10 U.S.C. § 1174a

Special separation benefits programs

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(a)Requirement for Programs.—The Secretary concerned shall carry out a special separation benefits program under this section. An eligible member of the armed forces may request separation under the program. The request shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary.(b)Benefits.—Upon the approval of the request of an eligible member, the member shall—(1) be released from active duty or full-time National Guard duty or discharged, as the case may be; and(2) be entitled to—(A) separation pay equal to 15 percent of the product of (i) the member’s years of active service, and (ii) 12 times the monthly basic pay to which the member is entitled at the time of his discharge or release from active duty; and(B) the same benefits and services as are provided under chapter 58 of this title, sections 452 and 453(c) of title 37, and section 503(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 (104 Stat. 1558; 37 U.S.C. 476 11 See References in Text note below. note) for members of the armed forces who are involuntarily separated within the meaning of section 1141 of this title.(c)Eligibility.—Subject to subsections (d) and (e), a member of an armed force is eligible for voluntary separation under a program established for that armed force pursuant to this section if the member—(1) has not been approved for payment of a voluntary separation incentive under section 1175 of this title;(2) has served on active duty or full-time National Guard duty or any combination of active duty and full-time National Guard duty for more than 6 years;(3) has served on active duty or full-time National Guard duty or any combination of active duty and full-time National Guard duty for not more than 20 years;(4) has served at least 5 years of continuous active duty or full-time National Guard duty or any combination of active duty and full-time National Guard duty immediately preceding the date of the member’s separation from active duty; and(5) meets such other requirements as the Secretary may prescribe, which may include requirements relating to—(A) years of service;(B) skill or rating;(C) grade or rank; and(D) remaining period of obligated service.(d)Program Applicability.—The Secretary concerned may provide for the program under this section to apply to any of the following members:(1) A regular officer or warrant officer of an armed force.(2) A regular enlisted member of an armed force.(3) A member of an armed force other than a regular member.(e)Applicability Subject to Needs of the Service.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary concerned may limit the applicability of a program under this section to any category of personnel defined by the Secretary in order to meet a need of the armed force under the Secretary’s jurisdiction to reduce the number of members in certain grades, the number of members who have completed a certain number of years of active service, or the number of members who possess certain military skills or are serving in designated competitive categories.(2) Any category prescribed by the Secretary concerned for regular officers, regular enlisted members, or other members pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be consistent with the categories applicable to regular officers, regular enlisted members, or other members, respectively, under the voluntary separation incentive program under section 1175 of this title or any other program established by law or by that Secretary for the involuntary separation of such members in the administration of a reduction in force.(3) A member of the armed forces offered a voluntary separation incentive under section 1175 of this title shall also be offered the opportunity to request separation under a program established pursuant to this section. If the Secretary concerned approves a request for separation under either such section, the member shall be separated under the authority of the section selected by such member.(f)Application Requirements.—(1) In order to be separated under a program established pursuant to this section—(A) a regular enlisted member eligible for separation under that program shall—(i) submit a request for separation under the program before the expiration of the member’s term of enlistment; or(ii) upon discharge at the end of such term, enter into a written agreement (pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned) not to request reenlistment in a regular component; and(B) a member referred to in subsection (d)(3) eligible for separation under that program shall submit a request for separation to the Secretary concerned before the expiration of the member’s established term of active service.(2) For purposes of this section, the entry of a member into an agreement referred to in paragraph (1)(A)(ii) under a program established pursuant to this section shall be considered a request for separation under the program.(g)Other Conditions, Requirements, and Administrative Provisions.—Subsections (e) through (h), other than subsection (e)(2)(A), of section 1174 of this title shall apply in the administration of programs established under this section.(h)Termination of Program.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary concerned may not conduct a program pursuant to this section after December 31, 2001.(2) No member of the armed forces may be separated under a program established pursuant to this section after the date of the termination of that program.(Added Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title VI, § 661(a)(1), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1394; amended Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title X, § 1052(15), div. D, title XLIV, §§ 4405(a), 4422(a), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2499, 2706, 2718; Pub. L. 103–35, title II, § 202(a)(17), May 31, 1993, 107 Stat. 102; Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title V, §§ 502, 561(g), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1644, 1668; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title V, § 542(b), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2768; Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title V, § 561(b), Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2025; Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title V, § 571(b)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–134; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VI, § 631(f)(4)(A), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1465; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title X, § 1076(a)(9), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1948; Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title VI, § 626(c)(2), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2628.)Editorial NotesReferences in Text

