How easy or difficult would it be to get a conditional release approved by the USAR to transfer to sister services or the Guard?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 17:57:55 -0400

SM has about 4 years on the contract (ETS), however transferring to the IRR. How easy or difficult would it be to get a conditional release approved by the USAR to transfer to sister services or the Guard ? Thanks in advance for your suggestions and opinions.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2021 7:16 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 19:16:13 -0400

Are you close to ETS? Also, are you in a high density or low density MOS?
From my experience as a Army Reserve Administrator, those are two factors that could help with your transfer.

If you are close to your MOS, it could be better for you to reenlist or extend into the IRR and then go to the Guard or AC. Just don’t have a break in service.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2021 7:43 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 19:43:40 -0400

The grass isn't always greener on the other side. If the SM makes it into the IRR they are in a powerful position to then recon other units and situations if they want to be a TPU again.

I say this because I saw multiple soldiers of mine come from other services only try and get back to the BS and nonsense they left behind in their original service only to find themselves now locked into the USAR.

So, if they are simply trying to avoid a series of constant conflicts with the USAR given their current experience I caution them to be weary of where they plan to step next. My reasoning being that if a SM simply goes into a unit and situation blindly chances are they are going to be placed there by a retention or recruiting NCO that only sees the open positions in most dire situations needing to be filled. Chances are all those billets are going to suck regardless of MOS/Rank.

While in the IRR one can "ask around" before stepping back into a bad TPU situation. I personally look up the unit's UIC, and then pull the MTOE and METL information on the unit. Validate if it is RFX or TDA, and reach out to the unit and try and get a copy of the annual training schedule. I ask around if the unit has a full AGR complement and if the key positions of Commander, CSM, and 1SG are all filled.

*******
His best chance for matching up an ideal drilling status balance with civilian life is going to be back into TPU in the USAR. Going NG or another service starts the crap shoot all over again.

Our first enlistment or obligation of service is spent learning how to navigate the system. If we are lucky we survived it long enough to use the knowledge to our success going forward. Otherwise we just try and get to ETS and bail. Bouncing from one service/MOS to anther is more like playing the lottery than trying to work to get yourself a better hand.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Aug 4 at 2021 6:11 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 06:11:29 -0400

Haven't tried to go the other way, but transferring from a Guard unit to the Army Reserve usually isn't much of an issue, particularly since this soldier has served the majority of her enlistment. Joining the Air Force as prior service seems to be problematic these days. They are the smallest service, excluding the Marines, and don't put much effort into recruiting outside of their own ranks. The Navy is better, especially if you have an MOS that can reasonably convert to a Rating.
I don't know how strict the Reserve side is about Conditional Releases these days. Guard units tended to deny them if the soldier hadn't served most of their enlistment in my day, although hardship was a valid reason to apply.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2021 7:52 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 07:52:50 -0400

It depends on your chain of command, some will sign and push it thru others are less likely. I had a battalion commander who would sit on all transfers and not push them up to the Full Bird Colonel who had signature authority.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2021 11:22 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 11:22:07 -0400

It typically shouldn't be that hard. I did it. You'll need to complete a 4187, but cogent personal reasons detailed AR 140-10 also should be researched.
I was trying to get released to go Warrant Officer in the National Guard, since the Army Reserve denied my packet. They also denied my conditional release.
My way out after the 1-Star denied my release saying, "We need the numbers" was for my UA to push my release through a different Reserve Readiness Command other than our "normal" one (I am not a UA, so this part is all magic to me). It took about 10 days and I was released into the IRR.

The National Guard pulled me out of the IRR immediately after that and dropped me into a slot on the Guard side. The cogent reason I used on my paper work was I cited AR 140-10, 4-9.d. "On completion of a contractual agreement to serve in a TPU which the Soldier incurred on initial enlistment in the USAR under a .... 6x2 option".