How likely is it to be placed on assignment with 5 months between your DEROS and ETS?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 12:17:22 -0500

I'm debating on reenlisting but can't determine anything just yet. I will have 5 months between my DEROS and my ets. I've been told previously that I'm definitely not going to be placed on assignment. Today I was told that I will be put on assignment and they will force me to extend, reenlist, or sign a DEC statement. How true is any of this?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2017 12:59 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 12:59:02 -0500

It is highly possible that you can be put on orders even though you are 5 months out. And yes, if you are put on orders, you will have to extend, re-up or sign that dec statement.

Response by SPC John Lebiecki made Jan 31 at 2017 1:00 PM

SPC John Lebiecki — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 13:00:02 -0500

Yep! There is truth to this. It would have happened to me, but I was not on Orders at the time due to having less than 6 months from my DEROS (South Korea, 2012.) Had to extend my DEROS to my Terminal Leave date.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Jan 31 at 2017 1:13 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 13:13:00 -0500

"Today I was told that I will be put on assignment and they will force me to extend, reenlist, or sign a DEC statement"
That is a VERY common likelihood.
As in, so common, anything else is rare.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2017 4:19 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 16:19:11 -0500

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member That's basically the Army's way of making you to take a decision about your future in the Army or outside the service

Response by SFC George Smith made Jan 31 at 2017 11:56 PM

SFC George Smith — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 23:56:03 -0500

Damn Near impossible... 180 days out You should Be Flagged from deployments... and Schools...

Response by SGT Charles Napierala made Apr 25 at 2017 3:24 PM

SGT Charles Napierala — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 15:24:11 -0400

It's 100% possible to be put on assignment and receive orders even though you're going to be ETSing. This exact thing happened to me right before I ETSed. The Army still needs to roll along with regular operations regardless of your indecisiveness, so they're going to prepare for their best case scenario: PCSing you. I ended up being put on orders within 3 months of my terminal leave start date. I had my terminal leave signed, my packet already turned in, and had my sample DD-214 in hand. I ended up having to go to the retention NCO and signing a declination of continued service statement in order to cancel my orders and appropriately ETS.

Response by SGT Richard Gocio made Jan 1 at 2020 1:49 PM

SGT Richard Gocio — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 13:49:28 -0500

How likely, very. As stated in other comments, it's part of the system. But rather than worry about that, I suggest that you do two things. 1. Make up your mind who you want to be. Decide now that you want to be a Soldier. 2. Take charge of your career, make smart choices that put you in the driver's seat when it comes to any future DEROS or ETS questions. It's your life not ours, so you need to take control of it and reenlist now for the assignments, occupation specialties, and other benefits you are looking for. Make it a career, and make it yours.