Ar 635-200 chapter 8

Answer 1

AR 635-200 CHAPTER IS:

Separation of Enlisted Women-Pregnancy

Section I

General

8-1. Policy

This chapter establishes policy and procedures and provides authority for voluntary separation of enlisted women

because of pregnancy. This chapter applies to all Active Army enlisted women and ARNGUS and USAR enlisted

women ordered to AD, except for ARNGUS and USAR Soldiers found to be pregnant upon entry on IADT, to whom

paragraph 5-11 applies.

8-2. Separation authority

Commanders specified in paragraph 1-19 are authorized to order separation per this chapter.

8-3. Characterization or description of service

a. If the Soldier is still in entry-level status, her service will be uncharacterized.

b. If the Soldier is beyond entry-level status, her service will be characterized as honorable or under honorable

conditions per chapter 3, section II.

c. Prior to characterization as under honorable conditions, the Soldier will be advised of the specific factors in the

service record that warrant such a characterization, and the notification procedure will be used.

8-4. Type of separation

The criteria in chapter 1, section VII, will govern whether the Soldier will be released from AD with transfer to the

IRR, or discharged. (See para 1-11 for additional instructions on ARNGUS and USAR personnel.)

8-5. Responsibility of the unit commander

a. The unit commander will direct an enlisted woman who believes that she is pregnant, or whose physical condition

AR 635-200 • 6 June 2005/RAR 17 December 2009 73

indicates that she might be pregnant, to report for diagnosis by a physician at the servicing Armed Forces medical

treatment facility.

b. When service medical authorities determine that an enlisted woman is pregnant, she will be counseled and

assisted as required by chapter 8, section II.

8-6. Medical examination and diagnosis

a. Examination for pregnancy will be conducted as a complete medical examination. Standard Form (SF) 88 (Report

of Medical Examination) and SF 93 (Medical Record-Report of Medical History) will be used. If the Soldier is found

to be pregnant, no additional medical examination is required before separation if medical examination is accomplished

per AR 40-501, chapter 8, and there is no change in the enlisted woman's medical condition other than her pregnancy.

b. The pregnancy diagnosis will be certified in writing by a physician on duty at an Armed Forces medical treatment

facility as soon as possible. (This does not prevent observation of the enlisted woman for a reasonable period of time to

ensure that the diagnosis is correct.) In accomplishing the diagnosis, the physician may use biological or other tests for

pregnancy (without cost to the patient). The certificate will be sent to the separation authority as an enclosure to the

request for separation if the enlisted woman applies for separation.

c. When pregnancy is the only medical condition upon which separation is based, separation will be accomplished

without a medical or physical evaluation board. If there are medical conditions that disqualify the enlisted woman for

retention, processing will be accomplished per AR 40-501 and AR 635-40.

8-7. Line-of-duty determination

A line-of-duty determination is not required for pregnancy.

8-8. Conditions affecting separation for pregnancy

a. Separation will not be accomplished within an overseas command unless the enlisted woman's home is located

there.

b. If an enlisted woman believes that she is pregnant while en route overseas, commanders of Military Personnel

Transportation Assistance Offices will process her per AR 614-30, chapter 3.

c. If during the processing for separation under another chapter or regulation an enlisted woman is found to be

pregnant, she will not be separated under this chapter. Separation will be accomplished per the chapter or regulation

under which separation processing was initiated. In such cases, a notation of pregnancy will be made on SF 88.

d. An enlisted woman under investigation, court-martial charges, or sentence of court-martial who is certified by a

physician on duty at an Armed Forces medical treatment facility to be pregnant may be separated under this chapter.

However, she must have the written consent of the commander exercising general courts-martial jurisdiction over the

enlisted woman.

e. Except as provided in f, below, it is not the intent of the pregnancy separation policy that enlisted women be

separated under this chapter when the pregnancy terminates before separation is accomplished. A medical officer must

verify the fact of pregnancy termination.

f. In circumstances of an abnormal pregnancy, when a Soldier carries a pregnancy for 16 weeks or more but then

has an abortion, miscarriage, or an immature or premature delivery before separation is accomplished, the Soldier will

have the option to be retained or to be separated per this chapter. The duration of time she carried the pregnancy is

defined as starting approximately at conception and ending when the products of conception are delivered or considered

disappeared. A medical officer must verify the duration of the pregnancy. The Soldier will be counseled

concerning her options. If she chooses to separate, the separation authority may set the separation date. The Soldier's

decision will be recorded as a signed statement and included in the records.

g. An enlisted woman who elects to remain on AD when counseled (see para 8-9) may, if she is still pregnant,

subsequently request separation. The separation authority must separate the Soldier but may set the separation date. The

subsequent request must comply with guidance in paragraph 8-9a.

h. An enlisted woman who requests separation in writing may subsequently request withdrawal of the separation

request. Based upon the circumstances of the case and the best interest of the Army, the separation authority will

determine, in writing, if the Soldier will be separated, as previously requested, or retained.

Section II

Pregnancy Counseling

8-9. General

If an enlisted woman is pregnant, she will be counseled by the unit commander using the pregnancy counseling

checklist. (See fig 8-1 and app B.) The unit commander will explain that the purpose of the counseling is to provide

information concerning options, entitlements, and responsibilities and that the Soldier may-

a. Upon request, be separated per this chapter. She may request a specific separation date; however, the separation

authority and her military physician will determine the separation date. The date must not be later than 30 days before

74 AR 635-200 • 6 June 2005

the expected date of delivery or the latest date her military physician will authorize her to travel to her home of record

or entry on duty destination, whichever is earlier. The separation authority will approve the request according to this

chapter.

b. Remain on active duty.