Can I get my promotion effective date pushed back due to error on behalf of unit?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 22:48:08 -0400

I enlisted in the NJ National Guard in January 2017 in the split ops program. I graduated AIT and reported to my unit in November 2018. I was scheduled to be promoted to E-4 in January 2019 due to automatic promotion, but never received the promotion on my LES. I bugged my readiness NCO about it every month, and he always said he'd look into it. Alas, I was finally promoted to SPC as of November 1. Readiness NCO said my PT scores were never put in my file in December of 2018, so I was never promoted. Can I get my effective date pushed back, or am I SOL? My NCO said there's nothing he can do, but I've seen other SPC's with the same issue have their dates pushed back up to a year.

Response by CSM Eric Biggs made Nov 2 at 2019 11:24 PM

CSM Eric Biggs — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 23:24:16 -0400

It’s possible, a huge pain in the ass, but possible. Here is the other side of the coin. Do you want to be the pain in the ass!

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Nov 2 at 2019 11:59 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 23:59:06 -0400

When I went from E-4 to O-1, I got hosed out of the OE pay scale for two years due to an Admin wonk not doing their paperwork correctly. Took a Board of Correction to fix and a Request Mast to get the Disbursing Officer to cut the check as he decided no junior officer deserved that much money all at once. That stuck with me. As a Skipper, one of my hot buttons was cross threaded records harming my people. My CoC knew that, and when we came across those, the appropriate size bat was used to get things fixed. Run it up the line politely to your SEL to see if that works, BUT you better make sure there is actually a record trail. If no record of the PT, you may be out of luck. That assumes the Readiness NCO isn't gaffing you off to make you go away. BTW, don't assume other SPCs have exactly your circumstance. More often than not, they're pushed back for a reason that isn't advertised, but deserved. Many MILs don't take personal ownership of the glitch when they should. If it doesn't go through, take it as a sad but wiser experience and make sure you look out for Number One. Then when you get to NCO, that same orientation needs to apply in taking care of your folk. Good luck son...

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2019 12:07 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 00:07:07 -0400

Partner with NCO and go for it. They should know if they can't handle at their level.

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made Nov 3 at 2019 1:24 AM

Cpl Ray Fernandez — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 01:24:27 -0500

Make sure you get all your supporting paper work together, and go get that taken care of. It's worth the effort as you will discover the joy of vindication known as Back Pay.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2019 10:11 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 10:11:12 -0500

It's not a pain in the ass, it is a 4187 to correct the effective date of rank sent to your BDE S1 and coded in SIDPERS, or IPPS-A, depending on whether NJ upgraded yet.
Once that is coded, your Readiness NCO submits a TL to USPFO-NJ to recover any back-pay due from that correction.
The first step takes about 15 min for your RNCO and abour 2 min for your BDE S1.
The second step takes about 15 min for your RNCO and probably a 1-6 week wait at USPFO depending on their backlog.

FYI, enlisted advancements to E2-E4 are not "automatic" in the Guard, in that they require action by your RNCO and your BDE S1.
Also, that action was delayed due to no one entering your APFT score, which could have been accomplished by your team leader, squad leader, platoon sergeant, unit Training NCO or unit Readiness NCO. And by January or February drill, getting that update should have been your top priority every drill until complete:
Your career and your record are your own responsibility, if it is not accurate, do something about it. And as you move up through team leader and above, you teach that responsibility to your Soldiers. And as a leader, you will ensure, or input yourself, timely and accurate updates of their APFT/ACFT, HT_WT and weapon qual in DTMS.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Nov 3 at 2019 3:53 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 15:53:06 -0500

Ignore the pay for a second. January vs November is 10 months difference as E4 which is 10 months difference TIG when you are looking to get promoted to E5 (SGT).

No one is going to look after your career like you are going to look after your career. Period, end stop. Until someone shows you in B&W why you should NOT have been promoted effective X date OR should HAVE been promoted Y date, fight the good fight and use your CoC appropriately by asking "can you show me where that is in the regs? I want to remove any confusion, just in case I have a troop in the future that runs into the same problem." At this point, you have politely asked them to assist you, and cite the reg, which will remove ambiguity about this situation.

If they don't do it, escalate. Set reasonable times. You're NG, so 1 drill to the next is plenty of time for RESEARCHING a simple question. Not resolving. SGM Private RallyPoint Member highlights the exact process for your situation and why things may not have happened.

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Nov 4 at 2019 12:53 AM

CPL Gary Pifer — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 00:53:16 -0500

Take a box of donuts next time you ask...