End the 5-Year Overseas Rule for DOD Civilian Employees

Title 10 U.S.C. 1586(a), commonly known as the 'five year rule,' dictates that overseas Department of Defense (DOD) employees must do extensive paperwork to extend beyond five years overseas, and makes it unlikely that they will be allowed to stay beyond seven years.

This proposal would save numerous man hours at many levels for each extension request that would no longer be required, would save permanent change of station costs for two employees (one departing theater, one arriving - estimated to be $85,000 for a family of four or $190,000 for two families of four), could eliminate the priority placement program which is charged with finding stateside jobs for returning employees, and would place the decision on retention of personnel overseas at the appropriate level.