What is the term for a request to increase the UMD authorization that must be accompanied by a proposal for offsetting reductions from elsewhere?

• A. Zero balance transaction
• B. Authorization change request
• C. Organizational change request
• D. Career progression group

Answer: (A)

Maintaining a fixed manpower authorization while making targeted increases requires offsetting reductions. In the Unit Manning Document system, you can request more authorizations only if you also propose cutting other positions so the total remains essentially unchanged. This specific arrangement is known as a zero balance transaction.

Why this is the best fit is that the term explicitly signals that there’s no net gain in overall authorization—the increase is allowed only when offset by reductions elsewhere. The other terms describe different processes: an authorization change request is a broad request for changing Authority without necessarily implying offsets; an organizational change request concerns changes to structure; a career progression group refers to a personnel category, not the mechanism of balancing authorizations.