How can a career soldier be threatened with involuntary separation for one ftr?

2025-09-14T11:57:13-04:00

Soldier was late one time since being in unit since 2021 has had no counseling or ncoer and is being told that unit is processing involuntary separation paper. How is this possible?

Response by SGM Jeff Mccloud made Sep 14 at 2025 2:10 PM

2025-09-14T14:10:13-04:00

Did the Soldier miss a PT formation, or miss movement?

Response by COL Randall C. made Sep 14 at 2025 3:45 PM

2025-09-14T15:45:56-04:00

IF everything is as you said and there is no other extenuating circumstances ... they can't. The unit commander and admin folks would know this (or should know it) so that's why I emphasized the "IF".

What's the rest of the story? Are there additional disciplinary issues? Was the "one time late" involving Annual Training and they "eventually got there"? Was it a movement (deployment)?

IF there is nothing else behind the scenes that isn't being mentioned, first, they need to address this with their unit commander to ensure there is a common understanding of the circumstances. IF the situation is as still stated, then contact the state's IG* (as you are ARNG, I assume the Soldier in question is in the ARNG) as they are clearly not following regulatory guidance.
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* ARNG Inspector General website - https://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/Joint-Staff/Personal-Staff/Inspector-General/

References:
● AR 135-91 (Service Obligations, Methods of Fulfillment, Participation Requirements, and Enforcement Provisions) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN8277_AR135-91_Web_FINAL.pdf
● AR 135-178 (Army National Guard and Reserve Enlisted Administrative Separations) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN43322-AR_135-178-000-WEB-1.pdf

Inspector General - Personal Staff - The National Guard

To provide the Chief, National Guard Bureau (CNGB), as directed, with assessment of the economy, efficiency, discipline, morale, esprit de corps, relevance and readiness of the National Guard through an agenda of assistance, investigations and inspections in order to support the defense of our homeland and the Global War on Terrorism.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Sep 15 at 2025 1:03 PM

2025-09-15T13:03:18-04:00

Every story has two sides and you are getting the story from one side of it. As Col Cudworth stated IF there is no other problems and IF there is no other issues previously on their record they should be fine. But you would not be privy to that information. This person needs to be working with their Leadership and the Command to address the issue directly. Be careful getting in the middle because it will suck you into something you don't have all the information about. There may be some need to know details they failed to mention. It's a maybe but it's a big maybe.

Response by SGM William Everroad made Sep 16 at 2025 8:27 AM

2025-09-16T08:27:28-04:00

SGT Bruce Chapman , COL Randall C. provided the typical scenario. Usually, there is something else going on. More details needed, and I am not saying this is not the unicorn story of "a totally innocent Soldier getting screwed by the Army who did absolutely nothing wrong and had an exemplary military career, but was late for the bus to Annual Training".

However, I will say, the CDR can *initiate* separation for anything. Whether it gets past the BDE CDR or not is a whole different story. Usually, FTR is easier to get through, especially when combined with minor offenses such as failure to maintain security clearance, failure to attend BA, repeated ACFT failure, and failure to maintain compliance with ABC, failure to adapt, malingering, etc; especially if there are little to no written records.

On a side note, I had a CG once who would call every Soldier with an FTR separation request and get the soldier's story (or the DCG would). I would say the number of times the Soldier was retained was not insignificant. It really indicates a failure from subordinate CDR's to do their due diligence.

Response by LTC Matthew Schlosser made Sep 16 at 2025 11:37 PM

2025-09-16T23:37:12-04:00

Well, isn't that interesting... posting a provocative question based on a one-sided description of a scenario, and then ghosting.

Response by SSG Eric Blue made Nov 4 at 2025 8:24 PM

2025-11-04T20:24:39-05:00

Good question. That was MY situation when I got forced off of active-duty with no disciplinary issues EVER and no negative counselings or NCOERs, with the possible exception being the breaking of bones on three Senior NCOs who were trying to sexually assault a battle buddy of mine. And even then, there was no paperwork involved for me with that incident. My CofC and NCOAC hit me with an FTR ON A DAY WHEN EVERYONE IN THE REGIMENT WAS GIVEN THE DAY OFF BY THE REGIMENTAL COMMANDER!!! Even worse, I was on the promotion list for my next rank and was told that "I couldn't get promoted unless I re-enlisted" AND I "couldn't re-enlist unless I got promoted." Crazy, right?