Posted on Jul 27, 2018
How can I get everything squared away before I leave for my first duty assignment if I don't have my orders yet?
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So for those that have been following me and those that are just seeing this.
I have been working on going active duty for about 7 months now from the reserves.
About 6 months ago I submitted my DA FORM 368. It was approved from the Army Reserves June 6. That day I went to my recruiter and started filling out paperwork. It has been a long road since then and with a few bumps in the road to the point that I didn't think that it was going to happen. Until it did.
Wednesday morning I went back to MEPS and received my soft orders for active duty.
There isn't a lot of information on my paperwork that I have from MEPS. However I do know that I have to go back to MEPS for my ship date 20180820. I get my hard orders from MEPS. I will return to my original MOS of 13B. From there since I am going straight to my duty station and not to any retraining. From what I am told I will have 10 days permissive TDY leave to get to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. I'm excited because Fort Campbell was on my list to go.
However I am a little frustrated that I can't get anything done until after 20 AUG.
I can't get housing or any movers or uhaul or anything until I have my Hard orders due to reimbursement issues. Since my Active Duty orders don't go into effect until 20 AUG, and all receipts have to be on or after that date.
If anyone has any advice or information that could helpful.
This is my first PCS and I believe due to timing I'm going to have to do a PPM move.
Moving from Utah to Fort Campbell.
I have been working on going active duty for about 7 months now from the reserves.
About 6 months ago I submitted my DA FORM 368. It was approved from the Army Reserves June 6. That day I went to my recruiter and started filling out paperwork. It has been a long road since then and with a few bumps in the road to the point that I didn't think that it was going to happen. Until it did.
Wednesday morning I went back to MEPS and received my soft orders for active duty.
There isn't a lot of information on my paperwork that I have from MEPS. However I do know that I have to go back to MEPS for my ship date 20180820. I get my hard orders from MEPS. I will return to my original MOS of 13B. From there since I am going straight to my duty station and not to any retraining. From what I am told I will have 10 days permissive TDY leave to get to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. I'm excited because Fort Campbell was on my list to go.
However I am a little frustrated that I can't get anything done until after 20 AUG.
I can't get housing or any movers or uhaul or anything until I have my Hard orders due to reimbursement issues. Since my Active Duty orders don't go into effect until 20 AUG, and all receipts have to be on or after that date.
If anyone has any advice or information that could helpful.
This is my first PCS and I believe due to timing I'm going to have to do a PPM move.
Moving from Utah to Fort Campbell.
PCS
Fort Campbell
Moving
Driving
Edited 6 y ago
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 8
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Best advise I can give is you will most likely go to a reception battalion prior to your Perm station. I did the same thing when I was a PFC. I went from the guard to Active duty but my assignment was in Germany. I had to go to Fort Jackson first for all of the administrative stuff. You could always do a power of attorney to someone who you trust that can handle your stuff also.
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SPC Erich Guenther
Yeah thats what I think too but I ETS'd in 1987 and maybe it changed since.....don't know. Usually sent to a post with BCT first.....for uniform issue.......then onto your first assignment. I did same transition but the replacement station #1 was Fort Dix for uniform issue. Replacement station #2 Frankfurt for train tickets and USEUR inprocessing.
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OK, so I have been out for a long time but how can they send you directly to Fort Campbell without a current set of issued uniforms? I'd ask your Recruiter that because I don't think Fort Campbell does initial issue but maybe it does now. Also, somewhere the DoA needs to check your MEPS medical condition to make sure nothing has changed. For initial entry troops that is done at a Replacement Station where you spend a week or two getting inrprocessed. Fort Campbell not having BCT does not have a Replacement Station. So you might want to ask your Recruiter that as well. Unless you already know the answers to both. MEPS only accepts you to DoD and ensures you meet DoA requirements. Replacement station processes you rest of way into the Active Army and checks what the MEPS did.
