Can you request earlier ETS for driving home from Alaksa?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 10:44:04 -0400

So I was just talking to an NCO im my troop about driving home from my duty station in Alaska. We are 6 hours west of Anchorage. Im ETSing and sign out on November 30th, 2019 for terminal leave, driving home all the way back to Boston, MA. He told me that you can request an earlier ETS for the reason that driving home was too dangerous around that time, say to about Nov 1st or so. He said it could just be a 4187 stating this reason and a new terminal leave from. Is this true? Has anyone ever heard of this?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2019 10:58 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 10:58:35 -0400

No, that's not true. All the reasons for ETS can be found in AR 635-200. You don't have to drive home. If the route is too dangerous, the Army will pay to fly you and have your goods delivered to you.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2019 3:04 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 15:04:36 -0400

You are authorized travel days if driving. Those days will be added to your termial leave DA31, and should be marked as un chargeable. How much time you get is based in how far you must travel, the time factors in only driving for 8 hrs a day, taking stops every 2 hours. I had 13 days from Bragg to Richardson.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2019 9:32 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 21:32:49 -0400

I get where you are going with this and it seems like you are really more concerned with getting out sooner than the actual safety of driving home. I made the drive out of Wainwright and I would not want to do it in November, I got it. I am assuming they will still let you ship one car plus household goods (correct me if I am wrong.)

Ship your car as soon as you can so it is there when you get to where you are going. Enjoy the last of your time in Alaska and the Army. Go to the Cookie Jar and the thai place outside of Badger Gate. Wait it out and enjoy your ETS when it comes.

Response by MSG Gary Eckert made Jul 16 at 2019 8:32 AM

MSG Gary Eckert — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 08:32:21 -0400

I think I've have heard of this for Soldiers driving back on the Yukon Hwy. The Soldier's ETS date must fall during the holiday early release program. Under that program you can request a 1 Dec separation date and then you then back off your transition leave and travel time and it lets you depart early enough to drive back from Alaska before the roads becomes impassible.