SPC Travis Enlow 6560403 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>My step-son is in the South Dakota Army Guard. He’s been in not even a year yet. He has relocated to where we live in Nebraska and has a 500 mile one way drive for drill. He is also struggling to find gainful employment other than fast food (work is work but he really needs something long term). He really wants to go active duty but his current squad leader isn’t passing the required documents up the chain to see if it can happen. I told him to go to the next link in the chain and explain his situation. I truly believe active duty would be best for him right now, as does he. It’s been 17 years since I was in and I have no experience with National Guard stuff, just wondering if anyone can provide some suggestions. Full disclosure I only have his side of the story, it’s entirely possible there’s more to it. If it matters he’s an 88M E3. Thanks in advance for any insight you all can offer. 2020-12-07T18:27:33-05:00 SPC Travis Enlow 6560403

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>My step-son is in the South Dakota Army Guard. He’s been in not even a year yet. He has relocated to where we live in Nebraska and has a 500 mile one way drive for drill. He is also struggling to find gainful employment other than fast food (work is work but he really needs something long term). He really wants to go active duty but his current squad leader isn’t passing the required documents up the chain to see if it can happen. I told him to go to the next link in the chain and explain his situation. I truly believe active duty would be best for him right now, as does he. It’s been 17 years since I was in and I have no experience with National Guard stuff, just wondering if anyone can provide some suggestions. Full disclosure I only have his side of the story, it’s entirely possible there’s more to it. If it matters he’s an 88M E3. Thanks in advance for any insight you all can offer.

2020-12-07T18:27:33-05:00 2020-12-07T18:27:33-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 6560498

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>His steps should be speak to an Active recruiter for a DD368. Get his Commander to sign it and send it up the chain. For the Reserve it’s the first General in your command. Probably similar General Officer approval for the Guard. However, it not guaranteed they’ll release him. For example, i’ve been told the first GO in my command kicks back 90% of requests to transfer.

2020-12-07T18:55:38-05:00 2020-12-07T18:55:38-05:00 SGM Private RallyPoint Member 6560522

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>That is a lot of driving for weekends drills, but if that is the closest unit he can drill at, he should be getting paid extra for mileage and such. I recommend for him to see a Active Army Recruiter to check on the possibilities of joining the Active Regular Army.

2020-12-07T19:01:24-05:00 2020-12-07T19:01:24-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 6560781

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It&#39;s as you said he just needs to go to the next step above his squad leader. His squad leader doesn&#39;t have any say in the process or any input. But if your son doesn&#39;t want to do what he has to do, that&#39;s all there is to it. Overcoming obstacles is basic adulting, if he&#39;s not willing to do it he will eventually when he gets tired of driving 500 miles. You cannot make people do what they need to do

2020-12-07T20:52:42-05:00 2020-12-07T20:52:42-05:00 CPT Lawrence Cable 6561058

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The easiest thing for him to do is get an Interstate Transfer to a new Guard unit in Nebraska, which has a rather large Guard presence. To do that, your step-son needs to contact the Readiness NCO of his unit, who will first administratively clear him, make sure that he has no flags, medical or other administrative reasons that would prevent a transfer, the send that paper work to the IST Coordinator in SD, who has the job of getting with the IST Coordinator in Nebraska to find him a new home. None of that requires the permission or approval of his chain of command. <br /><br />If he wants to go on Active Duty, he needs to find a Army Recruiter and have that recruiter to fill out their portion of DD Form 368 Conditional Release to Active Duty. That release is then given to his chain of command where it goes up the chain to the first General Officer in his chain of command. There is no requirement for approval except by the first General. His squad leader does not have the authority to hold anything up. <br /><br />The bad news is that there is also no requirement for the Guard to approve the release. During my time in the Guard, which was pre 9/11, most states were reluctant to release a soldier that hadn&#39;t served a majority of their contract. If this is a hardship case, I would put the circumstance in an attached memorandum and hope for the best. Be aware that 90 to 120 days is not an unusual time frame on a Conditional Release. <br /><br />There are also Active Duty Jobs available to Guard members that don&#39;t require all that. ADOS and ADSW are short term Active Duty jobs that he can apply to do. Most are non MOS specific. To do that he needs to contact is Readiness NCO or the Battalion SI. There are also sites on the states website and others that have a list of those jobs.

2020-12-07T22:49:33-05:00 2020-12-07T22:49:33-05:00 SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member 6562928

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If he can&#39;t go active, He could also look into an interstate transfer.

2020-12-08T14:34:25-05:00 2020-12-08T14:34:25-05:00 SSgt Private RallyPoint Member 6563770

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I&#39;ve done so willingly but I drive from IN to PA for Guard but I&#39;m transferring myself in a couple months so I know where he&#39;s coming from.<br /><br />His big push should be hardship, that catches higher ups attention. It&#39;s hard on his car, it&#39;s hard to afford to pay for the trip to and from drill. I imagine he&#39;s losing Money going to drill as an E3.<br /><br />If his CoC is causing troubles and doesn&#39;t do anything past his squad leader he could call the IG office (but that should be a last resort). A more likely course if his Coc doesn&#39;t act is call the State Rep from the area his unit is in. Not where he lives. Even if he has to stay guard for a couple years he can IST (Interstate Transfer). Similar steps but it would be better to keep pushing active.<br /><br />I forget but usually there is a set amount of time you have to give to the state you enlist in so they get their monies worth. I think it&#39;s a year or 2.<br /><br />There&#39;s a bit of information to start, let me know if you have more questions. I&#39;ve been guard almost 9 years and have done an IST and done just about everything

2020-12-08T20:02:54-05:00 2020-12-08T20:02:54-05:00 2LT Private RallyPoint Member 6564103

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The guard are notorious for hold onto their people as long as possible, personnel = funding. So, unfortunately, this may be one of many hurdles you step-son will have to overcome to transfer out.<br />To his advantage, Covid-19 has meant most units are conducting virtual BA(Drill). Another option while he waits is to RST with a local unit in-lieu of the monthly drill at the guard unit. <br />A third option is to look on MobCop - Tour of Duty. The site houses all the AD tours offered throughout the world. If he&#39;s eligible, he can apply. I&#39;m not certain how that works with the Guard though.

2020-12-08T22:21:57-05:00 2020-12-08T22:21:57-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 6592475

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Tell him to do an Interstste transfer, SFC Scottie Davis is the IST coordinator in NE.

2020-12-19T08:36:18-05:00 2020-12-19T08:36:18-05:00 2020-12-07T18:27:33-05:00