notifications no later than 17 June 2026 for all Soldiers identified for the 27-02 DC.
5. Automated IPPS-A SIM Notification: IPPS-A generates automated SIM notifications throughout the distribution cycle as the system is refreshed. Soldiers identified to move may receive up to three notifications during (DC) 27-02. Receipt of additional notifications does not necessarily indicate a change in assignment status. Notifications are scheduled as follows:
17 June 2026- Enlisted
24 June 2026- Warrant/Officers
5 August 2026- All Soldiers
24 September 2026- All Soldiers
6. Soldiers must promptly acknowledge receipt of their SIM notification and ensure all relevant documents are submitted to their Talent Manager (TM) by the established deadline.
7. Soldier Identified to Move: A Soldier must have their Year/Month Available to Move (YMAV) updated in IPPS-A NLT 3 August 2026.
8. Time on Station (TOS) Waiver:
a. Under 36 months, Time on Station: A Soldier requesting PCS with less than 36 months at their current duty location must submit a Time on Station Waiver, Personnel Action Request (PAR) endorsed by their Brigade Commander. This action will then be routed to HRC, AGR Special Actions Team via IPPS-A PAR to Workflow Template; RC_HRC_RPMD_MSB_ Policy_Actions, UDL: 000000000010492 for final determination. Wavier may not be required for Soldiers in a 24-month KD assignment.
b. AMEDD officers and enlisted Soldiers requesting to PCS with less than 36 months TOS at their current duty location must submit a Time on Station PAR endorsed by their Brigade Commander (or first O6 in their chain of command). This request will be routed to their respective TM. Waiver may not be required for Soldiers in a 24-month KD assignment.
c. An officer requesting a one-time 12-month extension beyond 36 months at their current duty location must submit an Admin Corrections PAR, YMAV Change Request, endorsed by their Brigade Commander (or first O6 in their chain of command); routed via IPPS-A to their respective TM.
d. Once the marketplace opens, only those Soldiers with an approved special assignment consideration (i.e. Exceptional Family Member Program, Married Army Couples Program, High School Senior Stabilization) or Non-transferable FLAG may be added or removed.
9. Additional Assignment considerations:
a. Non-Transferable Flags: In accordance with Army Directive 2025-18 (Appearance, Grooming, and Army Body Composition Programs Standards), Soldiers with a non-transferable flag (Flag Code K) and enrolled into the Army Body Composition Program (ABCP) will not be available for movement during the cycle.
b. Effective 18 June 2026, the HRC Commanding General approved an exception to policy (ETP) designating Code J (AFT Flag) as a nontransferable flag. As a result, Soldiers affected by the Code J AFT Flag, as outlined in the ETP to Army Regulation 600-8-2, paragraph 2-3b, are not authorized to proceed with reassignment until the flag has been removed. This restriction remains in place until the underlying issues resulting in the flag is resolved and the flag is cleared. Please note, this policy change applies specifically to Code J (AFT Flag) and does not modify any other Army Directives or policies related to other Flag codes.
c. TMs will verify that any Soldier with an active Code J Flag, Code K Flag or any other non-transferable flag will be moved to 28-01 PCS cycle, as appropriate, if flag is not removed by 3 August 2026.
d. Married Army Couples Program (MACP): Enrollment does not guarantee reassignment together. Those married to civilians (DAC or MILTECH) or military Soldiers not on active duty are ineligible. MACP Soldiers must coordinate with their respective TMs to ensure coordinated movement.
e. Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP): EFMP status must be validated every three (3) years for medical needs and annually for educational needs. If a Soldier does not update their EFMP, it will automatically expire on the designated date. An expired EFMP status will hinder movement even if it is no longer required. Additionally, if both Soldiers are MACP, each Soldier must have their EFMP approved in their records. For more information, you can visit the HRC website: (https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Exceptional%20Family%20Member%20Program) or you can submit any EFMP documents via E-EFMP website (https://efmp.army.mil).
f. High School Senior Stabilizations (HSSS): HSSS requests must be submitted no earlier than March of the student’s freshman year and no later than the start of the student’s sophomore year or September 30th, whichever is later in accordance with MILPER Message 25-221.
g. Retirement in Lieu of PCS: IAW Army Directive 2026-08, Soldiers (Officer and Enlisted) may request retirement in lieu of PCS when they have at least 19 years of Active Federal Service (AFS). This notification includes official PCS alerts, placement into an assignment market, or consideration for a nominative position. If a Soldier elects to retire in lieu of PCS, the retirement request must be submitted within 30 days of assignment notification, and the requested retirement date must be no later than 12 months from the date of that notification. Commanders and retirement approval authorities retain the authority to recommend disapproval or disapprove requests based on operational readiness, critical manning requirements, or the adjudication of adverse action.
h. Soldiers will not be removed from the assignment market or PCS cycle until they have an approved retirement date. Once the retirement is approved, the assigned TM will ensure the Soldier is removed from the PCS cycle and revoke any pending PCS orders. Approved retirements in lieu of PCS will not be withdrawn, nor will the effective date of retirement be extended. However, a request for an earlier retirement date will be considered on an individual basis. For additional guidance, refer to Army Directive 2026-08, AR 600-8-24, Chapter 6-16 (Officers), and AR 635-200, Chapter 12-9 (Enlisted).Once the marketplace opens, only those Soldiers with an approved special assignment consideration may be added or removed.
i. Release from Active Duty (REFRAD): Soldiers may request to be released from the AGR Program: A voluntary request is authorized under the provisions outlined in AR 135-18, paragraph 2-5; AR 600-8-24, paragraph 2-5 (Officers); AR 635-200 (Enlisted); and AR 140-111, paragraph 2-7 (Enlisted) as applicable. Soldiers are required to submit a Voluntary REFRAD packet to transfer to a TPU, IMA or IRR status within 30 calendar days from their assignment notification.
j. Terminal Assignment: A terminal assignment allows a Soldier to request a position near their designated retirement location. However, the Army will not reassign Soldiers within CONUS solely for retirement purposes. While terminal assignment requests do not guarantee assignments to specific locations, it will allow Soldiers to have the ability to preference position locations available in their current PCS move cycle. A Soldier must have a minimum of 24 months of remaining service upon arrival at their new CONUS duty station to be eligible for this type of assignment, voluntary retirement PAR can be submitted upon arrival but effective no sooner than 24-months TOS. Soldiers can only request a terminal assignment once.
10. Critical 27-02 DC dates for Identified Movers.
29 June 2026: SIM Notifications Due
03 August 2026: NLT date for YMAV Updates & Removal of Non-transferable Flag(s)
04 August 2026: Movers 2702 Marketplace Teams Channels go Live
24 September 2026: 2702 Marketplace Mover Training via Teams (Non-AMEDD)
28 September 2026: 2702 Marketplace Mover Training via Teams (AMEDD)
30 September 2026: Marketplace Opens
28 October 2026: Marketplace Closes
02 December 2026: Assignment Notification Sent
11. Point of contact for this MILPER is Mr. Paul Turnbow, Talent Management Division Deputy at paul.f.turnbow.civ@army.mil or usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.rpmd-tmd-ops@army.mil. Soldiers should direct all assignment related inquiries to their respective TMD Talent Manger.
12. Point of contact for Army Medical Department (AMEDD) concerns is LTC Cynthia Cooper, Health Services Division Branch Chief at cynthia.j.cooper13.mil@army.mil or usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.rpmd-hsd-talent-mgt-br@army.mil. AMEDD Soldiers should direct all assignment related inquiries to their respective HSD Talent Manger.