Reference & AI

DAFI 36-3211

Air Force

MILITARY SEPARATIONS

Reviewed by Guilherme Correia, active-duty U.S. Air Force

DAFI 36-3211, "MILITARY SEPARATIONS", is a Department of the Air Force publication, dated June 24, 2022, certified current November 20, 2023.

Published

June 24, 2022

certified current November 20, 2023

OPR

AF/A1

Headquarters, Department of the Air Force

Official document

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DAFI 36-3211 — index record

NumberDAFI 36-3211
TitleMILITARY SEPARATIONS
PublishedJune 24, 2022
Certified currentNovember 20, 2023
Guidance memorandumFebruary 18, 2026
Office of primary responsibilityAF/A1
Issued byHeadquarters, Department of the Air Force
Status on the indexCurrent
Last index actionGM, February 18, 2026
Source indexAir Force e-Publishing
Index last readOctober 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (521 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

This publication applies to the United States Space Force, Regular Air Force, the Air Force Reserve, and the Air National Guard. This guidance reissues and changes instruction from DAFI36-3211_DAFGM 2026_01 to clarify Air Reserve Component timelines and status in paragraphs A1.3.2.6; A1.4.1.4; A2.4.8; A2.5; A4.1.4; A4.5.1.6; and A4.6.3.2. Additionally, paragraph A3.23 is deleted.