As to the rest of the stuff you ask about. Can only be done once your on Active Duty officially either on Ship Date after you swear in OR at a Replacement Station. They will not set that stuff up until you swear in to Active Duty and very unlikely it will be done at the MEPS.......meaning Replacement Station......which might be a portion of that 10 days on your orders. Are you single or married? If your single without kids.........thats why it is only 10 days. They probably figure 3 days (min) at Replacement Station, 3 days (buffer) to travel to Replacement Station and 3 days (buffer) to get to Fort Campbell or something of that nature. Your Recruiter should outline how this all works prior to your ship date.
Also, technically NOT a PCS move since you have a break in service from the last time you were Active. I believe it is treated as Re Entry but I do not know for sure on this last point. If they still have replacement stations you might be stopping by Fort Leanord Wood, Mo for uniform issue.....since your comming from Utah.........thats if they still have BCT in MO ( I think they do).
A lot of this could have changed since I was in the service. You should ask your Recruiter. If your single and they have you on quick ship (fill-in for someone that didn't make it or cancelled). Then your not going to have a lot of lead time before you ship.
As to the rest of the stuff you ask about. Can only be done once your on Active Duty officially either on Ship Date after you swear in OR at a Replacement Station. They will not set that stuff up until you swear in to Active Duty and very unlikely it will be done at the MEPS.......meaning Replacement Station......which might be a portion of that 10 days on your orders. Are you single or married? If your single without kids.........thats why it is only 10 days. They probably figure 3 days (min) at Replacement Station, 3 days (buffer) to travel to Replacement Station and 3 days (buffer) to get to Fort Campbell or something of that nature. Your Recruiter should outline how this all works prior to your ship date.
Also, technically NOT a PCS move since you have a break in service from the last time you were Active. I believe it is treated as Re Entry but I do not know for sure on this last point. If they still have replacement stations you might be stopping by Fort Leanord Wood, Mo for uniform issue.....since your comming from Utah.........thats if they still have BCT in MO ( I think they do).
A lot of this could have changed since I was in the service. You should ask your Recruiter. If your single and they have you on quick ship (fill-in for someone that didn't make it or cancelled). Then your not going to have a lot of lead time before you ship.
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SPC(P) (Join to see)
I am prior Service I don't back to BCT or AIT
I am not reclassing. I am continuing my MOS as 13B so I go to my duty station.
I have uniforms, I'm not sure where you got that information but yes I do.
Im concerned because of my PCS
I am not reclassing. I am continuing my MOS as 13B so I go to my duty station.
I have uniforms, I'm not sure where you got that information but yes I do.
Im concerned because of my PCS
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SPC Erich Guenther
SPC(P) (Join to see) - I did the same transfer in 1984 from NG to RA as 11H. Your uniform allowance should reset because your on Active Duty. In order for it to reset and be fair to you, they should issue you new uniforms (unless that has changed). They have to recalc your TIS and TIG and change that, the MEPS does it usually but someone has to check it before it goes to Army Finance. Your transfer is considered a break in service since you were not on Active Duty continously so you are considered Prior Service not still in service as far as the Regular Army is concerned. Understood you do not redo BCT or AIT, I didn't either. Also, remember there is a time limit on the DA form 368. You need to be assigned to your next permanent unit within 90 days or some # of days or the 368 expires and you go back to your old unit.........which is a deadline the Recruiter knows about and is trying to beat......you also need to keep that date in the back of your head.
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SPC(P) (Join to see)
I already have soft orders and I leave Utah 20 AUG and have to be there 10 days after or before so the 368 doesn't matter now because I have already signed my contract
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SPC Erich Guenther
Also, just to let you know. Your recieving Regular Army unit will treat you as a new Soldier not Prior Service much. Even if your a PFC, you have to prove yourself again as frustrating as that is to your new set of NCO's. They will not treat you the same as a PCS Soldier from another unit (that has not changed.......I checked). I would not refer to your transition from NG to Active Army as a PCS, nobody else will treat it that way.
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You should be receiving your orders in time to plan your DEROS, not sure how many days but a minimum of 60 seems logical. You need to contact MEPS and inquire as to why you are so limited with time. Thanks you for your service.
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SPC(P) (Join to see)
CSM we've talked throughout my process. But as far as I know I leave 20 AUG and have 10 days to get Fort Cambell
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
The time of travel is not the issue. When you get your physical orders so that you can plan appropriately.
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