Section 503(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(B), is section 503(c) of Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title V, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1558, which was formerly set out as a note under section 476 of Title 37, Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services, prior to transfer and is now set out as a note under section 453 of Title 37.

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 117–263 substituted “sections 452 and 453(c)” for “sections 474 and 476”.

2013—Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 112–239, § 1076(a)(9), made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 112–81, § 631(f)(4)(A). See 2011 Amendment note below.

2011—Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 112–81, § 631(f)(4)(A), as amended by Pub. L. 112–239, § 1076(a)(9), substituted “474” for “404” and substituted “476” for “406” in two places.

2000—Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 106–398 substituted “December 31, 2001” for “September 30, 2001”.

1998—Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 105–261 substituted “September 30, 2001” for “September 30, 1999”.

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–337, § 542(b)(1), substituted “concerned” for “of each military department”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–337, § 542(b)(2), substituted “concerned” for “of a military department”.

Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 103–337, § 542(b)(3), struck out “of the military department” after “Secretary”.

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 103–337, § 542(b)(4), substituted “concerned” for “of a military department”.

1993—Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 103–160, § 502, struck out “before December 5, 1991” after “6 years”.

Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 103–35, § 202(a)(17)(A), made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 102–484, § 4422(a)(3). See 1992 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 103–35, § 202(a)(17)(B), made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 102–484, § 4422(a)(4). See 1992 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 103–160, § 561(g), substituted “September 30, 1999” for “September 30, 1995”.

1992—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 102–484, § 4422(a)(1), inserted “or full-time National Guard duty” after “active duty”.

Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 102–484, § 4405(a), inserted “, sections 404 and 406 of title 37, and section 503(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 (104 Stat. 1558; 37 U.S.C. 406 note)” after “chapter 58 of this title”.

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 102–484, §§ 1052(15), 4422(a)(2), substituted “December 5, 1991” for “the date of the enactment of this section” and inserted “or full-time National Guard duty or any combination of active duty and full-time National Guard duty” after “active duty”.

Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 102–484, § 4422(a)(3), as amended by Pub. L. 103–35, § 202(a)(17)(A), inserted “or full-time National Guard duty or any combination of active duty and full-time National Guard duty” after “active duty”.

Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 102–484, § 4422(a)(4), as amended by Pub. L. 103–35, § 202(a)(17)(B), inserted “and” after semicolon at end and “or full-time National Guard duty or any combination of active duty and full-time National Guard duty” after “active duty” the first place it appeared.

Subsec. (c)(5), (6). Pub. L. 102–484, § 4424(a)(5), redesignated par. (6) as (5) and struck out former par. (5) which read as follows: “if a Reserve, is on an active duty list; and”.

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date of 2013 Amendment

Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title X, § 1076(a), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1947, provided that the amendment made by section 1076(a)(9) is effective Dec. 31, 2011, and as if included in Pub. L. 112–81 as enacted.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–337 applicable only to members of the Coast Guard who are separated after Sept. 30, 1994, see section 542(e) of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as a note under section 1141 of this title.

Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–35 applicable as if included in the enactment of Pub. L. 102–484, see section 202(b) of Pub. L. 103–35, set out as a note under section 155 of this title.

Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title XLIV, § 4405(c), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2706, provided that: “The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) [amending this section and section 1175 of this title] shall apply as if included in sections 1174a and 1175 of title 10, United States Code, as enacted on December 5, 1991, but any benefits or services payable by reason of the applicability of the provisions of those amendments during the period beginning on December 5, 1991, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 23, 1992] shall be subject to the availability of appropriations.”

