On Sun, 03 Apr 2005 18:57:23 GMT, "Sanders Kaufman" beanbag and drunkenly proclaimed the following OK, there is a period between issuing the order for separation and the actual day the soldier leaves the Army once and for all. Let's take PFC Snuffy. Snuffy has developed asthma, and is being given a medical separation. Snuffy is currently stationed at Camp Casey, Republic of Korea. The first thing Snuffy has to do is "clear post." This means he has to get all his paperwork in order. Everything from Finance to the post library. Poor Snuffy spends his days with a thick folder, going from office to office to get all the required signatures. During this time, PFC Snuffy has to clean and turn in all the gear his was issued upon becoming one of the Frozen Chosen. This can take several tries, as the quartermasters are notoriously picky. If anything is missing, it requires more paperwork. Snuffy also needs to pack all his worldly possession for shipment home. For most soldiers, this is books, a stereo or TV, clothing, and the like. Finally PFC Snuffy signs out, and gets a ride down to Kimpo. Boards a C-17 for the long trip home, and after 24 hours reaches California! But he's not out yet. PFC Snuffy now heads to a demobilization station. There, everyone leaving the services from the Pacific rim (but outside the continental US) get together to have their final paperwork cut, final physical exams, and final send off. Total time? 7-15 days. During Snuffy's time in Korea, he still slept in his barracks, showed up for morning formation (although short timers are generally excused from PT) and had to be there for 1700 formation. Even if Snuffy was getting bounced for being gay, the routine would be the same. The only exception is people who are being bounced as a result of a courts-martial decision. They are either confined in a disciplinary barracks or placed in a special unit of people waiting to be sent home-discharged. This only happens if keeping the soldier in his unit would place the solider or the other troops in imminent danger of harm. Why yes, I did have to process a few of these in my day. -- Douglas E. Berry Do the OBVIOUS thing to send e-mail Atheist #2147, Atheist Vet #5 "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction." Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), Pense'es, #894.
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