Army to its captains: Thanks for your service. Now, 20 percent of you, get lost!

That's how I read this message recently
sent out by an Army lieutenant colonel to field grade officers in his command:

You may already know, but there
are going to be Officer Separation Boards (OSB) and Enhanced Selective Early
Retirement Boards (E-SERBs) for Army Competitive Category Captains in Year
Groups 2006-2008 and Majors in Year Groups 1999-2003 beginning in March 2014.

Initial word is that the OSBs and
E-SERBs will select less than 10% of the considered majors and captains in year
group 2008 and less than 20% of the captains considered in year groups 2006 and
2007.

I am meeting with the officers in
the battalion affected that are physically at Ft. [DELETED] to discuss their
Professional Development and future officer actions and will provide them an
assessment of their potential for future service and potential risk of being
selected for involuntary separation, and will help prepare their files for the
boards. Additionally they are contacting their HRC Branch Representatives for
an assessment. I recommend you find a trusted senior officer to do the same.