Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Army to its captains: Thanks for your service. Now, 20 percent of you, get lost!

That’s how I read this message recently sent out by an Army lieutenant colonel to field grade officers in his command: You may already know, but there are going to be Officer Separation Boards (OSB) and Enhanced Selective Early Retirement Boards (E-SERBs) for Army Competitive Category Captains in Year Groups 2006-2008 and Majors in Year ...

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher Q. Stone, 26th MEU Combat Camera/Released
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher Q. Stone, 26th MEU Combat Camera/Released
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher Q. Stone, 26th MEU Combat Camera/Released

That's how I read this message recently sent out by an Army lieutenant colonel to field grade officers in his command:

That’s how I read this message recently sent out by an Army lieutenant colonel to field grade officers in his command:

You may already know, but there are going to be Officer Separation Boards (OSB) and Enhanced Selective Early Retirement Boards (E-SERBs) for Army Competitive Category Captains in Year Groups 2006-2008 and Majors in Year Groups 1999-2003 beginning in March 2014.

Initial word is that the OSBs and E-SERBs will select less than 10% of the considered majors and captains in year group 2008 and less than 20% of the captains considered in year groups 2006 and 2007.

I am meeting with the officers in the battalion affected that are physically at Ft. [DELETED] to discuss their Professional Development and future officer actions and will provide them an assessment of their potential for future service and potential risk of being selected for involuntary separation, and will help prepare their files for the boards. Additionally they are contacting their HRC Branch Representatives for an assessment. I recommend you find a trusted senior officer to do the same.

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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