A. AR 601-280 (Army Retention Program), 14 April 2023.
B. AR 614-200 (Enlisted Assignments and Utilization Management), 25 January 2019.
C. MILPER Message 24-220, AHRC-FSF-ER, 07 June 2024, subject: Amendment to Regular Army Precision Retention.
D. MILPER Message 23-465, AHRC-EPF-R, 22 November 2023, subject: Special MOS Alignment Promotion Program (SMAPP).
1. This MILPER message rescinds reference C effective immediately and will expire no later than 30 June 2025.
2. The Secretary of the Army recently approved a significant change to the Army structure which will impact multiple Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs) over the next two fiscal years.
3. Prior to reclassification, commanders are authorized to utilize personnel in accordance with AR 614-200. Although this will result in an MOS mismatch in reporting, it is understood during this transformation there will be an impact to unit status reporting (USR).
4. Precision Retention is designed to sustain unit readiness and force alignment through the reenlistment and reclassification of Soldiers. Precision Retention is broken down into two parts:
a. Overages: This identifies MOSs that are over strength and require reclassification
out of the MOS in order to achieve force alignment across the Army.
b. Shortages: This identifies MOSs that are under strength and offers Soldiers promotion opportunities and monetary incentives for reclassification into an MOS.
5. Part I – Overages:
a. When the Army changes structure, overages in MOSs and skill levels may occur. To reduce these overages, the U.S. Army Human Resources Command (HRC) will restrict reenlistment options by MOS and skill level requiring HRC to approve the Soldier’s reenlistment option.
b. Commanders are required to ensure all Soldiers meet the criteria for reenlistment in accordance with reference A above. Although commanders are responsible for approving/disapproving a Soldier’s request for reenlistment, precision retention is an administrative action subsequent to the commander’s decision to reenlist a Soldier. When applicable, commanders must initiate a suspension of favorable personnel actions (FLAG) or a bar to continued service on Soldiers who fail to meet reenlistment standards.
c. In an effort to facilitate force alignment, the Army ideally wants Soldiers in overage MOSs to reclassify into shortage MOSs. Soldiers currently serving in an MOS listed in paragraph 5d(1) below who do not volunteer for reclassification or reclassify through their reenlistment option may be reclassified by HRC in accordance with the needs of the Army.
d. Precision Retention restrictions based on a Soldier’s MOS and skill level:
(1) The following MOSs/skill levels are restricted: 19D and 31B, all grades. All grades for MOS 15Y with Additional Skill Identifier (ASI) Y1. All grades 35N with ASI Y2.
(a) Specific guidance for MOS 19D1,19D2, 31B1, 31B2, 31B3: Due to structure changes, Soldiers serving in these MOSs are restricted to reclassify to a new MOS and will not be approved to reenlist in current MOS without approval from HRC. Servicing G1’s, HRC, and Career Counselors will make every effort to consider installation strengths for these Soldiers during the reclassification process. Any exceptions will follow procedures in accordance with AR 601-280.
(b) Exceptions to Policy (ETP) for Career Management Field (CMF) 19 and CMF 31
1. Airborne qualified Soldiers serving in MOSs 19D1 and 19D2 (non-promotable SGTs only) are eligible to reclassify into MOS 11B with no training required. This ETP is specifically focused on those MOS 19D Soldiers currently serving at Fort Liberty. Qualified Soldiers not serving at Fort Liberty will be placed on assignment to an Airborne position upon reclassification to MOS 11B.
2. All MOS 19D1 Soldiers may reclassify into MOSs 19C and 19K with no training required. Soldiers in MOS 19D2 may reclassify into MOS 19K with no training required. The Chief of Armor has waived the formal training requirement for these reclassifications.
3. All MOS 31B1 and 31B2 Soldiers who are qualified in one of the following ASIs are authorized to reenlist Regular Army in MOS 31B: ASI D7, ASI V5, and ASI Q9.
(2) Soldiers with an MOS and skill level listed in paragraph 5d(1) above, who are recommended for reenlistment by their commander, must submit their request for reenlistment to HRC in accordance with the procedures outlined in paragraph 5e of this message. Soldiers not in their reenlistment window, as defined by Army G-1 Retention, are highly encouraged to submit voluntary reclassification requests through their commander via the RETAIN system.
e. Procedures: Soldiers who are restricted from reenlistment by paragraph 5d(1) of this message will have their request for reenlistment processed through HRC as follows:
(1) The servicing Career Counselor is the commander’s subject matter expert for precision retention. As such, the servicing Career Counselor will process Soldiers’ requests via the RETAIN system to HRC.
(2) HRC will evaluate a Soldier’s record and compare his/her accomplishments to other Soldiers of the same MOS/skill level throughout the Army. Based on the needs of the Army and the Soldier’s record, HRC will render one of the following decisions:
(a) Approve reenlistment in current MOS.
(b) Direct reclassification into a new MOS.
(c) Approve extension of enlistment.
(d) Deny reenlistment.
f. Soldiers will be notified of HRC’s decision by their servicing Career Counselor and, if applicable, any restriction to the number of years/months the Soldier may reenlist/extend. Soldiers have seven calendar days from the approval date to extend or reenlist. Soldiers who fail to take action will have HRC’s approval to reenlist/extend revoked and are considered to have been afforded the opportunity for continued service.