Remedy for Ineffective Counseling of Officers Discharged Following Selection by Early Discharge Boards

Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title V, § 507, Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1646, as amended by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title X, § 1070(b)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2856, provided that:“(a)Procedure for Review.—(1) The Secretary of each military department shall establish a procedure for the review of the individual circumstances of an officer described in paragraph (2) who is discharged, or who the Secretary concerned approves for discharge, following the report of a selection board convened by the Secretary to select officers for separation. The procedure established by the Secretary of a military department under this section shall provide that each review under that procedure be carried out by the Board for the Correction of Military Records of that military department.“(2) This section applies in the case of any officer (including a warrant officer) who, having been offered the opportunity to be discharged or otherwise separated from active duty through the programs provided under section 1174a and 1175 of title 10, United States Code—“(A) elected not to accept such discharge or separation; and“(B) submits an application under subsection (b) during the two-year period beginning on the later of the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 30, 1993] and the date of such discharge or separation.“(b)Application.—A review under this section shall be conducted in any case submitted to the Secretary concerned by application from the officer or former officer under regulations prescribed by the Secretary.“(c)Purpose of Review.—(1) The review under this section shall be designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the counseling of the officer before the convening of the board to ensure that the officer was properly informed that selection for discharge or other separation from active duty was a potential result of being within the group of officers to be considered by the board and that the officer was not improperly informed that such selection in that officer’s personal case was unlikely.“(2) The Board for the Correction of Military Records of a military department shall render a decision in each case under this section not later than 60 days after receipt by the Secretary concerned of an application under subsection (b).“(d)Remedy.—Upon a finding of ineffective counseling under subsection (c), the Secretary shall provide the officer the opportunity to participate, at the officer’s option, in any one of the following programs for which the officer meets all eligibility criteria:“(1) The Special Separation Benefits program under section 1174a of title 10, United States Code.“(2) The Voluntary Separation Incentive program under section 1175 of such title.“(3) Retirement under the authority provided by section 4403 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 (Public Law 102–484; 106 Stat. 2702; 10 U.S.C. 1293 note).“(e)Effective Date.—This section shall apply with respect to officers separated after September 30, 1990.”

Separation Payments; Reductions and Prohibitions

Pub. L. 103–335, title VIII, § 8106A, Sept. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 2645, as amended by Pub. L. 104–6, title I, § 105(a), Apr. 10, 1995, 109 Stat. 79, which provided that members who separated after Sept. 30, 1994, from active duty or full-time National Guard duty in a military department pursuant to a Special Separation Benefits program under section 1174a of this title or a Voluntary Separation Incentive program under section 1175 of this title would have their separation payments reduced by the amount of certain bonus payments and eliminated if they are rehired within 180 days by the Department of Defense in a civilian position and that civilian Department of Defense employees would not receive voluntary separation payments if rehired by a Federal agency within 180 days of separating from the Department of Defense, was from the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1995, and was not repeated in subsequent appropriation acts. Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriation act:

Pub. L. 103–139, title VIII, § 8127, Nov. 11, 1993, 107 Stat. 1469.

Commencement of Program

Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title VI, § 661(b), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1395, provided that: “The Secretary of each military department shall commence the program required by section 1174a of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 5, 1991].”

Report on Programs

Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title VI, § 663, Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1399, directed Secretary, not later than 180 days after Dec. 5, 1991, to submit to Congress a report containing the Secretary’s assessment of effectiveness of programs established under sections 1174a and 1175 of this title.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 27 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1994–2025 · leading case: Marriage of Blair v. Blair, 894 P.2d 958 (Mont. 1995).

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Marriage of Blair v. Blair, 894 P.2d 958 (Mont. 1995). · cites it 12× “In 1994, Stephen was accepted into the Special Separation Benefits program (SSB) pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 1174a. He voluntarily separated from his military service on October 1, 1994, and agreed to serve in the Ready Reserve for a minimum of three years.”

