ArmyReenlistment.com - Assignment Incentive Pay (AIP)

Assignment Incentive Pay (AIP) for Assignment to Korea – Update

5 March 2007

1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO PROVIDE UPDATED GUIDANCE REGARDING THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR KOREA ASSIGNMENT INCENTIVE PAY (AIP). THIS MESSAGE APPLIES TO ALL OFFICERS, WARRANT OFFICERS, AND ENLISTED SOLDIERS ELIGIBLE FOR AIP-KOREA.

2. THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE ARMY (MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS) HAS EXTENDED THIS PROGRAM THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER 2008. THE MESSAGES REFERENCED ABOVE REMAIN IN EFFECT, EXCEPT AS NOTED BELOW.

3. AIP APPLICATION TIMELINE: SOLDIERS IN KOREA MAY APPLY FOR AIP UP TO 120 DAYS PRIOR TO DEROS. THIS IS A CHANGE TO THE CURRENT GUIDANCE WHICH PERMITS SOLDIERS TO APPLY FOR AIP UP TO 90 DAYS PRIOR TO THEIR DEROS.

4. TOUR LENGTH LIMITATIONS: SOLDIERS WITHOUT PREVIOUS OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENT TO OIF/OEF SINCE SEPTEMBER 2001 ARE ALLOWED ONE 12-MONTH TOUR EXTENSION. ANY SUBSEQUENT REQUESTS WHICH EQUATE TO MORE THAN 24 TOTAL MONTHS FOR SOLDIERS SERVING UNACCOMPANIED TOURS AND 36 TOTAL MONTHS FOR SOLDIERS SERVING ACCOMPANIED TOURS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO HUMAN RESOURCES COMMAND (HRC) FOR APPROVAL REGARDLESS OF SUBMISSION TIMEFRAME. THESE CHANGES APPLY TO ALL NEW REQUESTS RECEIVED AFTER 1 MAY 2007.

5. APPROVAL AUTHORITY (FULLY QUALIFIED REQUESTS): THE COMMANDING GENERAL, EIGHTH U.S. ARMY IS THE APPROVAL AUTHORITY FOR FULLY QUALIFIED AIP REQUESTS. THIS AUTHORITY MAY BE DELEGATED TO HIS DESIGNATED COMMAND LEVEL AUTHORITY WITHIN 8USA. FULLY QUALIFIED SOLDIERS ARE DEFINED AS THOSE NOT MEETING THE CRITERIA FOR EXCEPTION TO POLICY OUTLINED IN PARAGRAPH 6 BELOW.

6. APPROVAL AUTHORITY (EXCEPTIONS TO POLICY): HRC RETAINS AIP APPROVAL FOR EXCEPTIONS TO POLICY WHEN ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING APPLIES:

A. THE SOLDIER IS WITHIN 120 DAYS OF DEROS.

B. THE SOLDIER IS IN RECEIPT OF ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS

C. THE REQUESTED DEROS WOULD RESULT IN THE SOLDIER SERVING IN EXCESS OF FIVE CONSECUTIVE YEARS IN KOREA.

D. THE SOLDIER REQUESTING AIP BEYOND THE ONE TIME 12-MONTH EXTENSION IS WITHOUT AN OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENT SINCE SEPTEMBER 2001.

7. HRC OPMD (AHRC-OPF-C) RETAINS APPROVAL AUTHORITY FOR FOREIGN AREA OFFICERS (FAO).

MILPER Message 06-045

Assignment Incentive Pay (AIP) for Assignment to Korea – Changes

6 February 2006

1. The purpose of this message is to provide updated guidance regarding application for Korea Assignment Incentive Pay (AIP). This message applies to all officers, warrant officers, and enlisted Soldiers eligible for AIP-Korea. The messages referenced above remain in effect, except as noted below.

2. AEA code “F” (intention to accept AIP): Once the Soldier arrives in Korea (as processed through an eMILPO arrival transaction), a two-month termination date will be automatically posted to AEA code “F.” Once the Soldier executes a DA Form 4187 for participation in the AIP program, the AEA code “F” will be replaced with AEA code “Z;” if the Soldier does not elect to participate in the AIP program, the AEA code “F” will automatically be removed two months after the Soldier’s arrival in Korea.

3. AEA code “P” (available at DEROS – decline AIP) will no longer be used. There no longer is a requirement for reporting/updating by the losing installation and/or 8th Army/US Forces Korea, if the Soldier declines participation in the AIP program.

