DA Form 137-1. Unit Clearance Record

The DA Form 137-1, also known as the Unit Clearance Record, is a standardized form used by the US Army to document the clearance of soldiers from their respective units. Its main purpose is to ensure that all necessary actions have been taken before a soldier can leave a unit, whether it be due to transfer, retirement, separation, or other reasons.

The form consists of several parts, including personal information about the soldier, information about the unit being cleared, and certification from various departments within the unit that the soldier has completed all necessary requirements for clearance. Important fields include the soldier's name, rank, and social security number, as well as signatures from unit leaders, finance officers, and medical personnel.

Both the soldier and the unit are parties involved in the completion of this form. It is important for soldiers to carefully review the form before submitting it to ensure that all required information is included and accurate. Additional documents, such as medical records, may need to be attached depending on the reason for clearance.

Application examples include a soldier being transferred to a new unit or separating from the military altogether. The completion of this form ensures that all necessary paperwork and processes have been completed before the soldier moves on to their next assignment or civilian life.

Strengths of this form include its standardized format and clear documentation of necessary clearances, while weaknesses may include potential errors in completing the form or delays in processing due to missing information. Opportunities for improvement could include digitizing the form to streamline the process.

There are no known direct threats associated with the DA Form 137-1.

Alternative forms that may be used for similar purposes include the DD Form 214 and the DA Form 137-2. The main difference between these forms is their specific use cases, with the DD Form 214 used for documenting a soldier's discharge or separation from the military and the DA Form 137-2 used for documenting equipment turn-in.

Completion of this form has implications for both the soldier and the unit, as it ensures that all necessary actions have been taken before the soldier departs. The form is typically submitted to the personnel office of the unit being cleared and may be stored electronically or in paper format.