In Re the Marriage of Heupel, 936 P.2d 561 (Colo. 1997). · cites it 11× “See 10 U.S.C. § 1174a (1994). Wife then brought a motion seeking to enforce the provision of the separation agreement pertaining to Husband’s military retired pay, quoted above, and seeking to hold Husband in contempt of the dissolution decree.”

In Re the Marriage of McElroy, 905 P.2d 1016 (Colo. Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 12× “SSB payments are provided for under 10 U.S.C. § 1174a (1994) and voluntary separation incentive benefits (VSI) are provided for by 10 U.”

Marsh v. Wallace, 924 S.W.2d 423 (Tex. App. 1996). · cites it 5× “This cause presents the issue of whether a divorce decree awarding a former spouse a portion of her ex-husband’s military retirement benefits entitles her to receive a share of a Special Separation Benefit (“SSB”) lump sum payment received pursuant to 10 U.S.C.A. § 1174a (West…”

Kelson v. Kelson, 675 So. 2d 1370 (Fla. 1996). · cites it 6× “10 U.S.C. § 1174a (b), 1175 (e)(1). A service member who elects to leave active duty prior to becoming entitled to retired pay may choose a series of annual payments, referred to as a voluntary separation incentive, or a lump-sum special separation benefit.”

Shrader v. United States, 38 Fed. Cl. 788 (Fed. Cl. 1997). · cites it 9× “Congress enacted the VSI/SSB programs on December 5, 1991 in two sections of Title 10 of the United States Code, that specifically empowered the secretary of each branch of the military to approve or disapprove applications, for separation benefits or incentives, by members of…”

In Re the Marriage of Crawford, 884 P.2d 210 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 2× “§ 1174 , not a voluntary separation under 10 U.S.C. § 1174a. Separation pay, unlike other benefits based upon longevity of service, does not serve to compensate for past services.”

Toon v. United States, 96 Fed. Cl. 288 (Fed. Cl. 2010). · cites it 2× “SSB programs are set forth at 10 U.S.C. § 1174a. 13 When a service member receives an SSB but later qualifies for retirement pay, the government, pursuant to section 1174, deducts the portion attributable to the pre-SSB service until it has fully deducted the SSB amount.”

Kulscar v. Kulscar, 896 P.2d 1206 (Okla. Civ. App. 1995). · cites it 3× “The SSB program was created when Congress enacted 10 U.S.C. § 1174a. Under its provisions, certain active military personnel may voluntarily separate from active military service prior to becoming entitled to retirement and receive an SSB payment calculated based upon the…”

Tippins v. United States, 93 F.4th 1370 (Fed. Cir. 2024). · cites it 3× “4 Finally, the government argues that 10 U.S.C. § 1174a, the only other statute that uses the term “reduction in force” in relation to military service members, supports its position.”

Matter of Marriage of Menard, 42 P.3d 359 (Or. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 2× “10 USC §§ 1174a(b), 1175(e)(1). * * * Not only are VSI/SSB benefits based on years of service and rate of pay as is retired pay, if a service member who has received a VSI/ SSB payment thereafter reenlists in the active force and qualifies for retirement, the incentive payment…”

Abernethy v. Fishkin, 638 So. 2d 160 (Fla. 5th DCA 1994). “[2] See 10 U.S.C.A. § 1174a (West Supp. 1994). [3] See 10 U.”

Show all 27 citing cases →

— 10 U.S.C. § 1174a(a) — 1 case

Shrader v. United States, 38 Fed. Cl. 788 (Fed. Cl. 1997). “Congress enacted the VSI/SSB programs on December 5, 1991 in two sections of Title 10 of the United States Code, that specifically empowered the secretary of each branch of the military to approve or disapprove applications, for separation benefits or incentives, by members of…”

— 10 U.S.C. § 1174a(b) — 3 cases

Kelson v. Kelson, 675 So. 2d 1370 (Fla. 1996). “10 U.S.C. § 1174a (b), 1175 (e)(1). A service member who elects to leave active duty prior to becoming entitled to retired pay may choose a series of annual payments, referred to as a voluntary separation incentive, or a lump-sum special separation benefit.”

