STOP MOVEMENT EXPLAINED

The most common misperception is that those affected, like CPT Patti, absolutely will not PCS for 90 days after they get back.

As this explains...no one will be forced to move within 90 days...but they can if they want to.

For those who get back in time and are in a hurry to move on to their next assignment, or begin civilian life, Renfroe said they would be allowed to depart as soon as they complete reintegration processing and normal out-processing requirements.

“Soldiers are authorized a minimum of 90 days of stabilization at their current unit after returning from downrange before leaving the Army or any reassignment,” said the U.S. Army Europe’s assignment manager, Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Ramsby.

“If the soldier doesn’t want to stay for the full 90-day period that he is authorized, he can get with the commander to waive that,” said Ramsby.

That 90-day period begins with the return of the unit’s main body.

“Some guys might come back two months before the main body, but that’s not when it starts. The 90-day window begins when the main body returns.”

Renfroe explained there is a misconception among many family members “that their husband or wife will return from Iraq early because they were initially scheduled to PCS in the near future. This is not the case since stop move prevents anyone affected from PCSing.”