Army Updates War Zone Exemption Policy

By: fedweek

The Army has updated MilPer 07-148 concerning three possible exemptions from serving in a war zone, and one restricted duty status. Exemptions: (1) a soldier who is the sole surviving son or daughter in a family where a parent or sibling was killed or died from military service, is captured or missing in action, or is 100 percent disabled because of service (see AR 614-100 or 614-200); (2) a soldier who has a family member who dies, is captured, missing in action, or 100 percent disabled (AR 614-100 or 614-200); (3) a soldier hospitalized for a month or longer outside a hostile-fire area because of combat duties can be exempted from returning during the same tour (AR 614-30). Restricted duty: a soldier who sincerely objects to serving as a combatant, but accepts military service in a non-combat role may be approved as a conscientious objector (AR 614-30).