As a result of DOD budget cutbacks, we are forced to reduce the size of the
force. Under CRAP, older soldiers will go on early retirement, thus permitting
the retention of lower paid soldiers who represent the Army's future.
A program to phase out older soldiers via retirement by the end of the current
fiscal year will be placed in effect. The program will be known as Retire Active
Personnel Early (RAPE).
Soldiers who are RAPEd will be given the opportunity to seek civilian employment
within the Department of the Army. To that end, RAPEd soldiers will be required
to fill out numerous DA Forms (currently in the development, test, and evaluation
stage) detailing their education and experience. This phase does not guarantee
retired soldiers a civil service position; it does, however, guarantee that
the soldier's unique capabilities will be considered before being bypassed in
the hiring process. This phase of CRAP is known as Survey of Capabilities of
Retired Warriors (SCREW).
Soldiers who have been RAPEd and SCREWed may request review of their situation
by higher authority. This is the Study by Higher Authority Following Termination
(SHAFT) phase.
CRAP policy dictates that a soldier may be RAPEd once, SCREWed twice, but may
be SHAFTed as many times as the Army leadership deems appropriate.
If a soldier follows the above procedures, he or she will be entitled to get
Half Earnings for Retired Personnel Early Severance (HERPES). As HERPES is considered
a benefit payment, any soldier who gets HERPES will no longer be RAPEd or SCREWed
by the Army.
The Army leadership wishes to assure younger soldiers who remain on active duty
that the Army will continue its policy of ensuring that soldiers are well trained
through our Special High Intensity Training (SH*T) program. The Army takes pride
in the amount of SH*T our soldiers receive and can boast that it gives its soldiers
more SH*T than any other service.
If a soldier feels he or she does not get enough SH*T, see your commander. Your
commander is especially trained to make sure you receive all the SH*T you can
stand.