Posted on Jul 8, 2020
Does a soldier have to pay back a bonus for a 5-17?
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Does a soldier who is being chaptered under 5-17(preexisting medical) have to pay back the enlistment bonus, he has completed 2/3 of his contract. 1)He wasn't aware of the problem untill the army.2.) He has 8 months left before his ETS date. 3.) Finance wouldn't tell him anything until he has his DD214.( It will be a honorable and a number 4 on the DD214)
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73C: Finance Specialist
73C: Finance Specialist
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
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If anywhere it states that he knew of and failed to report, his status could change, and he may owe it back. If somehow they believe it to be preexisting and he did not know, the amount of time served would possibly allow him to retain the bonus. Speak to retention.
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I'm curious how someone could serve 2/3rds of their contract before the Army discovered a pre-existing medical? I have no idea what the regs say about it but , just personal opinion, If someone enlists in good faith and the Army misses some pre-existing condition during in-processing, then that's on the Army. The fact that this soldier isn't getting chaptered for fraudulent enlistment indicates they didn't know about the condition when they enlisted. Also curious how it was determined to be pre-existing, congenital defect that was never diagnosed?
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SFC (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) the most likely answer is mental health not worth a med board, or pain without an associated injury. The questioner said pre-existing medical, but that’s not usually what a 5-17 is for. It often gets used for mental health for Adaptation Syndrome, or recurring pain that has no specific source or treatment.
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It’s a finance question because it will depend upon the SPD code as to whether the bonus will be recouped. Finance has a big spreadsheet they go off of
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