Changing BCT date to an earlier date?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 10:33:32 -0400

Have a question to pose for the rally point community.

I'll start off by listing the relevant details and then lead into my question.
My fiance recently enlisted as a 35B in the reserves, her BCT and AIT dates were scheduled out for BCT in FEB 2021 leading into AIT. Her reserve unit is reluctant to let her participate in their drills etc due to her not completing BCT yet. She has attempted to Renegotiate her contract to allow her to attend BCT sooner but her reserve unit points the finger and says it's her recruiters responsibility, then her recruiter states it would require her to separate and rejoin in 6 months. She has contacted her Army Liaison at MEPS, her recruiter, recruiting station 1SG, and her HR at her reserve unit. All personnel are giving her the run around and not taking action to assist her in accomplishing her obligation so she can be an active member of her unit. She isn't trying to get out of her duties, or amend her contract to change jobs or anything, she just wants to alter her BCT date to an earlier date so she can participate in unit functions.

I'm struggling to aid her without getting directly involved, it isn't my chain of command, they aren't my soldiers, and it would only make things worse for me to try and directly get involved.

What can I advise her to do to aid her in getting her BCT dates amended to an earlier date if available? Form Numbers, signatures at what level, etc?

Besides just going out and buying her a uniform, boots, socks, undershirts, belt, and PC what can be done for her to receive a uniform when she is required to participate in unit functions and be in the appropriate attire? Her Unit is saying her recruiter can purchase it and write it off, recruiting station is saying (they can borrow a temporary uniform but cannot purchase one for her.)

Since she has sworn in and has officially started attending drills, is she able to transfer to another recruiting station or is she stuck with her current recruiter?

Any additional guidance would be very much appreciated, if you have questions to better clarify something I might have glossed over please let me know.

Again thank you for your assistance.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2020 10:44 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 10:44:40 -0400

Her orders for BCT and AIT will all come thru MEPS and Recruiting Command. I say this because I have a Soldier currently in AIT and his orders were generated and cut from those places. Your wife is under no obligation to attend Reserve BTAs untill she is done with Basic Training. As for uniforms, the unit I feel is giving bad intel. There should be no problem (as long as there is money in the system) to order her one set of everything thru KYLOC.

As for the dates of training, they could be locked in stone due to training rotations and dates available. The Career Counselor at MEPS should be able to look that up easily enough.

Since she has sworn in, I do believe she is locked in with this Recruiter. I could be wrong, however.

Personally, I think your wife is getting the run around and everyone is just trying to pass the buck since she is an IET. Which, personally, I find this more wrong than a hooker putting a 3 dollar bill in the church offering plate.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2020 10:51 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 10:51:50 -0400

Once assigned to a reserve unit and under contract, the unit supply should be able to request uniforms through KYLOC. I've never heard of recruiting providing uniforms.
She can attend drills prior to basic training but some training will not be permitted. Some training is at the commanders discretion with the intent not to injure the SM prior to basic.
With COVID delays and mandated quarantine, basic training is back logged. There is a good chance that there is no room to get an earlier ship date.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2020 1:33 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 13:33:03 -0400

Is a 35B a new thing, or a typo. Seriously, curious. OOOOHHHHHHHHHH, I see in the tag it's 38

Getting a new BCT date would probably require a new AIT date that matches up with the 38B school so there is no dead time in between (because she'd just be sent home for that time period, which is far from ideal for a new soldiers).

Yes, she "could" be given a uniform. However, then what happens is she would have been issued ONE of her FOUR allotted uniforms. So when she steps off the bus at Reception she'd need to bring it with her, but then I wouldn't recommend wearing it. And then it's probably going to get mixed up with her civilian luggage, and then she will be the one that probably gets issued an EXTRA uniform on the books, because who's going to take the time to figure out which of the trainees were already issued a uniform from their unit. There's little need to mess around with her Clothing Record that might make her stick out at Reception and CIF.

