Voluntary Cell

Voluntary Cell

The Voluntary Section is responsible for processing applications for all voluntary separations from the ARA, which include:

• Application for Discharge
• Application to Transfer to Active Reserves (ARES)/Standby Reserves (SRES)
• General information on applications to Discharge/Transfer
• Compulsory Retirement Age (CRA)
• Separation Health Examinations (SHE)
• Transfer to RAN/RAAF

Note: All members who enlisted on and from 01 Jul 03 will be transferred to the Army Reserves at the end of their period of service unless certain criteria has been met IAW DI(A) PERS 116–5—Separation of Regular Army soldiers, Army Reserve soldiers and soldiers on full-time service—policy and procedures

All Applications for separations from ARA are to be completed on an AC853 Application for Resignation, Discharge or Transfer to the Reserves.

Application for Claim or Request for Discharge

The difference between Claim and Request for Discharge:

A soldier submitting a CLAIM for discharge must have:

1. completed their Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS);
2. completed any Return of Service Obligation (ROSO). This includes any ROSO incurred due to promotion for WO2 and WO1; and
3. provided six months notice of intent to separate.

A REQUEST for discharge is any application that does not meet the above criteria. These applications are treated in the same way as a claim for separation. In the case of a request, the soldier must provide compelling justification. Some examples are:

• letter of intent to employ including start date,
• letter of acceptance to a Tertiary Institution, or
• DCO investigation report supporting the soldier's separation.

Note: Just because the member supplies these documents, it does not guarantee an early release.

For both claim and request for discharge, an AC853 is to be completed and the following ensured:

1. that the member nominates a discharge date;
2. member signs and dates the bottom of section 1;
3. the supervisor correctly fills out all of section 2, including BFA and medical results;
4. the CO/OC correctly fills out section 3, taking care to tick all relevant boxes (even if it is N/A); and
5. the member acknowledges and dates the CO/OC comments.

The original AC853 is to be forwarded to SCMA.

Applications for Transfer to Active Army Reserves (ARES)/Standby Reserves (SRES)

An application for transfer is similar to the process for discharge. In order for the transfer application to be process by SCMA, the member is to complete an AC853 Application for Resignation, Discharge or Transfer to the Reserves and the unit is to ensure the following:

1. that the member nominates a separation date (one day before transfer date) and a transfer date;
2. the member nominates a gaining APA and gaining Unit (gaining unit only for ARES);
3. member signs and dates the bottom of section 1;
4. the supervisor correctly fills out all of section 2, including BFA and Medical results;
5. the CO/OC correctly fills out section 3, taking care to tick all relevant boxes (even if it is N/A); and
6. the member acknowledges and dates the CO/OC comments.

A soldier submitting a transfer to the reserves must have:

1. completed their Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS);
2. completed any Return of Service Obligation (ROSO). This includes any ROSO incurred due to promotion to WO2 or WO1; and
3. provided six months notice of intent to transfer.

The soldier must provide justification for transfer if he/she has not provided six (6) months notice. Some examples of compelling reasons are similar to those for request for discharge.

Applications for transfer, the original AC853 is to be forwarded to SCMA and a copy to the members requested APA.

For all applications to Discharge or Transfer to the ARES/SRES

28 day 'cooling off' period

The unit is to provide the soldier a compulsory 28 day cooling off period, where the unit ensures the soldier is adequately counselled on his/her decision to separate prior to forwarding documentation to SCMA.

The member can request to waiver the 28 day cooling off period but this must be requested in writing, signed by the member and endorsed by the unit CO/OC.

Request for amendment/withdrawal of application

If a soldier requests to amend /withdraw their AC853, a request must be made in writing by the member and is to include:

1. a statement from the soldier outlining the reasons for the variation/cancellation; and
2. a recommendation by the soldier's CO/OC supporting the variation/cancellation.

Outstanding ROSO

SCMA is not the approving authority for members with a ROSO. Any member who wishes to separate from the ARA but will have an outstanding ROSO on separation, must be approved by Commander Career Management - Army (CCMA) to waiver or pay out the remaining ROSO . SCMA will forward a brief to the CCMA outlining member's case and the CCMA will make a determination.

Compulsory Retiring Age (CRA)

Six months prior to a soldiers CRA, SCMA will inform the member that their CRA is approaching, four months prior to CRA, SCMA will initiate discharge and an administration authority signal will be released directing the member to complete separation administration.

Requests to extend the CRA for a member are to be sponsored by the unit CO/OC and submitted to SCMA. CRA Extensions are to be initiated by a commander in whose unit an essential manning requirement exists. The application should only be put before the Delegate through the chain of Command with evidence of consultation with the posting authority and Head of Corps. Applications for extensions are to be received by SCMA three months prior to the soldier's retirement age. The primary grant of extension is up to two years. For further clarity of age extension consult DI(A) PERS 116-5 - Separation of Regular Army soldiers, Army Reserve soldiers and soldiers on full-time service—policy and procedures.

Six months prior to a soldiers CRA, SCMA will inform the member that their CRA is approaching, four months prior to CRA, SCMA will initiate discharge and an administration authority signal will be released directing the member to complete separation administration.

A soldier approaching compulsory retirement may submit an AC853 Application for Resignation, Discharge or Transfer to the Reserves in order to advise SCMA of their intended separation region and any leave they intend to take prior to separation.

Requests to extend the CRA for a member are to be sponsored by the unit CO/OC and submitted to SCMA. CRA Extensions are to be initiated by a commander in whose unit an essential manning requirement exists. The application should only be put before the Delegate through the chain of Command with evidence of consultation with the posting authority and Head of Corps. Applications for extensions are to be received by SCMA three months prior to the soldier's retirement age. The primary grant of extension is up to two years. For further clarity of age extension consult DI(A) PERS 116-5 - Separation of Regular Army soldiers, Army Reserve soldiers and soldiers on full-time service—policy and procedures.

CRA Transfers to the Reserves

Any soldier wishing to serve in the Reserves after retiring may submit an AC853 to SCMA at least six months prior to their CRA date.