Posted on Dec 14, 2020
Besides separation, what are the options for officers who are passed over twice?
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It is a long way ahead of me, but it seems like the current promotion rate for MAJ is looking bleak for my AOC, at least for now and maybe worse in the future (less than 50% this past board). I am prior enlisted. Hypothetically, if I do not make MAJ after two boards, I would have a little more than 14 years of active duty time. At this point, would I be allowed to join the reserves/NG, apply for active tours or AGR and do my 20 years, or even enlist again and push out 6 years? I think some have done these in the past, but I want to confirm whether these can still happen.
Promotions
Officer
Human Resources (HR)
MAJ
LTC
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 17
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I was passed over once for O5 on active duty. Before my second look I resigned and went to the Reserve and took a Civilian position. I was promoted in the reserves and I can now reserve retire, collect that at 65 and buy my military time into my Civilian retirement OR get activated to get to 20 years active time.
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LTC (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see)
I am still young enough that I intend to finish up the Active duty time. But yes, reserve retirement is 60 minus reserve mobilization time so I could actually collect reserve retirement at 59.
Thank you for the clarification.
I am still young enough that I intend to finish up the Active duty time. But yes, reserve retirement is 60 minus reserve mobilization time so I could actually collect reserve retirement at 59.
Thank you for the clarification.
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LTC (Join to see)
Some people think the active duty retirement is higher, but if someone has a lot of Active Duty time (say even 20 years & a bunch of reserve IDT points too); and if that Soldier does retire at age 60 on the reserve side- they can add in all their extra points they've earned on the reserve side & end up with a bigger check than if they retired at 20 years.
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LCDR Steve Brown
LTC (Join to see) - True, but they may also have to wait longer to collect that bigger check.
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CPT (Join to see) What is your split of time between enlisted service and AFCS? It is my understanding You need 10yrs AFCS to retire as an officer.
Unless they terminate the program, I would apply for SELCON when you hit that passover at O4.
Change your tags. You have AF Captain tagged and Major tagged.
Were you direct Commissioned? What about branch transfer to another MSC AOC? If you were not tactical, then branch transfer to a Sustainment Branch will be a skull beating.
You have to consider whether your AOC strength is at by Year group. Were the boards you just looked at for YGs that were overstregnth? Is your YG under or overstrength? Some branches attrit at a 11% rate Between Company and field grade. Ask those questions before you make preparations for Seppuku
Unless they terminate the program, I would apply for SELCON when you hit that passover at O4.
Change your tags. You have AF Captain tagged and Major tagged.
Were you direct Commissioned? What about branch transfer to another MSC AOC? If you were not tactical, then branch transfer to a Sustainment Branch will be a skull beating.
You have to consider whether your AOC strength is at by Year group. Were the boards you just looked at for YGs that were overstregnth? Is your YG under or overstrength? Some branches attrit at a 11% rate Between Company and field grade. Ask those questions before you make preparations for Seppuku
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CW4 Keith Dolliver
Unless it's different for regular commissioned officers (vs. WO), you can't apply for SELCON, it has to be offered. What I've typically seen is they offer it for understrength career fields only. The caveat is if you are at 18 years by the time you are 2x non-select then you are automatically offered SELCON to make it until 20 so you can retire.
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CW4 Keith Dolliver
LTC Jason Mackay - Sir, I can only speak to the WO side (but I imagine it's fairly similar). So for us, a board convenes immediately following the promotion board to consider all those 2x non-select for SELCON. Then those selected for SELCON are offered it, but it's the individual's choice whether to accept or not.
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LTC Jason Mackay
CW4 Keith Dolliver - I'm not doubting you, it may have changed since I retired in 2016. It was as you describe, right in the heels of the promotion board, the conversation was between the Branch Manager and the officer about SELCON and then it wen into that board as you describe.
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CPT (Join to see) … If you get into the IRR, you can easily apply to join the Army Reserves or a National Guard Unit. In my view it's much easier to get an AGR position with the Army Reserve than the Army National Guard, since the AGR boards are done centrally at HRC.
And are now the AGR boards are all done electronically, with just your AGR Packet going forward to determine if you get picked up for an AGR tour. If you have good evaluations, and all your military schooling done- BOLC for LTs; CCC for Captains; and ILE for MAJ you stand a better chance of getting picked up for an AGR spot. If you're vying for a Functional Area (FA) slot, see if you can get your unit to send you to the FA school before you apply. Then you're likely to be picked up quicker, especially in this fiscally constrained environment.
And are now the AGR boards are all done electronically, with just your AGR Packet going forward to determine if you get picked up for an AGR tour. If you have good evaluations, and all your military schooling done- BOLC for LTs; CCC for Captains; and ILE for MAJ you stand a better chance of getting picked up for an AGR spot. If you're vying for a Functional Area (FA) slot, see if you can get your unit to send you to the FA school before you apply. Then you're likely to be picked up quicker, especially in this fiscally constrained environment.
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COL (Join to see)
MAJ (Join to see) - First, the bad news. As a 2 x non-select, you are flagged from seeking AGR and Active Duty tours. However, you do have options.
As a 2 x non-select, there are a couple of options I can think of. First, if the reason for 2 x non-select is competition versus performance (reduced number of slots, large year group, etc.) then the first option should be to consider the National Guard. If you can find an O-5 vacancy in the National Guard and they are willing to accept your transfer, then you could pursue a Unit Vacancy promotion in the National Guard (low probability).
However, as you will have about 14 years of service and are former enlisted, then you can request to return to enlisted status and pursue your career as an NCO. If this happens, you can continue as an NCO until you are 2 x non-select in an NCO promotion.
The most unusual option is to transfer to another service (Marines, Air Force, Navy, or Coast Guard). These are extremely rare. However, if there is a demand for your skills (military or civilian) and you meet all other requirements, then you may find an opportunity in a sister service. To accomplish this, you need to reach out to the sister sister recruiter and determine if there is a demand for your skills. If there is, you may be fortunate to conduct an inter-service transfer. Again, this is rare.
My recommendation is to reach out to your Branch at HRC as well as your Senior Rater to confirm your COAs and obtain input on your decision making, then make a decision.
As a 2 x non-select, there are a couple of options I can think of. First, if the reason for 2 x non-select is competition versus performance (reduced number of slots, large year group, etc.) then the first option should be to consider the National Guard. If you can find an O-5 vacancy in the National Guard and they are willing to accept your transfer, then you could pursue a Unit Vacancy promotion in the National Guard (low probability).
However, as you will have about 14 years of service and are former enlisted, then you can request to return to enlisted status and pursue your career as an NCO. If this happens, you can continue as an NCO until you are 2 x non-select in an NCO promotion.
The most unusual option is to transfer to another service (Marines, Air Force, Navy, or Coast Guard). These are extremely rare. However, if there is a demand for your skills (military or civilian) and you meet all other requirements, then you may find an opportunity in a sister service. To accomplish this, you need to reach out to the sister sister recruiter and determine if there is a demand for your skills. If there is, you may be fortunate to conduct an inter-service transfer. Again, this is rare.
My recommendation is to reach out to your Branch at HRC as well as your Senior Rater to confirm your COAs and obtain input on your decision making, then make a decision.
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COL (Join to see)
MAJ (Join to see) - I went from original post. If you have no prior service and less than 15 years, you need some guidance from Branch, Sr Rater, JAG, and other service recruiters. Get as much info as possible. Send me a direct message if you would like.
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