Who is the final approving authority for a Bar to Reenlistment?

The final approving authority for a Bar to Reenlistment is a commander who is one approval level higher than the commanding authority. This means that after a Bar to Reenlistment is initiated, it requires review and approval from a higher-level commander to ensure that the decision is justified and in line with Army regulations and policies.

The rationale behind involving a higher-level commander is to maintain accountability and oversight in the decision-making process. This ensures that bars to reenlistment are not issued arbitrarily and that the soldier's case has been reviewed adequately. It also helps to uphold fairness and consistency in enforcing standards across the Army.

In contrast, while the unit commander initiates the process, their decision is not final without the necessary higher-level review. The Department of the Army, while influential in setting policies, does not directly approve individual Bars to Reenlistment. Similarly, the soldier's direct supervisor may have input or observations regarding the soldier's performance but does not hold the authority to make the final decision on such matters.