ALARACT 176/2013 DTG: 292142Z JUL 13
UNCLASSIFIED/ THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN SENT BY THE PENTAGON TELECOMMUNICATIONS
CENTER ON BEHALF OF DA WASHINGTON DC//DAPE-MPA//
SUBJECT: STOPPING PAY FOR SOLDIERS IN AN ABSENTEE/DESERTER STATUS
1. REFERENCES.
A. 37 U.S.C. SECTION 503 (ABSENCE WITHOUT LEAVE OR OVER LEAVE, PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE UNIFORMED
SERVICES).
B. DOD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION, VOLUME 7A, CHAPTER 03.
C. AR 630-10, PERSONNEL ABSENCES, ABSENCE WITHOUT LEAVE, DESERTION, AND ADMINISTRATION OF
PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN CIVILIAN COURT, 13 JAN 06.
D. AR 190-9, MILITARY POLICE, ABSENTEE, DESERTER APPREHENSION PROGRAM AND SURRENDER OF MILITARY
PERSONNEL TO CIVILIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, 18 JAN 07.
E. MILPER MESSAGE 10-241 (DROPPED FROM ROLLS (DFR) PROCEDURES AND GUIDANCE), ISSUED 17 SEP 10.
F. EMILPO FUNCTIONAL GUIDANCE
2. BACKGROUND. AN AUDIT CONDUCTED BY THE ARMY AUDIT AGENCY (AAA) CONCLUDED THAT THE ARMY DOES
NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT CONTROLS IN PLACE AND OPERATING TO ENFORCE ESTABLISHED POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING DESERTERS AND ABSENTEE SOLDIERS TO THE PAY SYSTEM TO ENSURE THE PAY
AND BENEFITS FOR THESE SOLDIERS WAS PROMPTLY CURTAILED. THE AAA IDENTIFIED THAT, BETWEEN JANUARY
2010 AND JULY 2012, THE ARMY MADE OVER 9,000 PAYMENTS TO ABSENTEE SOLDIERS TOTALING
APPROXIMATELY $16 MILLION. IN THIS CURRENT ENVIRONMENT OF SCARCE RESOURCES, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
3. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO REINFORCE CURRENT POLICY AND ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY
COMMANDERS AND STAFF OFFICES TO ALLEVIATE THIS SITUATION:
A. DA FORM 4187 (PERSONNEL ACTION – PDY TO AWOL). UNIT COMMANDERS WILL ENSURE DISTRIBUTION IS MADE
TO THE DEFENSE FINANCE ACCOUNTING SERVICE (DFAS), EMILPO TRANSACTION IS COMPLETED, DEFENSE
ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY REPORTING SYSTEM (DEERS) IS UPDATED, AND SCAN TO USADIP FOR REVIEW.
B. HRC WILL ESTABLISH STANDARD METRICS FOR COMMAND G-1S TO PROVIDE STATUS OF THEIR COMMAND’S
ABSENTEE SOLDIERS IN THEIR REGULAR COMMAND UPDATE BRIEFS. COMMANDERS OF ARMY COMMANDS, ARMY
SERVICE COMPONENT COMMANDS, AND DIRECT REPORTING UNITS MUST RECEIVE REGULAR COMMAND UPDATE
BRIEFS AND PLACE STRONG COMMAND EMPHASIS ON THE STATUS OF ABSENTEE SOLDIERS.
C. COMMAND G-1S MUST MEET WITH BRIGDE S-1S ON A QUARTERLY BASIS DURING PREPARATION OF THE UNIT
STATUS REPORT (USR) TO REVIEW THE UNITS STRENGTH AND ENSURE ALL PERSONNEL ACTIONS ON THE UNITS’
ABSENTEE SOLDIERS ARE PROCESSED.
D. COMMAND G-1S, WITH THE SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES OF THE COMMAND PROVOST MARSHAL, MUST MONITOR
THEIR SUPPORTED UNITS TO ENSURE THEY REGULARLY VERIFY THE STATUS OF SOLDIERS IN CIVILIAN
CONFINEMENT FACILITIES.
E. COMMAND G-1S WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL DEFENSE MILITARY PAY OFFICE, MUST CLOSELY MONITOR
ACTIONS TO STOP PAY FOR ABSENTEE SOLDIERS. INSTANCES OF MISSING DOCUMENTATION NEED TO BE
COMMUNICATED TO COMMANDERS DIRECTLY FOR SWIFT RESOLUTION AND PREVENTION OF COSTLY DELAYS TO
THE ARMY.
F. COMMAND G-1S MUST REINFORCE COMPLIANCE WITH EXISTING PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW UP ON ALL IN-TRANSIT
SOLDIERS WHO DID NOT ARRIVE ON THEIR REPORT DATES. COMMANDERS OF ACOMS, ASCCS, AND DRUS MUST
PLACE STRONG COMMAND EMPHASIS ON THE STATUS OF ABSENTEE SOLDIERS.
G. COMMAND G-1S MUST ESTABLISH CONTROLS AND METRICS FOR REPORTING DFR PACKET PROCESSING DURING
COMMAND UPDATE BRIEFS TO ACOMS, ASCCS, AND DRUS. IN ALL CASES, COMMANDERS AT COMPANY AND
BATTALION LEVEL MUST PROMPTLY INVESTIGATE THE STATUS OF ABSENTEE SOLDIERS AND NOT HESITATE WHEN
REPORTING DUTY STATUS OF ABSENTEE AND DESERTER PERSONNEL IN THE ARMY PERSONNEL SYSTEM WITH
PROPER AWOL AND DFR TRANSACTIONS. THE USADIP (UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE PROVOST MARSHAL
GENERAL) MANAGES THE DFR PACKET PROCESSING IN ACCORDANCE WITH AR 630-10. DFR PACKETS THAT ARE
NOT ACCEPTED MUST BE COMMUNICATED DIRECTLY TO COMMANDERS AND COMMAND G-1S FOR PROMPT
RESOLUTION.
4. FUNCTIONAL PROPONENTS:
A. USADIP (DAPM-MPP-AD), FORT KNOX, KY 40121-5182, COMM 502-626-3717, DSN 536-3717.
B. HRC, TAGD, FSD, INTEGRATION (KNOX-HRC-PDF), FORT KNOX, KY 40121-5406, COMM 502-613-8091, DSN 983-8091.
C. POINTS OF CONTACT FOR THIS MESSAGE IS MR. JULIAN EDMONDSON, ARMY G-1 AT COMM 703-695-7948,
JULIAN.D.EDMONDSON.CIV@MAIL.MIL OR MR. J.D. RILEY, ARMY G-1 AT 703-571-7117, JAMES.D.RILEY14.CIV@MAIL.MIL.
5. EXPERATION CANNOT BE DETERMINED.