Contents

  1. Part 1—OVERVIEW, ROLES, AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 27
  2. Chapter 1—OVERVIEWp. 27
  3. Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 28
  4. Part 2—SEPARATION OF ENLISTED MEMBERp. 48
  5. Chapter 3—INFORMATION APPLICABLE TO ALL SEPARATIONp. 48
  6. Section 3A—General Proceduresp. 48
  7. Section 3B—Guidelines for Characterizing Service or Describing Separationp. 56
  8. Section 3C—Other Requirements and Proceduresp. 62
  9. Chapter 4—REQUIRED SEPARATIONSp. 68
  10. Section 4A—Expiration of Term of Service (ETS)p. 68
  11. Section 4B—Changes in Service Obligationp. 72
  12. Section 5A—Processing Applicationsp. 78
  13. Section 5B—Reasons for Voluntary Convenience of the Government (COG) Separationp. 78
  14. Section 5C—Dependency or Hardshipp. 85
  15. Chapter 6—REQUEST FOR DISCHARGE IN LIEU OF TRIAL BY COURT-MARTIALp. 90
  16. Chapter 7—REASONS FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATIONp. 99
  17. Section 7A—Preprocessing Considerationsp. 99
  18. Section 7B—Involuntary Discharge for the Convenience of the Governmentp. 103
  19. Section 7C—Defective Enlistmentsp. 106
  20. Section 7D—Entry Level Performance or Conductp. 113
  21. Section 7E—Unsatisfactory Performancep. 114
  22. Section 7F—Substance Abuse Treatment Failurep. 116
  23. Section 7G—Misconductp. 118
  24. Section 7H—Discharge in the Interest of National Securityp. 129
  25. Section 7I—Failure in Prisoner Retraining or Rehabilitationp. 130
All 120 contents entries
  1. 4. Board Proceduresp. 4
  2. Part 1—OVERVIEW, ROLES, AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 27
  3. Chapter 1—OVERVIEWp. 27
  4. 1.1. Overviewp. 27
  5. 1.2. Roles and Responsibilitiesp. 27
  6. 1.3. Separation of Enlisted Membersp. 27
  7. 1.4. Separation of Commissioned Officersp. 27
  8. 1.5. PALACE CHASE Programsp. 27
  9. 1.6. Procedures for Applying as a Conscientious Objectorp. 27
  10. Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 28
  11. 2.1. Separation of Enlisted Members (Reference Part 2)p. 28
  12. 2.2. Separation of Commissioned Officers (Part 3)p. 30
  13. 2.3. PALACE CHASE Programs (Part 4)p. 38
  14. 2.4. Procedures for Applying as a Conscientious Objector (Part 5)p. 46
  15. Part 2—SEPARATION OF ENLISTED MEMBERp. 48
  16. Chapter 3—INFORMATION APPLICABLE TO ALL SEPARATIONp. 48
  17. Section 3A—General Proceduresp. 48
  18. 3.1. Statutory Authority, Approval Authority, and Reasons for Separationp. 48
  19. 3.2. Plenary Authority of the SecAF to Direct Dischargep. 49
  20. 3.3. Waivers or Exceptionsp. 50
  21. 3.4. How to Apply Separation Provisions:p. 50
  22. 3.5. How a Military Service Obligation (MSO) Affects Separationp. 50
  23. 3.8. What to do if members are not medically qualified for separationp. 52
  24. 3.9. Executing Approved Separations:p. 53
  25. 3.10. In Absentia Separationp. 53
  26. 3.11. Separation Obtained by Fraudp. 54
  27. 3.12. Handling Serious Misconduct While Separation is Pendingp. 55
  28. 3.13. Other Factors Affecting Eligibility:p. 55
  29. Section 3B—Guidelines for Characterizing Service or Describing Separationp. 56
  30. 3.14. Authorized Types of Separation:p. 56
  31. 3.15. What to Consider When Characterizing Service:p. 57
  32. 3.16. Separation without Service Characterization:p. 57
  33. 3.17. Period Considered in Characterizing Servicep. 58
  34. 3.18. Limitations on Service Characterizationp. 59
  35. 3.19. How the Type of Separation Affects the Individualp. 61
  36. 3.20. Periodic Explanation of the Types of Separation:p. 61
  37. Section 3C—Other Requirements and Proceduresp. 62
  38. 3.21. Separation Documentsp. 62
  39. 3.22. Reports Requiring Special Handling:p. 62
  40. 3.23. Aliens Seeking Naturalization and Naturalized Personnel Separated UOTHCp. 62
  41. 3.24. Disposition of Correspondencep. 62
  42. 3.25. High Level Inquiriesp. 62
  43. 3.26. Disposition of Cases Pendingp. 62
  44. Chapter 4—REQUIRED SEPARATIONSp. 68
  45. Section 4A—Expiration of Term of Service (ETS)p. 68
  46. 4.1. Eligibility for Separationp. 68
  47. 4.2. ETS Separationp. 68
  48. 4.3. Retention to Make Good Time Lostp. 68
  49. 4.4. Retention for Action by Court-Martialp. 69
  50. 4.5. Retention to Complete Separation Processingp. 70
  51. 4.6. Retention for Medical Treatment or Evaluationp. 70
  52. 4.7. Members Awaiting Disposition by Foreign Courtsp. 70
  53. 4.8. Extension of Enlistment When Discharge for Cause is Pendingp. 71
  54. Section 4B—Changes in Service Obligationp. 72
  55. 4.9. Determining Eligibilityp. 72
  56. 4.10. Type of Separationp. 72
  57. 4.11. Completion of Officer Trainingp. 72
  58. 4.12. Immediate Reenlistmentp. 72
  59. 4.13. Service with an ANG or an AFR Unit (PALACE CHASE)p. 72
  60. 4.14. Entering an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Programp. 72
  61. 4.15. Insufficient Retainability for Permanent Change of Station (PCS)p. 73
  62. 4.16. Early Separation of Membersp. 73
  63. 4.18. Release from Void Enlistmentp. 73
  64. 4.19. Separation for being a Minorp. 74
  65. Section 5A—Processing Applicationsp. 78
  66. Section 5B—Reasons for Voluntary Convenience of the Government (COG) Separationp. 78
  67. 5.1. How Members Apply for Prior-to-ETS Separationp. 78
  68. 5.2. Action by the Separation Authorityp. 78
  69. 5.3. Withdrawing Separation Applications or Approved Separationsp. 78
  70. 5.4. Type of Separationp. 78
  71. 5.5. Entering an Officer Training Programp. 78
  72. 5.6. Early Release to Further Educationp. 79
  73. 5.7. Elimination from Officer Training Schoolp. 80
  74. 5.8. USAF or USSF Nonfulfillment of Enlistment or Reenlistment Agreementp. 80
  75. 5.9. Survivorshipp. 80
  76. 5.10. Early Release from Extensionp. 81
  77. 5.11. Conscientious Objectionp. 81
  78. 5.12. Pregnancy or Childbirthp. 82
  79. 5.13. Early Release for Holidaysp. 83
  80. 5.14. Miscellaneous Reasonsp. 84
  81. Section 5C—Dependency or Hardshipp. 85
  82. 5.15. Conditions for Dischargep. 85
  83. 5.16. Evidence Requiredp. 85
  84. 5.17. Red Cross Assistancep. 86
  85. 5.18. Special Procedures and Considerations:p. 86
  86. 5.19. Final Action on Applicationsp. 87
  87. 5.20. Applications Submitted at Other Than the Base of Assignmentp. 87
  88. Chapter 6—REQUEST FOR DISCHARGE IN LIEU OF TRIAL BY COURT-MARTIALp. 90
  89. 6.1. Basis for Dischargep. 90
  90. 6.2. Types of Discharge Authorizedp. 90
  91. 6.3. How Members Request Discharge in Lieu of Trial:p. 90
  92. 6.4. Processing the Request for Discharge:p. 91
  93. 6.5. ANG and AFR Membersp. 91
  94. 6.6. Service Memberp. 92
  95. 6.7. Medical Examination for Separationp. 92
  96. 6.8. Special Processing Requirementsp. 93
  97. 6.9. Additional Misconductp. 93
  98. 6.10. Withdrawal of Request for Dischargep. 93
  99. 6.11. Who Can Approve Dischargep. 94
  100. 6.12. Action by the GCMCAp. 94
  101. Chapter 7—REASONS FOR INVOLUNTARY SEPARATIONp. 99
  102. Section 7A—Preprocessing Considerationsp. 99
  103. 7.1. Choosing a Course of Action:p. 99
  104. 7.2. Preprocessing Rehabilitationp. 99
  105. 7.3. Determining the Basis of the Action:p. 100
  106. 7.4. Limitations on Discharge Actionp. 101
  107. 7.5. Members in TDY Status:p. 102
  108. 7.6. Reassignment for Processingp. 102
  109. Section 7B—Involuntary Discharge for the Convenience of the Governmentp. 103
  110. 7.7. Instruction and Type of Separationp. 103
  111. 7.8. Preprocessing Actionsp. 103
  112. 7.9. Parenthoodp. 103
  113. 7.10. Insufficient Retainability or Lack of Qualifications for Required Retraining:p. 103
  114. Section 7C—Defective Enlistmentsp. 106
  115. Section 7D—Entry Level Performance or Conductp. 113
  116. Section 7E—Unsatisfactory Performancep. 114
  117. Section 7F—Substance Abuse Treatment Failurep. 116
  118. Section 7G—Misconductp. 118
  119. Section 7H—Discharge in the Interest of National Securityp. 129
  120. Section 7I—Failure in Prisoner Retraining or Rehabilitationp. 130

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Air Force index

REF: DAFI 36-3211, effective June 24, 2022

Air Force e-Publishing — DAFI 36-3211

This is an index record, not the publication. The official PDF is the authority; verify the current edition before acting.

Reviewed by Guilherme Correia · Military Toolkit editorial

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