4. Approval Authority: US Army Human Resources Command (HRC) is the approval authority for all AIP-Korea requests in which the requested DEROS would result in the Soldier serving in excess of five consecutive years in Korea. HRC retains approval authority for Soldiers who submit an AIP application as an exception to policy after they are in receipt of assignment instructions (AI) or are within 90-days of DEROS. HRC, OPMD (AHRC-OPF-C) also retains approval authority for Foreign Area Officers (FAO).

5. Enlisted Soldiers approved for participation in the AIP program will be eligible to attend NCOES courses (TDY and return) based on the availability of school seats and Korea Theater of Operations operational requirements. AIP Soldiers who attend NCOES must complete the NCOES course and return to Korea with at least six months in country retainability before DEROS.

6. Curtailment of an AIP-Korea tour. Curtailments will only be considered as exceptions to policy in extraordinary cases. Any Soldier-, command-, or HRC-initiated curtailment requires coordination with Eighth Army G1/AG for Soldiers in Eighth Army/UNC/CFC/USFK or the stovepipe headquarters for Soldiers in stovepipe units.

MILPER Message 05-024

Assignment Incentive Pay (AIP) for Assignment to Korea – Program Extension

2 February 2005

1. The purpose of this message is to provide updated guidance regarding application for Assignment Incentive Pay (AIP). The Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) has extended this program through the end of December 2006. The messages referenced above remain in effect, except as noted below.

2. As always, the goal of the AIP program is to provide incentives for Soldiers on assignment to Korea to extend their tours in Korea, and encourages Soldiers already assigned to volunteer to extend for longer tours. It promotes stability, predictability and improved readiness in Korea while reducing turbulence Army-wide. During the first nine months of the AIP program, over $57 million in permanent change of station (PCS) costs have been avoided at a program cost of $35 million, saving the Army $22 million.

3. Who may apply for AIP:

a. Soldiers on assignment to Korea. Soldiers who are currently on assignment instructions (AI) to Korea, and Soldiers who are subsequently placed on AI to Korea during this program, are eligible for AIP and may volunteer for a 24-month unaccompanied tour, 36-month accompanied tour, 36-month unaccompanied tour, or a 48-month accompanied tour prior to arrival in Korea.

b. Soldiers in Korea. Soldiers in Korea may apply for an additional 12 or 24 month tour at any time during this program up to 90 days prior to DEROS, or until receipt of AI should they be issued more than 90 days before DEROS. Soldiers who are within 90 days of their DEROS or in receipt of AI, whichever comes first, are ineligible for AIP.

c. The rate for the 24-month unaccompanied or 36-month accompanied tours will continue to be $300 per month. The rate for the 36-month unaccompanied and 48-month accompanied tour will continue to be $400 per month. Soldiers will be paid from the date of their signature on the DA Form 4187, Personnel Action, forward.

4. Approval Authority:

a. Approval authority for AIP applications under the provisions of paragraph 3a and 3b above remains 8th PERSCOM for Eighth United States Army (EUSA) and United States Forces, Korea (USFK) units. Approval authority for stovepipe units has been determined by each respective stovepipe headquarters and is unchanged from guidance in reference D above.

b. US Army Human Resources Command (HRC) retains approval authority for Soldiers who submit an AIP application as an exception to policy after they are in receipt of assignment instructions (AI). 8th PERSCOM, EUSA remains the approval authority for all other AIP applications that are not in compliance with MILPER messages (see references B, C, and D above).

c. Soldier’s DA Form 4187 requesting AIP must reach 8th PERSCOM, EUSA or the stovepipe unit approval authority NLT 90 days before the Soldier’s DEROS from Korea. Applications received after that date will be returned without action or forwarded to Army HRC as exceptions to policy for consideration.

MILPER Message 04-350

Assignment Incentive Pay (AIP) for Assignment to Korea – Update (Enlisted Soldiers Only)

21 December 2004

1. The purpose of this message is to provide updated supplemental procedural guidance for enlisted Soldiers regarding application for the Assignment Incentive Pay (AIP) program as an exception to policy. The messages referenced above remain in effect.

2. The goal of the AIP program is to provide incentives for Soldiers on assignment to Korea to extend their tours in Korea, and encourages Soldiers already assigned to volunteer to extend for longer tours. It promotes stability, predictability and improved readiness in Korea while reducing turbulence Army-wide.