6. Part II – Shortages:
a. The Army continues to experience shortages in several MOSs and skill levels. These MOSs and skill levels offer opportunities for Soldiers who reclassify to not only work in a new career field but also the possibility of promotion and a Selective Retention Bonus (SRB) upon completion of their training.
b. To determine shortage MOSs and skill levels with promotion and retention bonus opportunities, HRC publishes the following information:
(1) Reclassification IN/OUT Calls – This MILPER message identifies strengths of all MOSs for skill levels 1 thru 4. Shortage MOSs have a “Y” in the “IN” column. Balanced MOSs have an “N” in both columns. Overage MOSs have a “Y” in the “OUT” column.
(2) SRB Program – This MILPER message identifies critical MOSs and skill levels entitled to a retention bonus..
(3) Special MOS Alignment Promotion Program (SMAPP) – This MILPER message identifies MOSs for Soldiers to reclassify into where, upon successful completion of training, they are promoted to Sergeant (SGT) or Staff Sergeant (SSG).
(4) STAR MOS list – This list, which is included in the monthly promotion cutoff scores memorandum, identifies MOSs in which there were not enough eligible Soldiers to promote to SGT or SSG.
c. The tables below are provided as a quick reference for Soldiers and leaders to use when discussing career options and opportunities for Specialists (SPC)/Corporals (CPL) and SGTs. When discrepancies exist between these tables and the HRC publications listed in paragraph 6b(1) through 6b(4), the most current HRC publications take precedence.
(1) The following MOSs have significant growth and offer reclassification and bonus opportunities for Skill Level 1 Soldiers:
| MOS | TITLE | SKILL LEVEL 1 | SRB Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13J | FIRE CONTROL SPECIALIST | 6 | $3,400 – $29,300 |
| 13M | HIMARS CREWMEMBER | 6 | $3,400 – $29,300 |
| 14E | PATRIOT FIRE CONTROL OP/MAINT | 6 | $3,400 – $29,300 |
| 14G | AIR DEFENSE BATTLE SYSOPER | 6 | $3,400 – $29,300 |
| 14P | AIR AND MISSILE DEFENSE CREW | 6 | $3,400 – $29,300 |
| 14T | PATRIOT LAUNCHING STATION OPER | 6 | $3,400 – $29,300 |
| 17E | ELECTRONIC WARFARE SPC | 6 | $3,400 – $29,300 |
| 19C | BRADLEY CREWMEMBER | 6 | $3,400 – $29,300 |
| 19K | M1 ARMOR CREWMAN | 6 | $3,400 – $29,300 |
| 25H | NETWORK COMMUNICATION SYS SPC | 6 | $3,400 – $29,300 |
| 92F | PETROLEUM SUPPLYSPECIALIST | 6 | $3,400 – $29,300 |
(2) The MOSs in this table provide the best opportunity for a SPC/CPL to reclassify into a new MOS with high promotion potential and a bonus upon completion of training. Additionally, this table identifies MOSs in the SMAPP which authorizes promotion to SGT upon awarding of the new MOS.
| MOS | TITLE | IN/OUT Calls- SGT | SPC/CPL SRB Tier | SMAPP To SGT | SGT STAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13B | CANNON CREWMEMBER | Y/N | 6 | N | Y |
| 13F | JOINT FIRESUPPORT SPC | Y/N | 4 | N | Y |
| 13M | HIMARS CREWMEMBER | Y/N | 6 | N | Y |
| 17E | ELECTRONIC WARFARE SPC | Y/N | 6 | Y | Y |
| 19K | M1 ARMOR CREWMAN | Y/N | 6 | N | Y |
| 35L | COUNTER INTEL(CI) AGENT | Y/N | 4 | N | Y |
| 89D | EXPLOSIVE ORD DISP SPC | Y/N | 4 | Y | Y |
(3) The MOS(s) in this table provide the best opportunity for a SGT to reclassify into a new MOS with high promotion potential (MOS has been on the SSG STAR list for at least 6 months) and a bonus upon completion of training.
| MOS | TITLE | IN/OUT Calls-SSG | SGT SRB Tier | SMAPP to SSG | SSG STAR |
| 13M | HIMARS CREWMEMBER | Y/N | 6 | N | Y |
| 19K | M1 ARMOR CREWMAN | Y/N | 6 | N | Y |
7. Training vacancies for MOSs listed in the tables above were available at the time this message was published. These vacancies are limited, and although HRC continually works on obtaining training vacancies for these MOSs, there is the potential a Soldier requesting one of these MOSs will be informed there is no training available.
8. There are other MOSs available for reclassification which will increase a Soldier’s promotion potential to SGT or SSG with the possibility of a bonus in the new MOS. Your unit Career Counselor is the subject matter expert who can explain opportunities for reclassification, promotion, or SRB entitlement. Contact your unit Career Counselor who will assist you with determining individual Soldier eligibility.
9. Point of contact for all inquiries pertaining to the Precision Retention process is the servicing Career Counselor. Career Counselors with questions pertaining to this message will contact the Retention and Reclassification Branch, AHRC-FSF-ER, at usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.fadd-reclass@army.mil.