Besides separation, what are the options for officers who are passed over twice?

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 20:13:27 -0500

Hi, I would like to bring this topic/question back since I am on this boat. Unfortunately, there is a possibility that I will be a two-time non-select.

I am an Army Reservist who would like to continue serving. Unfortunately, I did not complete my ILE on time. So my chances of getting promoted are slim to none.

From my understanding, Active Duty Officers can join the reserves... But since I am in the Reserves, what are my options? Can I join the IRR? Continue my service in a sister Service? Guard?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2023 9:30 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 21:30:20 -0500

How many good years do you have?

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Jan 11 at 2023 9:31 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 21:31:16 -0500

How long do you have in and is there an up or out in USAR for majors? When I commissioned major was indefinite and only the last few years did that change for the active component. I would check first for a hard up or out for majors in USAR.

Response by LTC John Griscom made Jan 11 at 2023 9:45 PM

LTC John Griscom — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 21:45:39 -0500

Having gone through this, check out other federal job options. My active duty as a captain terminated on a Sunday, and on Monday, I started my civil service job as a GS-12.
Retired from the reserves with 28 years.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2023 11:04 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 23:04:39 -0500

I'm wondering with all those Majors who got kicked out because they didn't get the covid vaccine, could you see if there are any continuation boards? I knew a major who didn't make it to lieutenant colonel. He was a signal officer. When I knew him in Iraq on a deployment in 2004 and 2005 he was a California National Guard Soldier attached to the Idaho National Guard he was a captain and I was a first lieutenant. Fast forward to 2016 and he happened to be coming into our Army reserve unit in Southern California to do some signal work and I was a major and he was a major. I asked him when he's going to make Lieutenant Colonel and he told me that he's been passed over twice and he has been kept. Now I haven't kept in touch with that major since I saw him once at my Army Reserve what used to be the 75th now 84th training command in Garden Grove california. I'm sure you could be extended.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2023 7:53 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 07:53:23 -0500

Is there a chance for you to be SELCON? I had a CPT who was SELCON every year because he didn’t have CCC (tried a few times, couldn’t pass or just didn’t complete), but he was allowed to stay in as a CPT. Not sure if the same is true for Field Grades, but worth looking into.

Response by Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis made Jan 12 at 2023 12:18 PM

Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 12:18:00 -0500

Would this be your first "Passover?" If so, you might still have a shot, if you complete your ILE prior to that promotion board meeting. Also, what is the grade authorization for the slot you are in? I would seek one that is authorized Lt Col (O5).

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2023 1:44 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Jan 2023 13:44:11 -0500

BLUF: You can stay in to 20 years.

For Majors in the USAR, “Removal from an active status will be on the LATER of the first day of the month after the month in which the officer completes 20 years of commissioned service, or the first day of the seventh month after the approval date of the promotion board report that non-selected the officer for the second time.” AR 135-175, paragraph 4-3(a)(5)(d).

Only caveat is that this provision only allows you to do 20 years, period. If any of those aren’t good years for retirement purposes it won’t allow you to stay in for that.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jan 15 at 2023 2:24 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Sun, 15 Jan 2023 14:24:02 -0500

Not an expert on the Officer management, however, I had a friend (active duty Major) who accepted a RIF to the grade of SFC from Major as his branch was tight and he did not wish to vice up all of his years in service at his then age.

Not sure if that is a thing for USAR.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2023 4:24 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 16:24:44 -0500

I was a two time non-select for MAJ. I was sent a letter for SELCON which (Selective Continuation) gave me the option to continue to serve at my rank until I reached 20 years of service (this gets extended if you get promoted before you reach 20 years). At the time I only had about 12 good years and I decided to take the offer to be eligible for retirement. I ended up making the promotion list the following year (2020) on my third look.

SELCON is based on the needs of the Army so I'm not sure if that is an option currently but it may be worth looking into.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2023 10:54 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 10:54:35 -0500

You need to get enrolled in ILE and complete it. It's not hard. In fact I put it off for years, and had decided to retire as a Major. I read in your comments you are at 15, so you have awhile before 20. Once I enrolled in ILE, I really pushed myself through the distance program and completed it quickly. From the day I enrolled and started (1 April 2020) until I got my last assignment back graded (July 2, 2020) was only three months. I did that by working on it a few hours a day in the evenings and weekends, plus plenty of days off waiting for the next module to begin or waiting on grades. You don't have to do it that quickly, but you can finish it before next year's board. You have two Ps, but you can get a third look and be selected. Once you are selected, your MRD is automatically pushed back to 28 years.

Response by CPT Jeff Reichardt made Jan 22 at 2023 11:29 AM

CPT Jeff Reichardt — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 11:29:53 -0500

When I was in, an officer twice passed over could accept a “rifting”. In other words, demoted to E5.

Response by SSG Paul Carrier made Jan 28 at 2023 5:47 PM

SSG Paul Carrier — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 17:47:17 -0500

One of the Drill Sergeants at Ft Benning in 1977 had been a CPT in VN, but was RIFF'd in the mid '70s.
He retained his USAR commission while on AD.

Later in my career in the Guard I had a couple of former commands who were not able to complete all the education requirements and they too reverted to NCO ranks. However when they retired they did so at the higher rank.

Response by PFC Edgar Mosier made Jan 29 at 2023 9:07 PM

PFC Edgar Mosier — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 21:07:35 -0500

Not sure about his ever being an officer, let alone being passed-over for promotion, but Marion County Board Member (Florida) J. Gold pulls off a nifty trick, he teaches explosive classes to others, while feigning respect for fellow veterans.
Simple answer: Join Boss Hogg in politics!

Response by CW4 Tim Claus made Feb 4 at 2023 5:42 PM

CW4 Tim Claus — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 17:42:37 -0500

As an Army Reserve CW4, You may not be selected for CW5, that is pretty dicey due to number of slots, but you may also be retained in grade. At that point, if you can still pass height/weight/APFT standards, and do not have a disqualifying profile, you may be allowed to stay until your 60th birthday. At which point you would be transferred to the retired reserves. If your MOS does not have any W5 vacancies, USAR W4s are not even boarded for that MOS, so you can't be selected or non-selected. You just keep on trucking along doing your job.

Response by SPC Gary C. made Feb 7 at 2023 7:10 AM

SPC Gary C. — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 07:10:02 -0500

IDK if this would help you or not.
https://www.army.mil › article › 101200 › An_alternative_to_traditional_ILE

The Official Home Page of the United States Army

The latest news, images, videos, career information, and links from the U.S. Army.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2023 1:54 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 13:54:04 -0500

I was facing this scenario. I had 16.5 years AFS and wanted to get an active duty retirement. Was in the Reserve as a TPU and removed from scrolls on my first look at 05. Decided to resign my commission and enlist on active duty. Grade determination made me an SSG; I’ve been doing it the last two years and am now 18 months from retiring on active duty…with O4 pension…and at the rank of MAJ. No one seemed to know how to execute this transition, was lucky a recruiter at my local recruiting office knew. Turns out, you have to initiate the process through your local recruiting office. It’s very much like a normal enlistment, but you submit paperwork to conditionally resign your commission once your enlistment is official.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2023 8:16 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 08:16:48 -0500

Talk to you Branch Des Officer. I know of an officer who did not get his ILE done in time and was twice passed over. He completed it and was picked up on this third look. It can happen but it depends on the strength of the test of your file. Especially your KD time as a Major.