Stabilization for soldiers
The Stabilization for Soldiers program began in April 2001. It allows soldiers to extend their tour of duty at their current duty station for an additional year so a family member can graduate from their current school. So far, over 2,000 military families with high school seniors have taken advantage of this program.
Soldiers who have children in high school must request stabilization from PERSCOM before their children begin their high school junior year.
The request is made on a DA Form 4187 (Personnel Action- see above link). A soldier must list known scheduled temporary duty for a training course and other purposes.
Officers need to contact their branch assignment officers if they are scheduled for training at the end of their current tours. That will tell the branch that the training requirement may have to be deferred.
A letter from the high school stating when the student is expected to graduate from the school must be attached to the DA Form 4187.
Army Regulation 614–200
Assignments, Details, and Transfers
Enlisted Assignments and Utilization Management
Stabilization for Soldiers with High School Seniors
5–26. Applicability and criteria
Soldiers with Family members in high school may request stabilization from PCS movement during the child’s senior year. The intent of the program is to provide stability to Soldiers with Family members in their junior and senior years of high school. The provisions of this section apply to RA Soldiers only. Army National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers should contact their servicing personnel office for guidance. RA Soldiers assigned to non-Army agencies or units must comply with all directives and regulations that apply to their command before submitting their request (for example, Soldiers assigned to the Defense Courier Service (DCS) must comply with DOD Directive 5200.33). Submission requirements are outlined below.
5–27. Submission of requests
a. Requests should be submitted no earlier than March of the student’s sophomore year, and not later than the
commencement of the student’s junior school year (for example, Student’s projected graduation date is Jun 2008;
submit request between March – September 2006). Requests submitted outside of this time frame will be considered as an exception to policy and must be justified as to the delay of submission. Soldiers may be eligible to PCS before the start of the student’s junior year of high school.
b. Human Resource Command (Director, EPMD) is the approval/disapproval authority. All requests will be submitted to HRC for consideration, regardless of chain of command recommendation. Soldier will request stabilization using a DA Form 4187 or memorandum. The request will be submitted through the chain of command to the ACOM/ASCC/DRU level, for a recommendation prior to forwarding to HRC-Alexandria (AHRC-EPO-P) for consideration. Soldier’s request will include the following:
(1) A letter/memorandum from the high school with the student’s name, SSN, and projected graduation date
(included as an attachment to the request).
(2) A statement on the Soldier’s request: “Student (child’s full name) is enrolled in DEERS.” All students must be enrolled in DEERS and must be under the direct care/custody of the Soldier submitting the request.
(3) A copy of the DD Form 1172 (Application for Uniformed Services Identification Card DEERS Enrollment) will be attached to the Soldier’s request if the student’s last name is different from the Soldier’s.
(4) Outside continental U.S. Soldiers whose DEROS is prior to requested stabilization date must include the
following statement in their request: “I will extend my foreign service tour to meet the stabilization requirement. Based on my new DEROS, I understand that I must still meet the required time remaining in service requirement to be eligible for reassignment to CONUS.”
d. Soldiers enrolled in the MACP must both apply if both desire stabilization under these provisions.
e. Requests for stabilization of CSM/SGM and/or selectees for the USASMC will be coordinated with HRC, CSM/
SGM Branch (AHRC-EPS).
f. For Soldiers on assignment instructions, normal reassignment rules apply. That is, Soldier may request deletion or deferment in accordance with AR 600-8-11. These requests will be considered as an exception to policy.
g. Stabilization under these provisions may be changed or canceled due to the changing needs of the Army.
