How can someone currently at OSUT, under an active duty contract, transfer to NG or Reserves in order to go to school in the Fall 2018?

Hannah Johnson — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 00:27:42 -0400

My SO is enlisted in the Army with a 3 year contract. He is currently training but almost done. He recently found out that he was accepted to his dream school and really wants to attend. He was told he can go to his FDS and after 6 months there he can transfer to National Guard or Reserves. Is this true? How can he go about it?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2017 2:31 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 02:31:05 -0400

Sounds like he is contracted active duty and I really don't see him convincing his commander to grant a transfer to the reserves (via a form DD-368?), especially when he is a brand new private. It's kind of bad planning to apply for college and enlist active at the same time, unfortunately a contract is a contract. If the school has a online program then it might be salvageable. Also if he did manage to transfer, he would probably have to sign a new contract that would cancel the old contract out. Meaning any bonuses he received may have to be paid back. It's really a question for his unit, some S1 people on rally might you give you more information but they cannot predict what decision his unit will make. Plus his MOS makes a huge difference, Reserves are usually more support MOS and NG are more combat. For instance if he was 11B then he would have to go NG.

Personally, I would convince him to stay on point and finish his 3 years. He'll be 21 (?) when he gets out and have a much better sense of himself and what he wants to do with his life. The Army is not just about serving time, it's also about developing yourself, maybe not like a dream school way but it does teach you some hard lessons that are just as valuable.

Good Luck.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2017 2:33 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 02:33:55 -0400

Hannah Johnson Your SO has a three year commitment to the Army that he needs to fulfill. Why did he enlist in the Army while applying to this college?

https://www.thebalance.com/early-discharge-from-the-military-4057239

Four Ways to Get an Early Discharge from the Military

Forms of early discharge from military commitment include conscientious objector, hardship, military education, and convenience of the government.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Oct 15 at 2017 8:10 AM

LTC Kevin B. — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 08:10:46 -0400

So basically he's wanting to renegotiate his contract, immediately after signing it? Good luck with that. I'm not aware of any process to shift to the Reserves or NG immediately after going onto AD.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2017 11:15 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 11:15:19 -0400

He is exploring opportunities. As a father of three young adults bouncing different around ideas of what they want to do with their lives, and changing their minds every month, I understand.
Idea: His active duty contract allows him tuition assistance and possibly other financial options for school. Have him enroll in online courses with this college while on active duty. Take some classes and see if the school is actually what he wants. At the same time, he is already exploring his options with the Army (job experience and knowledge for his future). Have him explore ROTC options with the school, his life choices and ideas about his future, and complete the contract. Then he can transfer to Reserve or Guard, and continue to get his tuition paid for free while he works to complete the degree. There's limited issues and no burning bridges. A million scenarios exist going forward.
There's no reason to believe only one road exists at this stage of his life. He has time on his side. He doesn't need to leave his contract to "explore" another idea or option. Do both and see which fits, then finish what he started (both)! He will be better for it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2017 2:33 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 14:33:13 -0400

He made a commitment to the Army for 3 years, it's up to him to use those three years to learn and develop himself. 3 years isn't that long of a time considering most of the first is his time as a private is basic, and AIT. then most of his last year is separation and out processing.

I'm assuming your SO is probably in his late teens early twenties. Encourage him to use his time in the Army to his advantage, take online classes, use his TA, get leadership experience. Who knows he may come to find out that he is more interested and enjoys his time in the Army.

He can always go NG Reserves when his contract is up.

Honestly you should let him be an adult and make up his own mind on what to do, if he is old enough to Enlist he's old enough to make his own choices in life.... cut the umbilical.

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Oct 15 at 2017 3:55 PM

LTC Eugene Chu — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 15:55:34 -0400

There is a potential early out of his enlistment for school. I used it myself in order to get released early at the 3 year mark of a 4 year active duty contract. If his dream school is a college / university with Army ROTC, there is the Green-to-Gold option.

The program, which has highly competitive application process, allows Army enlisted personnel to receive an early honorable discharge to obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree. He would have to have two years of service at discharge time, be accepted at his dream school (again, must have college ROTC unit) and agree to return to the Army as a commissioned officer after graduation.

URL: https://www.goarmy.com/rotc/enlisted-soldiers.html

Army ROTC Enlisted to Officer Program

The Green to Gold Program is designed for soldiers interested in going from enlisted to officer upon completion of their degree. Learn more at goarmy.com.