The UNIT owns her. If she is recycled or sent back for any reason its the USAR Company Commander that will be the deciding factor what to do with her. Not the recruiter nor Active Duty.

That said, it's maybe not a bad idea to BUY a uniform, because well, all the other ones issued at reception are going to get jacked up. The boots she's going to be "issued" will be junk as well.

I recommend attending drill ASAP, it locks you into the pay system, and you start getting points. Plus, it's best to see that pay actually going into the bank account BEFORE getting to BCT so you know everything is set up correctly. ALSO!!!!! try and get her to fill our all the paperwork needed to LOCK IN her BAH. At the very least take ALL THE DOCUMENTATION NEEDED TO VALIDATE BAH to reception. REGARDLESS if you think you have it set up or not. Reservists get 1/2 BAH (I guess this might be moot as a duel military family).

As said, she doesn't have to attend until she is MOS qualified, and yes, commanders have to make sure they don't get broke. I personally like it, and I liked hooking up my newest soldiers out of TRADOC as the "sponsor" for the future soldiers when they showed up.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2020 1:54 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 13:54:15 -0400

That seems strange. I just figured it was the norm that soldiers would begin drilling with their units prior to BCT and AIT as the two units I am familiar with have soldiers who are there in civilian attire who are drilling while they are awaiting their BCT and AIT schools. It helps them get annual required trainings completed, conduct PT and make sure they are staying in regulations,and also gives them experience with military culture and customs prior to reporting to BCT and AIT. I can’t see how it would be a bad thing having a soldier who has sworn in and been assigned to their unit train with their unit before BCT and AIT?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2020 4:12 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 16:12:50 -0400

Units usually want their pre-basic Soldiers to come in and participate. I know I do.
There are some things that they can't do, like weapons qual. But most of it they can help with and get their admin stuff done, a sponsor, etc.

I'm wondering if the resistance is Covid-related.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2020 9:31 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 21:31:03 -0400

The training date she got from MEPS was the earliest date available at the time she contracted.
There is little chance that an earlier date will open up now, as all school houses are reducing capacity as part of their "COVID mitigation strategy."
Getting a new ship date would require a renegotiated contract, that would not require a six month break, but there is no reason to, an earlier ship date for the same MOS would not be available.

The unit has no involvement in the process of getting a BCT date.
The unit Supply NCO is absolutely responsible for ordering a partial uniform issue.
That is why reservists only get a partial uniform issue at BCT.

Response by CPT Brad Wilson made Jul 29 at 2020 10:36 PM

CPT Brad Wilson — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 22:36:09 -0400

I spent 22 years in the National Guard and we didn’t treat new recruits like that. They drilled with us until they attended Basic and AIT. The only restrictions for safety if they weren’t qualified to do something and even then with supervision they did almost everything with the section they would be assigned to when they completed their training. Their first drill they went to supply and were issued uniforms and TA50. We treated them like full members of the unit. I understand there are problems at the training bases with the corona virus so getting training dates moved up may not happen and there is a chance they may get delayed. But it doesn’t hurt to keep trying but I don’t see why her unit can’t even issue her one set of uniforms for drill and add it to her clothing record when she returns from Basic and AIT

Response by SSG Brian G. made Jul 30 at 2020 12:25 AM

SSG Brian G. — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 00:25:30 -0400

Point blank her reserve unit is being a bunch of ass hots. They absolutely CAN allow her to drill with them prior to attending BCT and AIT. The number of drills is however limited to I think, 3 drills. And yes, they can draw her an allotment of uniforms. Granted it will just be boots, socks, and the pattern of the day and likely only 1-2 sets but it is something.

The reason I say this is because that is the situation I was in when I first joined up. And exactly what happened.

As for the rest, no, your wifes dates are locked in. She could void her contract but that would mean a 6 month wait and really no guarantee she would get in or get what she wanted if she does. I know it sucks but for now she just has to suck it up, soldier on and wait.