Executive Order 534

In time of peace any enlisted man of the Navy, serving in his first enlistment, who is not undergoing punishment or under charges, and is not in debt to the Government, may after one year from the date of his enlistment in the Navy, apply for the privilege of purchasing his discharge. An enlisted man wishing this privilege will make application to the Navy Department through official channels, giving his reasons in full for desiring his discharge; and will state that he waives all claims for transportation at Government expense to his home or the place of his enlistment, if discharged as requested. In general, no reasons will be considered as sufficient to warrant discharge unless it can be shown conclusively that these reasons did not exist prior to enlistment.

Upon the receipt of an application made as prescribed herein, and fulfilling the condition given, the Navy Department may direct the discharge requested at its discretion; the price of discharge to be the price of outfit furnished on enlistment plus two months' pay of the rating the applicant is holding at the time of actual discharge if in the second year of his enlistment, or one month's pay if in the third year of his enlistment. After the third year of enlistment the price of discharge will be the price of outfit furnished on enlistment.

When an enlisted man of the Navy makes application for discharge by purchase on account of dependency of near relative, and shows in connection therewith that a state of destitution exists, that he has to the extent of his opportunities and ability made contribution to the support of such relative, but that these contributions have proved insufficient to relieve the destitution, the Navy Department may, in its discretion, remit such part of the purchase price of discharge (other than the price of outfit furnished on enlistment) as may seem proper and necessary by reason of the inability of the enlisted man to pay the full amount.

Theodore Roosevelt.

The White House,

November 30, 1906.