How does a Soldier break it down to Branch that they are trying to retire at their next assignment?

2020-02-17T19:56:30-05:00

So....I am at 15 years TIS and was wondering what the best possible way to break it down to my branch manager when I contact them to get Hunter Army Airfield or at least Fort Stewert as my next and last assignment. I will be 45 and do not wish to go past 20 years and simply wish to retire at our next assignment. Should I state what my plans are? Is it more complicated than that? I've always attempted to take my career into my own control. My mother is getting to that age where I may have to start taking care of her and all of my family resides in the South East.

Response by SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint made Feb 17 at 2020 9:21 PM

2020-02-17T21:21:08-05:00

I had three assignments in my last 5 years. Does the Army promise staying in the location for 5 years now? Interesting and maybe cost effective.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 17 at 2020 9:32 PM

2020-02-17T21:32:55-05:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member sorry, I am the slow zebra in the herd. Will you be at 15 AFS when you arrive on station at your next PCS move, or will you have more? You are right in the crease between being able to serve out an assignment and retiring and another PCS. Assuming you will arrive at 15 yrs AFS, your assignment will take you to 18 AFS, which leaves you open to a PCS. You'll need 19AFS to drop your packet, and that should do the trick to keep you from PCS.

You can tell Branch your intent. I can't imagine a lot of competition in getting Stewart, HAAF maybe a different story.

Every career soldier eventually retires. It shouldn't be a surprise to HRC, they can add....sometimes.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2020 11:37 PM

2020-02-17T23:37:06-05:00

I think you are right in the sweet spot where this can go either way. I've recently heard of a captain with 18 years getting an extension/stop loss deal so that he wouldn't have to move duty stations prior to retiring, since he was planning on retiring at his current assignment location.
It's not unheard of, I think it took a battalion commander and brigade commander to sign off on it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2020 3:10 AM

2020-02-18T03:10:36-05:00

You tell them you want to retire at your next assignment. They write those notes in you EDAS record.

Of course, you're only at 15 years in and the BM you talk to now will have moved on by the time you are getting looked at to move again. Plus, let's be serious - 90% of Soldiers either don't actually know what they'll do (will change their minds) or are lying to their Branch Manager, so they have no vested interest in your 5 year plan. Statistically, there's a very good chance your plan changes when you make the E8 list, your dependent has a chronic illness, your mother's situation changes, etc. Your BM is only concerned with his boss's manning guidance, the openings available, and which one of those you choose. If Ft Stewart isn't one of those spots, there is no sob story you can tell him to make him go to the SGM branch NCO or the COL Branch Chief to ask for an ETP on your behalf to break all the rules so you can go where you want. If the issue is that dire, you can submit a compassionate reassignment request and the CR branch will decide. If it's not dire enough for the CR branch to make a decision, then it's not really important.

The key here is necessary vs convenient. If there is a spot open where you want, and it's convenient, they'll generally work with you. If it's necessary, then work through the CR branch and they will move you once it's necessary.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 18 at 2020 11:17 AM

2020-02-18T11:17:33-05:00

There is possibly another avenue of approach to this problem. Sometimes a CSM will conduct the deep fight for soldiers and NCOs. I have seen it done.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Feb 18 at 2020 11:50 AM

2020-02-18T11:50:08-05:00

Your branch detailer may or may not be able to help you with an assignment you want, but honesty is always best. I found there was usually a trade off in the USAF. If you got the location you wanted, then there was some sort of balance that also supported the needs of the Service. Make sure your understand the details of the assignment before you take a "good deal."

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2020 1:26 PM

2020-02-18T13:26:29-05:00

I corresponded by email and AIMS 6 months to 1 year out that l planned on dropping my packet as soon as I was eligible (around 01 Jan 19). Informed branch that I was getting out and wanted to move to the PNW. If an assignment at JBLM became available I would consider staying in for another 3. They promised they would work with me and evaluate the openings as they came about (December 2018). Had this exact conversation at least 3 times. “I want to retire and move to the PNW. I will have 20 active and more than a dozen reserve years.” Branch always said they will look for open slots and let me know which way to go.

Come 02 January 19, the day after the holiday weekend, i get an email from the same branch manager informing me that she was sending me to Ft Irwin and that she was putting me in for an early PCS and report, that she saw no justification to send me to JBLM, and the early PCS will render any attempt to retire void. I had to get command intervention in order to circumvent this or we called her bluff, I don’t know. Anyway I finished my last year at Bliss, no PCS, and retired (not uneventfully, same branch manager PCSd me across post, inter post PCS with new MAP changes, from hospital to FRST which incurred another year but got that waived).

Maybe commissioned and medical are treated differently but it is not uncommon for us to be sent somewhere with one year left to retire and have to extend or try and work something out.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2020 5:19 PM

2020-02-19T17:19:26-05:00

.... you’re probably not going to like my answer, but here it goes; it depends on how long you have on stations as well. Say you are currently movable and will have at least 36months on station at the time of your projected report date. You have 15 years in, volunteer for a dependent restricted tour with a HAAP guarantee at the back end of it. After your tour you will be at 16 years plus your 3 years at the HAAP location will put you at 19years and eligible for retirement. A lot of people say a HAAP is not guaranteed and prior to January 2019 that was mostly true. However, after January 2019 a new HAAP program was put in place to where when a Soldier is placed on assignment to a dependent restricted tour a HAAP assignment must be built that reserves them a position at that unit. To guarantee it even further I always tell my personnel that if you have a HAAP move your family there before you PCS to the dependent restricted tour that way it further guarantees it on the back end.