Matter of Marriage of Menard, 42 P.3d 359 (Or. Ct. App. 2002). “10 USC §§ 1174a(b), 1175(e)(1). * * * Not only are VSI/SSB benefits based on years of service and rate of pay as is retired pay, if a service member who has received a VSI/ SSB payment thereafter reenlists in the active force and qualifies for retirement, the incentive payment…”

— 10 U.S.C. § 1174a(b)(2) — 2 cases

Marsh v. Wallace, 924 S.W.2d 423 (Tex. App. 1996). “This cause presents the issue of whether a divorce decree awarding a former spouse a portion of her ex-husband’s military retirement benefits entitles her to receive a share of a Special Separation Benefit (“SSB”) lump sum payment received pursuant to 10 U.S.C.A. § 1174a (West…”

Richard Lee Marsh v. Wanda Maria Wallace (Tex. App. 1996).

— 10 U.S.C. § 1174a(b)(2)(A) — 5 cases

In Re the Marriage of Heupel, 936 P.2d 561 (Colo. 1997). “See 10 U.S.C. § 1174a (1994). Wife then brought a motion seeking to enforce the provision of the separation agreement pertaining to Husband’s military retired pay, quoted above, and seeking to hold Husband in contempt of the dissolution decree.”

Marriage of Blair v. Blair, 894 P.2d 958 (Mont. 1995). “In 1994, Stephen was accepted into the Special Separation Benefits program (SSB) pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 1174a. He voluntarily separated from his military service on October 1, 1994, and agreed to serve in the Ready Reserve for a minimum of three years.”

In Re the Marriage of McElroy, 905 P.2d 1016 (Colo. Ct. App. 1995). “SSB payments are provided for under 10 U.S.C. § 1174a (1994) and voluntary separation incentive benefits (VSI) are provided for by 10 U.”

Richard Lee Marsh v. Wanda Maria Wallace (Tex. App. 1996).

— 10 U.S.C. § 1174a(c) — 3 cases

Richard Lee Marsh v. Wanda Maria Wallace (Tex. App. 1996).

— 10 U.S.C. § 1174a(c)(l) — 1 case

Toon v. United States, 96 Fed. Cl. 288 (Fed. Cl. 2010). “SSB programs are set forth at 10 U.S.C. § 1174a. 13 When a service member receives an SSB but later qualifies for retirement pay, the government, pursuant to section 1174, deducts the portion attributable to the pre-SSB service until it has fully deducted the SSB amount.”

— 10 U.S.C. § 1174a(e)(1) — 1 case

Tippins v. United States, 93 F.4th 1370 (Fed. Cir. 2024). “4 Finally, the government argues that 10 U.S.C. § 1174a, the only other statute that uses the term “reduction in force” in relation to military service members, supports its position.”

— 10 U.S.C. § 1174a(e)(2) — 1 case

— 10 U.S.C. § 1174a(e)(3) — 2 cases

— 10 U.S.C. § 1174a(e)(5) — 1 case

— 10 U.S.C. § 1174a(e)(l) — 1 case

— 10 U.S.C. § 1174a(g) — 10 cases

Salahudin Majeed v. R. James Nicholson, 19 Vet. App. 525 (Vet. App. 2006).

Kulscar v. Kulscar, 896 P.2d 1206 (Okla. Civ. App. 1995). “The SSB program was created when Congress enacted 10 U.S.C. § 1174a. Under its provisions, certain active military personnel may voluntarily separate from active military service prior to becoming entitled to retirement and receive an SSB payment calculated based upon the…”

— 10 U.S.C. § 1174a(h) — 1 case

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