Army Regulation 600-8-104

Army Regulation 600-8-104
Title	Army Regulation 600-8-104
Abbreviation	AR 600-8-104
Issued by	United States Army
Subject	Personnel records and reports
Status	Active

Army Regulation 600-8-104

Army Regulation 600-8-104 prescribes policies and procedures governing official military personnel files and administrative records used across the United States Army, affecting administrative actions involving personnel files processed at installations like Fort Bragg, Fort Hood, and Fort Benning. The regulation interfaces with personnel systems maintained by organizations such as the Department of the Army, United States Department of Defense, and databases used by the National Personnel Records Center and impacts interactions with tribunals like the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and agencies including the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Overview

AR 600-8-104 provides standardized rules for preparation, maintenance, and disposition of military personnel documents at units ranging from Brigade Combat Team headquarters to the United States Military Academy staff offices. It aligns with policies promulgated by the Secretary of the Army, mirrors record-keeping practices used by the National Archives and Records Administration, and reflects interoperability requirements with systems like the Defense Manpower Data Center and procedures referenced in directives from the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Purpose and Scope

The regulation’s purpose is to ensure uniformity in documenting events in a Soldier’s career for use by boards such as the Promotion Board and adjudicative bodies like the Army Review Boards Agency. Scope covers active duty Soldiers, members of the Army National Guard, and personnel assigned to multinational commands such as United States Forces Korea, ensuring records support actions under statutes and decisions from bodies like the United States Congress and policy guidance from the Office of Personnel Management.

Key Provisions

Major provisions address content, custody, and release of records including identification data used by the Social Security Administration and medical annotations interfacing with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The regulation specifies handling of documents affecting awards like the Silver Star and Bronze Star Medal, personnel actions involving separation under authorities derived from the Uniform Code of Military Justice and correspondence linked to historical events cataloged by the Smithsonian Institution. It prescribes requirements for authentication consistent with procedures in the Federal Records Act and standards observed by the Library of Congress.

Procedures and Administration

Administrative procedures outline responsibilities of commanders, records managers, and staff sections such as Human Resources Command and unit administrative clerks who coordinate with records repositories like the National Personnel Records Center. The regulation mandates routing, review, and amendment processes used when Soldiers request corrections under mechanisms paralleled in appeals to the Board for Correction of Military Records and documentation used for mobilization actions similar to those coordinated by U.S. Northern Command.

Impact on Soldiers and Units

Implementation affects promotion timing considered by Promotion Board panels, eligibility for schools like United States Army War College, and benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Accurate application influences readiness in formations such as the 1st Infantry Division and 82nd Airborne Division, and administrative clarity aids legal protections invoked before courts including the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and procedures overseen by the Inspector General of the Department of the Army.

Historical Development and Revisions

The regulation evolved through revisions reflecting lessons from conflicts like the Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom, with updates responding to technological changes from manual files to electronic systems exemplified by the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. Revisions trace influences from policy shifts initiated by figures such as the Secretary of Defense and organizational reforms tied to the Goldwater-Nichols Act and administrative practice shifts documented by the National Archives and Records Administration.

Compliance and Enforcement

Compliance is enforced through command inspections, staff assistance visits by entities such as Human Resources Command, and audit actions comparable to inquiries by the Government Accountability Office. Noncompliance can trigger corrective actions adjudicated by boards like the Army Review Boards Agency and administrative remedies aligned with statutes administered by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense.

Category:United States Army regulations