Posted on Sep 14, 2025
How can a career soldier be threatened with involuntary separation for one ftr?
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Soldier was late one time since being in unit since 2021 has had no counseling or ncoer and is being told that unit is processing involuntary separation paper. How is this possible?
Posted in these groups: Command Offices
Military Community Awareness (MCA)
Military Community Awareness (MCA)
Posted 5 mo ago
Responses: 8
IF everything is as you said and there is no other extenuating circumstances ... they can't. The unit commander and admin folks would know this (or should know it) so that's why I emphasized the "IF".
What's the rest of the story? Are there additional disciplinary issues? Was the "one time late" involving Annual Training and they "eventually got there"? Was it a movement (deployment)?
IF there is nothing else behind the scenes that isn't being mentioned, first, they need to address this with their unit commander to ensure there is a common understanding of the circumstances. IF the situation is as still stated, then contact the state's IG* (as you are ARNG, I assume the Soldier in question is in the ARNG) as they are clearly not following regulatory guidance.
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* ARNG Inspector General website - https://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/Joint-Staff/Personal-Staff/Inspector-General/
References:
● AR 135-91 (Service Obligations, Methods of Fulfillment, Participation Requirements, and Enforcement Provisions) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN8277_AR135-91_Web_FINAL.pdf
● AR 135-178 (Army National Guard and Reserve Enlisted Administrative Separations) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN43322-AR_135-178-000-WEB-1.pdf
What's the rest of the story? Are there additional disciplinary issues? Was the "one time late" involving Annual Training and they "eventually got there"? Was it a movement (deployment)?
IF there is nothing else behind the scenes that isn't being mentioned, first, they need to address this with their unit commander to ensure there is a common understanding of the circumstances. IF the situation is as still stated, then contact the state's IG* (as you are ARNG, I assume the Soldier in question is in the ARNG) as they are clearly not following regulatory guidance.
----------------------------------------
* ARNG Inspector General website - https://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/Joint-Staff/Personal-Staff/Inspector-General/
References:
● AR 135-91 (Service Obligations, Methods of Fulfillment, Participation Requirements, and Enforcement Provisions) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN8277_AR135-91_Web_FINAL.pdf
● AR 135-178 (Army National Guard and Reserve Enlisted Administrative Separations) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN43322-AR_135-178-000-WEB-1.pdf
Inspector General - Personal Staff - The National Guard
To provide the Chief, National Guard Bureau (CNGB), as directed, with assessment of the economy, efficiency, discipline, morale, esprit de corps, relevance and readiness of the National Guard through an agenda of assistance, investigations and inspections in order to support the defense of our homeland and the Global War on Terrorism.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
Yes, There's Something Else Going On In This Story _
And Obviously, Most of It's Missing.
And Obviously, Most of It's Missing.
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SGT Bruce Chapman , COL Randall Cudworth provided the typical scenario. Usually, there is something else going on. More details needed, and I am not saying this is not the unicorn story of "a totally innocent Soldier getting screwed by the Army who did absolutely nothing wrong and had an exemplary military career, but was late for the bus to Annual Training".
However, I will say, the CDR can *initiate* separation for anything. Whether it gets past the BDE CDR or not is a whole different story. Usually, FTR is easier to get through, especially when combined with minor offenses such as failure to maintain security clearance, failure to attend BA, repeated ACFT failure, and failure to maintain compliance with ABC, failure to adapt, malingering, etc; especially if there are little to no written records.
On a side note, I had a CG once who would call every Soldier with an FTR separation request and get the soldier's story (or the DCG would). I would say the number of times the Soldier was retained was not insignificant. It really indicates a failure from subordinate CDR's to do their due diligence.
However, I will say, the CDR can *initiate* separation for anything. Whether it gets past the BDE CDR or not is a whole different story. Usually, FTR is easier to get through, especially when combined with minor offenses such as failure to maintain security clearance, failure to attend BA, repeated ACFT failure, and failure to maintain compliance with ABC, failure to adapt, malingering, etc; especially if there are little to no written records.
On a side note, I had a CG once who would call every Soldier with an FTR separation request and get the soldier's story (or the DCG would). I would say the number of times the Soldier was retained was not insignificant. It really indicates a failure from subordinate CDR's to do their due diligence.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
Even If So, I'd Consider Them To Be Minor Issues,
With Not Worth Much More That A Verbal Discipline
With Not Worth Much More That A Verbal Discipline
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SGM Jeff Mccloud
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney - missing a formation is a minor issue, late for PT or late for work, corrected during or after work.
Missing a PT or work formation, AND going no contact or getting contacted and saying you aren't showing up is a bigger deal, but doesn't rise past company grade Art 15.
"Missing movement" is where the unit is deploying, even if it is not a real deployment but an EDRE or exercise, or airborne operation.
Not being in the formation that gets on the C-17 or charter flight is a big deal. That can get you chaptered out.
The OP talks about one Failure to Report (FTR) and the Soldier was "late one time", but we never got the details on exactly what the Soldier failed to report to, or how long.
Missing a PT or work formation, AND going no contact or getting contacted and saying you aren't showing up is a bigger deal, but doesn't rise past company grade Art 15.
"Missing movement" is where the unit is deploying, even if it is not a real deployment but an EDRE or exercise, or airborne operation.
Not being in the formation that gets on the C-17 or charter flight is a big deal. That can get you chaptered out.
The OP talks about one Failure to Report (FTR) and the Soldier was "late one time", but we never got the details on exactly what the Soldier failed to report to, or how long.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
SGM Jeff Mccloud -
NOW That We Have Some More Of The Information Along With The Details --
And That Does Change The Situation; Decades Ago When I Had 3 Print Shops In Michigan I Had An Employee Whom, Had A Bad Habit Of Returning From Lunch Late; One Afternoon I Pulled Him Aside In Private And Sid "Ricardo, If You Come In Late Again I'll Be Handing You A Pay Cheek." -- Sure Enough, In Under A Week, I Wrote The Check & Waited For Him In The Parking Lot - The End -
NOW That We Have Some More Of The Information Along With The Details --
And That Does Change The Situation; Decades Ago When I Had 3 Print Shops In Michigan I Had An Employee Whom, Had A Bad Habit Of Returning From Lunch Late; One Afternoon I Pulled Him Aside In Private And Sid "Ricardo, If You Come In Late Again I'll Be Handing You A Pay Cheek." -- Sure Enough, In Under A Week, I Wrote The Check & Waited For Him In The Parking Lot - The End -
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