Posted on Jun 9, 2019
About to finish my first contract, and I'm looking to re-enlist, but I'd love to learn more about these next steps Please Help?
12.4K
19
7
5
5
0
About to Re-enlist and looking to attend the SFAB Assessment for my next term, in the Army. I have some questions. (I know to ask my retention NCO, but they won't talk to me until next month.) I'm currently stationed at JBLM. Here's my multitude of questions. (Please bare with me, as I'm in my first contract.)
1. How early am I able to physically depart from my current station and head to my next station?
I've heard a multitude of different answers as soldier's have had different experiences, and I'd like to be aware of the different occurrences. I've heard some stations supposedly allowed a soldier to leave as early as 90 into their ETS window (as in 12 months left on their contract, that is, assuming this is true and that their ETS window was 15 months). I've also been told that you can only leave early if you have the leave days to do so, plus the calculated travel days, which are both alloted.
2. When being offered a retention bonus, what types of options will I be able to receive in order to receive the bonus in? (i.e. Lump sum with "no tax"?, one half after one year? or one half day of the next contract start?)
3. When driving (I have a larger family and may use two vehicles), will the DFAS reimburse the mileage, gas, etc. for both vehicles? Is there any tips or tricks from experienced SMs that have done this before?
Also, looking to buy a house in the area (this is assuming, I'd be stationed in Benning, if I make it into the 1st SFAB). Does anyone know the area and can recommend a safe a decent area with a good commute to the post? I have a decent size family, and my wife and I would prefer a more rural part of the area.
In advance, I really appreciate the time, commitment and effort that you fellow SMs offer here. It's really awesome and motivating to see that we try our best to take care of each other.
1. How early am I able to physically depart from my current station and head to my next station?
I've heard a multitude of different answers as soldier's have had different experiences, and I'd like to be aware of the different occurrences. I've heard some stations supposedly allowed a soldier to leave as early as 90 into their ETS window (as in 12 months left on their contract, that is, assuming this is true and that their ETS window was 15 months). I've also been told that you can only leave early if you have the leave days to do so, plus the calculated travel days, which are both alloted.
2. When being offered a retention bonus, what types of options will I be able to receive in order to receive the bonus in? (i.e. Lump sum with "no tax"?, one half after one year? or one half day of the next contract start?)
3. When driving (I have a larger family and may use two vehicles), will the DFAS reimburse the mileage, gas, etc. for both vehicles? Is there any tips or tricks from experienced SMs that have done this before?
Also, looking to buy a house in the area (this is assuming, I'd be stationed in Benning, if I make it into the 1st SFAB). Does anyone know the area and can recommend a safe a decent area with a good commute to the post? I have a decent size family, and my wife and I would prefer a more rural part of the area.
In advance, I really appreciate the time, commitment and effort that you fellow SMs offer here. It's really awesome and motivating to see that we try our best to take care of each other.
Re-enlistment
Fort Moore
House Hunting
Retention NCO
Ft. Benning, GA
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 4
7
7
0
I'm stationed at JBLM. I'm the 1-2 Senior Career Counselor. You can give me a call or come in to my office to talk tomorrow. I'll happily answer all your questions for you.
(7)
(0)
4
4
0
1. How early depends on the orders you get for the new assignment. The orders will state if early reporting is authorized and how early is authorized.
2. A bonus is only tax free when executed in a tax exclusion zone, it's not an optional feature in the US. Your bonus could be lump sum or half up front, half at the halfway point, your retention NCO will have to determine that based on the type of bonus.
3. Driving a POV for PCS gets you 20 cents a mile. Driving two POVs for PCS gets you 20 cents per mile per POV. If you are traveling together and don't want to bother with both POVs, DFAS will also reimburse to ship one. Ask questions and take notes at your transportation brief.
4. There's a lot of "rural" outside of Columbus GA. But that wouldn't be a short commute.
2. A bonus is only tax free when executed in a tax exclusion zone, it's not an optional feature in the US. Your bonus could be lump sum or half up front, half at the halfway point, your retention NCO will have to determine that based on the type of bonus.
3. Driving a POV for PCS gets you 20 cents a mile. Driving two POVs for PCS gets you 20 cents per mile per POV. If you are traveling together and don't want to bother with both POVs, DFAS will also reimburse to ship one. Ask questions and take notes at your transportation brief.
4. There's a lot of "rural" outside of Columbus GA. But that wouldn't be a short commute.
(4)
(0)
SPC (Join to see)
Thank you for responding, SGM.
For the orders, I suppose that's up to HRC and I wouldn't be able to know until I have them hand, correct?
Also, so DFAS will reimburse for the shipment of my vehicle, despite me leaving from a CONUS station, to another CONUS station? My last NCO's informed me that they would only ship from OCONUS, to CONUS, or vice versa, and didn't inform me of any other options, and I'm still new to the Army and sold my only POV at the time, cause I couldn't afford to ship it from Florida to Washington State.
As for the commute, we'd like to find a subdivision or rural area up to 45 minutes away, is there any specific area you'd recommend? We've heard very bad things about the Columbus area.
Thanks again, SGM.
For the orders, I suppose that's up to HRC and I wouldn't be able to know until I have them hand, correct?
Also, so DFAS will reimburse for the shipment of my vehicle, despite me leaving from a CONUS station, to another CONUS station? My last NCO's informed me that they would only ship from OCONUS, to CONUS, or vice versa, and didn't inform me of any other options, and I'm still new to the Army and sold my only POV at the time, cause I couldn't afford to ship it from Florida to Washington State.
As for the commute, we'd like to find a subdivision or rural area up to 45 minutes away, is there any specific area you'd recommend? We've heard very bad things about the Columbus area.
Thanks again, SGM.
(0)
(0)
SGM Jeff Mccloud
SPC (Join to see) - I can't recommend any neighborhoods around Benning, I haven't been there since 1996.
(0)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
For answer to your questions most of what I got has already been said. Although to answer the question about a good “rural” area to live. There are some nice rural communities in Harris county and south Meriwether county to the north of Ft. Benning. I lived just over the Meriwether/ Harris county line in Manchester, Ga while stationed at Benning. But be warned it will be a bit of a drive. 45 minutes to an hour.
(0)
(0)
We lived in a gated apartment complex as close to the gate as you could get, and it was a good area. Yards away from the River Walk. Other neighborhoods were not so good. Pay attention to the crime map.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
-
Ask questionGet expert advice and
tips for your questions. -
Post updatePost pictures, personal updates, plans, or anything you like!
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google 
