Do you get barred from re-enlistment if you decline orders?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 07:49:15 -0400

I have an NCO who wants to decline orders to Polk, however, our Provost Sergeant is telling him that if he does, he will get barred automatically for re-enlistment. I have heard it before but I have also seen it very differently in my last unit a year ago where if that happened, all it took was the BC to give the “ok”.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2020 9:31 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 09:31:28 -0400

Before the answer of “talk to retention” comes up. I’m in Italy and we are on complete lockdown so nobody is at work at the moment

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2020 9:43 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 09:43:27 -0400

When I was in Germany, I declined orders to FT Riley. IOT decline those orders, I had to sign a Declination of Orders statement and self barred myself from reenlisting. But that was many years ago. Perhaps SFC Private RallyPoint Member could answer this one better.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Apr 14 at 2020 10:21 AM

LTC Trent Klug — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 10:21:37 -0400

Last I knew, he will be barred from reenlisting. Depending on how much time he or she has in, its a tough decision to make. But it is called selfless service for a reason.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2020 10:52 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 10:52:57 -0400

People get terms mixed up. If your NCO declines the orders he has to sign a declination statement. It's not a bar feom reenlistment, and it's not a flag, but they will be ineligible to reenlist and have their promotable status removed if they have it.

Of course, yesterday the Army announced that during COVID people who have signed a declination will be eligible to extend or reenlist, so that's going to be interesting to see how it plays out.

A bar from reenlistment is initiated by the CDR, and approved by the BC as a punitive action against the Soldier. It gives a 9K reenlistment code.
A declination statement is initiated by the Soldier in response to being placed on assignment and needing to meet an SRR. The request to lift it has to be signed by the O6, and HRC decides whether or not to approve it. When they do approve it the SM must immediately reenlist Regular Army for four years. It gives a 9Q reenlistment code

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Apr 14 at 2020 11:37 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 11:37:17 -0400

I'm not clear on how the Army handles this but the Marine Corps does not treat folks well after refusing orders. It's the kiss of death for someone's career if they intend to stay in after their current enlistment.

Response by SSG George Holtje made Apr 14 at 2020 11:27 PM

SSG George Holtje — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 23:27:34 -0400

It’s been a long time and a few Presidents ago, but I’ve seen dec statements sidestepped in order to keep retention numbers up.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2020 1:56 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 13:56:49 -0400

If the Soldier already has enough time to go on the assignment, there is no denying the orders. If the Soldier needs to meet the service requirement for the assignment by reenlisting or extending, a DCSS would need to be signed, effectively telling the Army that he or she plans to ETS in lieu of PCS. Soldier will lose promotable status and will be unable to go into any time of officer-producing program. Yes, the Army is currently allowing Soldiers who signed a DCSS to reenlist, however it is only for needs of the Army and could lead to them being put right back on those same assignment instructions. An exception is for first-term Soldiers. They can sign what's known as a first-farmer's statement, which would delete the orders and allow them to continue service without repercussions. Remember, if the Soldier already has enough time to go on the assignment, none of this is relevant and they will proceed on that assignment.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 16 at 2020 11:32 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 23:32:47 -0400

I signed a DEC statement when I was a SGT due to my wife’s immigration case. We had been waiting eight years for her paperwork to come through and I could not PCS until the final hearing was over. After this event was complete, I approached my 1SG about removing the DEC statement from my records. He was a real prick about it and wouldn’t allow me to re-enlist.

However, I requested to see the BDE commander (first 06 in the Chain of Command), and he lifted the DEC. I explained the situation and he said, “sounds pretty logical to me” and lifted it on the spot.

So, there are ways to get around it if you talk to the right person...

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Apr 13 at 2022 10:44 AM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 10:44:21 -0400

Declining orders to Ft Polk seems like a good idea to me. The Marines have no real problem, your either at Camp Lejeune, Pendleton, or Oki. Unless your air wing and it’s about the same, there is no better or worse place to be stationed I guess. My sons AF attached to an Army Stryker Brigade at Lewis McChord, PCSd from Ft Drum because the family couldn’t take the brutal winters anymore, his wife was attached to Army at Ft Polk before she separated for medical reasons. He trained pre Afghanistan at Polk and someplace in FL, maybe that’s where they did the SERE training, but it’s been awhile, Polk didn’t get high marks. Personally I would have liked Ft Drum if it was my time to serve, he was with the 10th Mountain Air Unit, that’s who he deployed with.