Eligibility Requirements
Service Members MUST have completed at least 180 days of continuous active-duty service and expect to receive an honorable or general, under honorable conditions, discharge prior to starting a program.
Service Members may commence a CSP no earlier than 180 days before release from active duty, with the following exception: Service Members enrolled in IDES or assigned to an SRU may begin a CSP IMMEDIATELY upon completion of their VA medical appointments.
Service Members are eligible to participate in only ONE CSP program while still on Title 10 Active Duty Orders.
Service Members can receive authorization to participate form their first field grade commander with UCMJ authority in the Soldier’s chain of command.
Service Members that are attending an Off-Island CSP program can receive administrative absence not to exceed 180 days for participation in a Career Skills Program validated in accordance with AR 600-81 Transition Assistance Program.
APPROVAL AUTHORITIES
IAW MILPER 25-116 approval authority is based off the rank and category of service members. No delegation is authorized for approval authority. Refer to Category below.
Category | Rank | Number of Days | Approval Authority |
Category I | E1 – E5 | Up to 120 Days | First field grade commander with UCMJ/GS-13 with signatory authority. |
Category II | E6 – E7 WO1 – CW3 O1 – O3 | Up to 90 Days | First O6 CDR commander with UCMJ/GS-13 with signatory authority. |
Category III | E8 – E9 CW4 – CW5 O4 and above | Up to 60 Day | First General Officer in the Soldier’s Chain of Command/GS-13 with signatory authority. |
Service Member MUST obtain Exception to Policy (ETP) from HQDA G1 to request a program over the service members eligible category program length.
Administrative Absence (according to AR 600-8-10 Leaves and Passes)
Service Member MUST obtain an administrative absence if they are attending a CSP program outside a 50-mile radius of duty station.
Service Member will need approval from either of the following:
· CSP Program is 60 days or under MUST have an O6 Commander or O5 Delegee.
· CSP Program is over 60 days MUST have a commander with general court-martial convening authority or O6 Delegee.
Service Members attending a CSP program are required to pay for all travel, housing, equipment, etc. that is associated with attending the CSP program.
· Service Members have options to help with CSP program cost, like the following: § AER (Non-Taxable) Grant that can be obtained after CSP packet approval. § Space-A travel
§ Some CSP programs also offer benefits that the service members can take advantage of.
CSP Pre-Clearing
Service Members who are doing an Off-Island In-Person CSP may request an Exception to Policy (ETP) from Army G1 at the Pentagon level to clear prior to their CSP.
AFTER COMPLETION OF CSP PROGRAM
Service Members who are doing a On-Island or Off-Island Remote CSP MUST return to their permanent duty station after completion of their CSP program to complete out-processing requirements before separation or retirement date. CSP attendance may not be extended with any other absence, to include ordinary leave and pass, in accordance with AR 600-8-10 Leaves and Passes, Chapter 5-12; para 14(e).
Refer to the Information Paper and example documents needed below:
CSP Pre-Clearing Information Paper Example Documents for Pre-Clearing
AFTER COMPLETION OF CSP PROGRAM
Service Members who are doing a On-Island or Off-Island Remote CSP MUST return to their permanent duty station after completion of their CSP program to complete out-processing requirements before separation or retirement date. CSP attendance may not be extended with any other absence, to include ordinary leave and pass, in accordance with AR 600-8-10 Leaves and Passes, Chapter 5-12; para 14(e).