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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

#R-03-033 May 29, 2003

ARMY ANNOUNCES CHANGES IN STOP LOSS

On May 27, 2003, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Reginald J. Brown approved the termination of "Stop Loss" for active component (AC) units, and the lifting of "Stop Loss" for selected officer specialties and enlisted specialties. The Stop Loss policy was initiated to allow the Army to retain soldiers, who are determined to be essential to the national security of the United States, on active duty beyond their date of retirement, separation, or release from active duty for an open-ended period.

The recent approval of Stop Loss will affect approximately 16,000 Active Army, 4,900 Army Reserve and 675 National Guard soldiers between now and October 2003. These soldiers, as they begin their transition from the Army, will be provided sufficient time to complete transition/career counseling processing and demobilization activities. Personnel strength managers from all Army components will regulate separation dates to ensure no adverse impact on Army-wide readiness.

In addition to all Active Army units, the following officer and warrant specialties and enlisted Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs) are now no longer subject to stop loss:

Officers with specialties: 15C35 (Aviation Intelligence); Additional Skill Identifier (ASI) K4 (Special Operations Aviation), K5 (MH-60K Pilot), and/or K6 (H-47E Pilot); 18 (Special Forces); 38 (Civil Affairs); 39 (Psychological Operations).

Warrant Officers with specialties: 153E (MH-60 Pilot); 154E (MH-47 Pilot); 155E (C-12 Pilot); 155G (O-5A/EO-5B/RC-7 Pilot); Pilots with ASI K4 (Special Operations Aviation), K5 (MH-60K Pilot, and/or K6 H-47E Pilot); 180A (Special Forces); 350B (Intelligence Technician); 351C (Area Intelligence Technician); 352G (Voice Intercept Technician);

Enlisted soldiers with Military Occupational Specialties: 00Z (Command Sergeant Major with Special Forces (SF) background); 18B (SF Weapons Sergeant); 18C (SF Engineer Sergeant); 18D (SF Medical Sergeant); 18E (SF Communications Sergeant); 18F (SF Operations and Intelligence Sergeant); 18Z (SF Senior Sergeant); 37F (Psychological Operations Specialist); 38A (Civil Affairs Specialist); 67U (CH-47 Helicopter Repairer); 98C (Signals Intelligence Analyst).

Secretary Brown approved four increments of Stop Loss in support of Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom. The first increment was announced November 30, 2001 and focused on Active Army Special Forces soldiers and certain Aviation specialties. The fourth and last increment was announced February 14, 2003, and directed the Active Component (AC) Unit Stop Loss for units supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Prior to Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom, the Army last used Stop Loss during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1990 when President George H. Bush delegated Stop Loss authority to the Secretary of Defense.

Stop Loss does not affect most involuntary separations or retirements, nor does it generally limit laws, regulations, or policies that lead to involuntary separations, retirements, or releases from active duty.

Assessment of personnel requirements for the Global War on Terrorism is a continuous process.

END

For more information about Army Stop Loss, media may contact Army Public Affairs, at (703) 692-2000. This document is available on Army Link, a World Wide Web site on the Internet at http://www.dtic.mil/armylink/ .