3. Who may apply for AIP:

a. Soldiers on assignment to Korea. Soldiers who are currently on assignment instructions (AI) to Korea, and Soldiers who are subsequently placed on AI to Korea, may volunteer to extend their prescribed tour length by 12 months (for a total of 24 months unaccompanied or 36 months accompanied) for AIP ($300 per month; payment begins when the Soldier signs the DA Form 4187 during the first 30 days after arrival).

b. Soldiers in Korea (within 6 months of DEROS). Soldiers who are within 6 months of their DEROS may volunteer to extend their current tour for an additional 24 months for an increased AIP ($400 per month; payment begins when the Soldier begins serving the tour extension). Soldiers may apply for this additional 24 months at any time during this program provided they are within 6 months of DEROS and are not on AI when they apply. Soldiers serving an unaccompanied tour in Korea who receive AIP and subsequently request and receive command sponsorship must serve a minimum of 36 months in Korea (equivalent to the 36 month accompanied AIP tour).

4. Approval Authority:

a. Approval authority for AIP applications under the provisions of paragraph 3a and 3b above is 8th PERSCOM for Eighth United States Army (EUSA) and United States Forces, Korea (USFK) units. Approval authority for stovepipe units is determined by each respective stovepipe headquarters. These commands (and their points of contact) are as follows:

(1) Criminal Investigation Command: CW3 Rivera, Chief, Military Personnel Strength Management, ACofS G-1, CIDC (DSN 656-0347), Xiomara.Rivera@belvoir.army.mil.

(2) Installation Management Agency: Mr. Diaz, Chief, Military Personnel Manning, MPD IMA (DSN 332-7443), luis.r.diaz@hqda.army.mil.

(3) Intelligence and Security Command: Ms. Daigle, ACofS G-1, INSCOM (DSN 328-4663), Cynthia.Daigle@inscom.army.mil.

(4) Medical Command: Mr. Zedick, ACofS, G-1, MEDCOM (DSN 471-7820), Mike.Zedick@us.army.mil.

(5) Network Enterprise Technology Command: Ms. Ferguson, Chief, Strength Management Branch, ACofS G-1, NETCOM (DSN 879-6868), Marcia.Ferguson@netcom.army.mil.

(6) Special Operations Command: Mr. Brown, Chief, Enlisted Management Division, SOCOM (DSN 239-8227/8333), brownj@soc.mil.

b. 8th PERSCOM is also the approval authority for AIP applications that are not in compliance with MILPER message guidance (see references B and C above), such as those submitted outside the eligibility window (after the first 30 days of arrival in Korea), provided the Soldier is not in receipt of AI.

c. Soldier’s DA Form 4187 requesting AIP must reach 8th PERSCOM or the stovepipe unit approval authority NLT 60 days after the Soldier arrives in Korea. Applications received after the cutoff date will be returned without action. When appropriate, the Soldier may resubmit under the provisions of paragraph 4b.

d. Soldiers in Korea and in receipt of AI:

(1) New guidance. Previously, approval authority for AIP requests from Soldiers in Korea already on AI to priority assignments was US Army Human Resources Command (HRC). Effectively immediately, any Soldier who is receipt of AI and who wishes to apply for the AIP program must do so as an exception to policy. Applications for AIP as an exception to policy must be forwarded through 8th PERSCOM to HRC for approval. Requests for exception for enlisted Soldiers will be sent via e-mail to Ms. Medley at HRC (OCONUS Branch, Distribution Division, EPMD), DSN 221-8466, Beverly.Medley@hoffman.army.mil.

(2) Special category.

(a) Soldiers assigned to the 35th Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Brigade permanently stationed in Korea are eligible for AIP and should submit applications through 8th PERSCOM. These units and their UIC are HHB, 35th ADA (AU3T0); HHB, 1-43 ADA (AWYT0); HHB, 2-1 ADA (H19T0); 3rd Maintenance Company (B1WAA); and 178th Maintenance Company (B3MAA).

(b) Soldiers with the 35th ADA Bde who are on rotational assignments to Korea will return to Fort Bliss after completing their Korea tour. AIP requests for these Soldiers will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All requests will be forwarded through 8th PERSCOM to HRC for approval. These units and their UIC are A Btry, 1-43 ADA (AWYA0); B Btry, 1-43 ADA (AWYB0); C Btry, 1-43 ADA (AWYC0); D Btry, 1-43 ADA (AWYD0); A Btry, 2-1 ADA (H19A0); B Btry, 2-1 ADA (H19B0); C Btry, 2-1 ADA (H19C0); and D Btry, 2-1 ADA (H19D0).