scope:

The procedures in this regulation apply to all components of the Army. Chapter 4 provides additional guidance to the Army National Guard of the United States (ARNGUS) and the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) on Reserve component stationing procedures required by Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA). Both the ARNGUS and USAR will establish stationing procedures based upon this regulation, and will forward their procedures to HQDA (DAMO-FMP) for approval prior to publication. The Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) (ASA(M&RA)) has published civilian personnel procedures for stationing actions that will affect civilian employees. If the stationing action will result in civilian employee reduction in force separations or the transfer of civilian employees outside the commuting area, see your Civilian Personnel Advisory Center for guidance.

This regulation assigns responsibilities and prescribes policies and procedures governing the Army stationing process. It is the goal of Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA) to execute stationing actions (activations, inactivations, realignments, and relocations) at the lowest cost consistent with mission accomplishment and with the use of existing available facilities at the gaining installation to the maximum extent possible. This process includes publishing an overarching Army stationing strategy, developing feasible stationing alternatives, ensuring that the documentation of alternatives addresses all known costs, informing interested parties of stationing actions, and obtaining stationing decisions and clearance from HQDA to announce and execute stationing actions.

a. This regulation applies to stationing actions affecting the Active Army, its agencies, installations, activities, and units. The Chiefs of the Reserve components (RCs) will use the methodology in this regulation when approving stationing actions for their respective commands. Stationing actions consist of two components: a force structure component, which addresses manpower issues; and an installation component, which addresses facility management, to include military construction (MILCON) and facilities revitalization, housing and base support, base operations (BASOPS), family programs, environment, audio visual/base communications (AV/BQ, and real property maintenance issues.

b. The purpose of stationing actions is to obtain complete coordination of, and approval for, stationing units in support of operational requirements, supported by efficient and effective installations. This regulation is not to be used to request approval of concept plans governed by Army Regulation (AR) 71-32 that may result in stationing actions. While concept plans are not required solely for stationing actions, when they are required by AR 71-32 in conjunction with a stationing action, the concept plan will be approved prior to staffing and approval of the stationing action. Approved concept plans provide the force structure that may be reflected in a stationing action. A timeline to assist in planning for stationing actions that require concept plan approval is at table 2-1.

c. While the primary focus of this regulation is on permanent stationing within the continental United States (CONUS), the stationing of units returning to CONUS from permanent overseas assignment as well as from CONUS to a permanent overseas assignment is also governed by this regulation. When directed by HQDA, moves between locations outside the continental United States (OCONUS) will also be governed by this regulation.

d. The procedures outlined in this regulation do not apply to the situations listed below. The planning methodology described in this regulation, however, should be followed whenever a stationing action is being considered, regardless of the source or purpose of the action. Those situations specifically exempted from stationing reporting procedures include:

(1) Stationing actions specifically mandated by law such as Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Acts (for example, Public Laws 100-526 and 101-510). These actions are classified as BRAC directed actions. This regulation, however, governs the status of units and organizations not specifically provided for in a recommendation to close or realign an installation under base closure law. These actions are referred to as BRAC discretionary actions since the future of the unit is within the Secretary of the Army's (SA's) discretionary authority to determine.

(2) Intra-theater overseas unit stationing actions.

(3) Units deploying from or returning to the CONUS in accordance with applicable emergency provisions in the execution of contingency plans or for other reasons of national security.

(4) Units that temporarily move to another location, receive equipment and new equipment training prior to returning to home station. The return to home station does not require action under this regulation.

(5) Nonappropriated fund civilian reduction policies (see AR 215-3).

(6) Reorganizations of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

(7) Any other assignment or reduction action required by statute.

(8) Units that are temporarily relocated because of approved construction/renovation of current facilities.

(9) Actions required as a result of modernization.

e. Initial identification of stationing actions by the major Army commands (MACOMs) will be done in the yearly Command Plan process.