A. Title 10, U.S.C.
B. DoD Instruction 1320.14 (DoD Commissioned Officer Promotion Program Procedures), 16 Dec 2020.
C. AR 600-8-29 (Officer Promotions), 9 Sep 2020.
D. AR 600-8-104 (Army Military Human Resource Records Management), 29 Jun 2023.
E. HQDA Policy Notice 600-2 (Policies and Procedures for Active-Duty List Officer Selection Boards), 23 Nov 2021.
F. DA Pamphlet 600-4 (Army Medical Department Officer Career Management),
27 Apr 2023.
G. MILPER 19-312 (Administrative Instructions for Officers Requesting to Defer Promotion (Opt-Out)), 1 Oct 2019.
1. This MILPER message will expire no later than (NLT) 30 Jun 2027.
2. This MILPER message describes the process and specific eligibility criteria for officers to request deferral of promotion consideration (opt-out) from the FY27 AC AMEDD colonel (COL), lieutenant colonel (LTC), and major (MAJ) AN, MS, SP, and VC PSBs. This message applies only to officers in the primary zone (PZ) of consideration.
3. The FY27 board convene dates and zones of consideration are as follows:
| Board | Convene date | Above Zone (AZ) Grade Entry Date (GED) | Primary Zone (PZ) Grade Entry Date (GED) |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL | 14 Oct 26 | 30 Sep 22 or earlier | 1 Oct 22 – 30 Sep 23 |
| LTC | 14 Oct 26 | 31 Oct 20 or earlier | 1 Nov 20 – 31 Oct 21 |
| MAJ | 17 Feb 27 | 1 Sep 21 or earlier | 2 Sep 21 – 1 Sep 22 |
4. Officers should monitor the HRC website for forthcoming FY27 AMEDD Zones of Consideration MILPER messages for administrative details regarding the boards, especially the applicable GED.
5. Opt-out consideration suspense dates:
a. To COL: the NLT date for these requests is 14 Aug 26. Requests received after 2359 hours EDT on 14 Aug 26 will be returned without action.
b. To LTC: the NLT date for these requests is 14 Aug 26. Requests received after 2359 hours EDT on 14 Aug 26 will be returned without action.
c. To MAJ: the NLT date for these requests is 1 Dec 26. Requests received after 2359 hours EDT on 1 Dec 26 will be returned without action.
6. Policy:
a. Title 10, U.S.C. § 619, authorizes commissioned officers to request deferral from promotion consideration for the next higher grade when certain conditions are met.
b. Officers who meet any of the conditions below are eligible to request to opt out of consideration from the FY27 AC AMEDD COL, LTC, or MAJ AN, MS, SP, and VC PSB. Requesting officers must clearly explain how their circumstance meets the relevant eligibility condition.
(1) When the requesting officer needs to accept or complete an assignment of
significant value to the Army.
(2) When the requesting officer must complete an ongoing funded, resident, advanced
civilian education program.
(3) When the officer must complete a career progression requirement (as defined in
DA Pamphlet 600-4) that is delayed by either a priority assignment or the civilian
education described above.
c. The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (ASA {M&RA}) is the approval authority for these requests. The ASA(M&RA) delegated approval authority to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Human Resources Command (CG, HRC).
d. Officers who meet the following conditions are ineligible to request to opt out of consideration for promotion:
(1) When the officer has already been considered and not selected for promotion to the next grade (one-time non-select).
(2) When the officer has received derogatory information at the current grade. Derogatory information includes Uniform Code of Military Justice actions, general officer letters or memoranda of reprimand, current non-select for promotion status, referral to a promotion review board, failure to meet Army Body Composition Program (AR 600-9), or a referred officer evaluation report/academic evaluation report since their last promotion. Flagged officers are also ineligible. Applications meeting any of these criteria will be returned without action.
e. Opt-outs are not automatic and may only be approved when the above criteria are met, and the opt-out is in the best interest of the Army. Officers requesting opt-out consideration from the FY27 AC AMEDD COL, LTC, or MAJ PSBs must clearly show in their request how their situation falls within one of the three categories described in paragraph 6b. See paragraph 7 for the required information for an opt-out request.
7. Procedures:
a. An officer wishing to request to opt out from the FY27 AC AMEDD COL, LTC, or MAJ PSB will do so via Microsoft Forms at MS FORMS AMEDD 4 OPT_OUT. Officers managed by the Special Management Division will submit requests through their unit G-1, not via the form link.
(1) To COL: The opt-out form will be available from 3 Aug – 14 Aug 26.
(2) To LTC: The opt-out form will be available from 3 Aug – 14 Aug 26.
(3) To MAJ: The opt-out form will be available from 15 Oct – 1 Dec 26.
b. Requests require a justification memorandum from the officer, signed by the first COL/O6 in the chain of command, and submitted with the request.
(a) Examples of justification memorandums are shown on the HRC webpage, Opt-Out/ Opt-Into Promotion Boards at https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/PSB_Opt-Out, but the officer’s justification is critical and unique to each officer.
(b) The memo should explain in detail how the officer meets the stated eligibility condition. There is no “minimum length” required, but the justification must be explained and adequately supported to facilitate CG, HRC in making a final disposition on the request. At a minimum, an officer must provide the following information:
(1) To opt-out on the basis of serving in a significant position: The officer must provide detailed information regarding the specific assignment of significant value to the Army, including the start date and position’s significance to you, the unit, and the Army.
(2) To opt-out on the basis of an advanced education program: The officer must identify the start date and anticipated completion date of the ongoing funded, resident, advanced civilian education program.
(3) To opt-out on the basis of a delayed career progression assignment: List the delayed career progression assignment and what series of assignments and/or schools prevented completion of the career progression assignment.
c. Immediately after the suspense date for these requests, the officer’s HRC career branch will validate that the officer meets the eligibility criteria. All requests will be routed to the CG, HRC for decision.
d. Officers requesting to opt out from consideration should continue preparing their board files until they receive their determination from HRC. Officers will not be granted exceptions or extended timelines for failing to prepare their board files for consideration due to an opt-out request.
e. Officers will be notified of the final decision by their HRC talent manager.
(1) If the request is disapproved, the officer will be considered by the board.
(2) If approved, officers will not be considered by the board. The following administrative actions will follow opt-out approval:
(a) A signed copy of the approved opt-out request will be placed in the officer’s performance section of his/her Army military human resource record.
(b) The officer’s cohort year group will change to reflect one additional year (i.e., year group 2011 officer will become year group 2012).
(c) The officer’s permanent date of rank/grade entry date will not change.
(d) In each officer’s IPPS-A record, HRC will place an assignment consideration restriction code. For example, “Opt-Out Promotion Board MAJ 1”.
(e) Approval to opt-out of the board does not affect an officer’s ability to move, i.e., it is not justification to adjust your Year Move Availability (YMAV) date.
f. Officers approved to opt-out of the board must be diligent and ensure they receive all notifications for boards in subsequent years, and equally aware if they mistakenly receive notifications (my board file notices) for the board they have opted out of.
8. For more information, please refer to the frequently asked questions on the HRC webpage, Opt-Out / Opt-In Promotion Boards at https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/
PSB_Opt-Out or contact your HRC talent branch.
9. The point of contact for this message is the officer’s HRC talent manager at: https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Active%20Component%20Talent%20Managers.