A structured declination process preserves unit cohesion and individual rights. Maridian helps clients design and manage formal declination workflows — the mechanisms by which personnel may decline a proposed deployment or assignment for legitimate reasons such as medical incapacity, dependent care obligations, legal restrictions or conscience-based claims. Our approach is built on transparency, consistency, and lawful review to protect both personnel welfare and mission integrity.
“Deployment” refers to activities required to move military personnel and materials from a home installation to a specified destination. For service members and families, it has come to mean much more: the preparations and personal needs that need to be taken care of at home before, during, and after deployment.
‘Deploy or get out’ policy?
In 2018, former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis — part of his effort to make the force more “lethal”, imposed this policy, where troops who are unable to meet deployment standards are expected to either get a waiver justifying their status or face separation from the force.
Good News
This policy has been mauled and we’ve been directed by the Department of Defense to bring forth the Deployment Declination option. A Soldier on Assignment Instructions can now be able to sign a Deployment Declination request.
External / Client-Facing Services Provided
Policy design and operationalisation of declination criteria and review panels.
Secure case management for declination requests with confidentiality safeguards.
Independent medical and legal review coordination where required.
Temporary reallocation, reassignment or deferment planning to maintain capability.
Documentation and audit trails for compliance and lessons-learned.
Standard Operational Flow
Submission: Personnel submits declination with stated grounds and supporting documentation.
Case intake: Maridian logs the case, assigns a case manager, and verifies identity and service record.
Review & assessment: Medical, legal or welfare specialists carry out a fact-based review.
Panel determination: An appointed panel or authorised commander makes a determination following client policy.
Outcome & remediation: If approved, alternatives (deferment, reassignment) are implemented; if denied, clear rationale and appeal instructions are provided.
Record closure: Outcome archived with recommended mitigations and follow-up actions.
Who can Apply for this form?
Unfortunately, a deployed soldier is ineligible to apply for the Deployment Declination Form. Only a loved one, family, child, fiancé, sibling or close friend is eligible to apply, and you must do so with the consent of the deployed soldier.
Applying for the Deployment Declination
Gearing up for a deployment can be stressful. But getting your deployment declined, canceled or postponed can be more so, especially after the DOD spending weeks, even months, preparing for the mission, putting everything in place, setting all up having you in mind, the wasted resources and finances already made, because of this a fee is attached for the declination form to be processed and accepted.
Getting Started
All requests for declination, deletion, deferment, or early arrival must be submitted through the form and contact details below in accordance with applicable guidance, with the exception of requests based on operational or compassionate needs.
Documents Typically Required
Formal declination form with signed statement of grounds.
Medical certificates (where applicable).
Dependent care documentation or legal orders.
Employment or contractual documents (for contractors).
Any prior performance or conduct records relevant to the claim.
Timelines & Priority Levels
Standard case: 7–21 days.
High-priority (medical/emergency): 24–72 hours.
Timelines are agreed in the client SLA and subject to local verification logistics.
Governance & Appeals
Maridian ensures every declination process includes a right to appeal and an independent review in accordance with client policy. We produce documentation packages for personnel representatives and maintain chain-of-records for external audits.