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Stop-Loss Policy Terminated, OPHOLD Modification Rescinded

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS030519-08

Release Date: 5/19/2003 9:45:00 AM

From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy has rescinded its one-month-long stop-loss, which prevented hospital corpsmen with Navy enlisted classification code 8404 (field medical service technician) in pay grades E-1 through E-6 from separating or retiring as planned because of combat operations.

"The Navy implemented a targeted stop-loss for some of our field corpsmen to bolster combat readiness and preserve unit integrity in frontline Marine Corps units," said Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Gerry Hoewing. "With combat operations in Iraq now coming to a close, there is simply no longer a need to maintain that stop-loss."

Rescinding stop-loss will release all Sailors held past their separation or retirement date.

Stop-loss was authorized for several specialties in April, but was only implemented for the approximately 2,600 corpsmen with NEC 8404; a total of 63 corpsmen with this NEC were prevented from separating during this stop-loss period. There is no plan to implement stop-loss on any of the other authorized skill sets.

"We truly appreciate the sacrifices our Sailors and their families have made to support Operation Iraqi Freedom and the global war on terror," added Hoewing. "My heartfelt thanks go out to all of them and, of course, to those brave corpsmen who contributed so much to the effort and who may be leaving the service as a result of this change in policy."

Hoewing said it was important to Navy leadership to make the announcement in a timely fashion. "We wanted to inform the fleet as quickly as possible about the stop-loss termination, so those impacted by the change have ample time to consider their career options."

Sailors will be released from stop-loss between June 1 and Sept. 15, 2003. Sailors who were previously approved for transfer to the Fleet Reserve whose requests were cancelled may resubmit requests to PERS-823 to transfer to the Fleet Reserve no later than Dec. 31, 2003.

Affected personnel desiring to separate or retire must submit requests to Navy Personnel Command via their chain of command to allow sufficient time to address detailing and placement decisions that were made during the period of stop-loss. Every opportunity will be made to accommodate personal desires.

Also rescinded is the modification to operational hold (OPHOLD) policy that included certain corpsmen assigned to deployed Marine Corps units.

OPHOLDs are to terminate within 30 days of return to homeport or the continental United States. Commands with Sailors who were affected by this change in OPHOLD policy must contact the appropriate rating detailer to coordinate revised orders.