Posted on Dec 4, 2019
Cpl Kevin Smith
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So I got out of the marines last year and have been having a tough transition. So I joined the navy reserve for extra cash on the side. Long story short, I've lost my job, plans had not been working, about broke, losing my place and my car isn't suitable for a 250-300 mile drive to and back for drill. Compared to all these problems, I'm not concerned about the navy and hadnt showed up for last drill. What should I do?
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Responses: 5
SGM G3 Sergeant Major
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Regardless of why you can't or don't want to show up for drill, you need to contact your unit immediately, before drill is the standard, to get an authorized absence from drill, or a SUTA or ETA (Split Training Unit Assembly or Equivalent Training Assembly) or whatever your component calls it when they allow you to drill with some other reserve component unit closer to your home during, before or after your unit's scheduled drill. Your unit can possibly even authorize Additional Training Assemblies if you need the work.
The longer you remain out of contact with them, the less likely that commander will be to help you out.
If you are reported AWOL or UA from your drill, you will lose eligibility for benefits (GI Bill, bonus, loan repayment, Tricare Reserve Select, etc), and if you are chaptered out General OTH, you lose VA benefit eligibility.
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SP5 Peter Keane
SP5 Peter Keane
>1 y
General OTH. never heard of such a thing.
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SGT Information Technology Specialist
SGT (Join to see)
>1 y
this is not true. if you have an honorable discharge from active duty.. and then do the reserves... and receive an OTH or general.. then your benefits from active duty are untouchable. you received a honorable discharge. they cannot touch that unless it refers to active duty time. the only thing they can do in the reserves is take away bonuses and place the discharge on your military record.
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SGM G3 Sergeant Major
SGM (Join to see)
>1 y
SGT (Join to see) -
You are partly correct.
If you have both honorable and OTH discharges:
"You will be eligible for disability compensation benefits only for the period of service that ended with an honorable or under honorable conditions discharge. If you were injured during the enlistment period that ended with bad paper, you will not will be eligible for disability compensation."
And also no longer eligible for the non-disability benefits (GI Bill, bonus, loan repayment, Tricare Reserve Select, etc).
This is mentioned on every counseling for unsatisfactory performance and AWOL in the Guard and Reserves.
In other words, one honorable doesn't completely excuse an OTH.
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SFC Intelligence Analyst
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Did you tell your leadership all this?
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SSG Dale London
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Edited >1 y ago
You need to contact your CPO ASAP! They'll work with you and may even have a few ideas regarding your situation. But if you blow off your drills they will destroy you.
The reserves may seem kind off part-timey and easy-osey but the US Naval Reserve is still the US Navy and AWOL is still AWOL.
Get your head out of your fourth point of contact and all your sh*t in one sock. This isn't a game and you ought to know better.
On the practical side, if you don't have money on your phone for a call go to your local recrtuiting office and borrow theirs.
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