How to help a soldier with a family care plan or IRR packet?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 21:08:36 -0500

Hello, I am just got to a US Army Reserve unit. I have a soldier who hasn't been coming to drill in almost six months. My 1SG wants me to start an out-processing packet, but she goes through many mental health issues and children's issues. I want to help her with a family care packet or put her in the IRR. So, any advice or tips would be helpful.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Feb 16 at 2022 8:53 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 08:53:05 -0500

I would suggest doing both. Build out a family care plan with her. Regardless of what happens moving forward having a methodical system in place could help her fix some issues that may be contributing to her daily stress or triggering her mental health issues. I also warn that if there are significant concerns or red flags in regards to mental health you need to refer her to the appropriate folks to help her. A verbal counseling isn't enough to address the issue if she is having serious mental health problems. Don't put yourself in the position where you are hip deep in something you aren't qualified for. While building out the family care plan go ahead and work with your Command to get IRR rolling but considering this has been 6 months in the making before you arrived there may be more to the story than you know.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Feb 16 at 2022 9:12 AM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 09:12:47 -0500

Well -
1. Are they getting the education funding, special skills school training or receive a bonus for enlistment? This will end once they cease being in the Reserve. They may also be required to pay some back, especially if they have failed to attend drill, even with appointments etc, if the unit wasn't notified by the approved process.
2. Have they submitted their documented "mental health issues (by medical care professionals) and children's (by certified social services professionals) issues? Because if they have done those things I see no way they could remain in the Reserves either active or IRR. This is simply because they have to be available for deployment and if anything the Reserves are, despite perceptions by many people, as critical an Active Duty solders' deployment. So I can pretty much expect the IRR transfer will be disapproved by your COC.
3. I'm not certain what you mean family care packet. She should have completed a Family Care Packet when she went to her original training. It should be the basis for any one you are starting now. You can update it but either way the COC will still have to approve it.
4. Lastly do not become personally involved with the individual OR if you already involved through blood or friendship, that you inform your COC that you are unable to complete personnel actions for the soldier due to blab-blab. No recusing yourself because of potential conflict of interest or lack of impartiality may cause issues for yourself as waiting to inform your supervisors will likely have adverse affects on your career.
Ask your 1SG about that old Family Care Packet. Best of luck.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2022 9:58 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 09:58:59 -0500

Here is the deal. The 1SG is putting work on you that the Command Team needs to do. You do not initiate Chapter Packet. Nor do you initiate a Family Care Plan. The SM that needs the FCP needs to work with the Command Team. Same with an IRR packet. The SM needs to make contact with Retention AND Commander to create/submit the IRR packet.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2022 10:03 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 10:03:15 -0500

Is she required to have a FCP? Doesn't sound like a FCP in itself is going to help the family. If the problem is child care by itself you may be able to ask around and see if a spouse in the unit can babysit.
6 months of not showing up - was she excused (code A) or counted as unsatisfactory participant (code U)? After 9 U's the commander is required to initate seperation.
If she is not an unsatisfactory participant, you can assist with initating a request for voluntary transfer to IRR. If she has not completed her TPU obligation, she will have to get recommended approval at all levels of the chain of command. Depending on her status would determine what packet to submit (T-1-A-7, IRR for unsatisfactory participation, can be done by unit without SM;T-1-A-1, Vol IRR request, requires Soldier's signature). The packets consist of DA 4651, DA 4856 (by commander and retention), Soldier's justification/supporting documents.
If she is having mental health issues, then maybe the commander should have her evaluated "fit for duty". A doctor should determine if she is stable to continue to serve. This could result in a medical discharge.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2022 1:29 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 13:29:22 -0500

So we are talking about 20+ consecutive U's here?

As mentioned 9 can potentially set off the packet submission requirement form the Company Commander. I have personally seen instructions from higher to hold all packets until 27 U's are reached, but that's the General's authority to pull that lever. I had to make sure the packet was in the cue at 9 in the event the CG's baseline changed.

The solution is showing up to drill PERIOD. FCP and IRR are not going to solve the execution of showing up to drill.

I'll just say it. The Command Team and S1 shop are behind the ball. I have to think the commander has to be accountable to the high count U soldiers to the BN and BDE, etc..... Because if the CG is trying to cut dead weight across the board, and the company level packets hadn't been lining their ducks up with all the U's and council statements that support it there can be a big problem when trying to clear the books.

Then the unit is stuck with non preforming soldiers on the books that could otherwise be gone with a single signature.

Get the packet done............ save your commander's ass..............

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I will say this............. it's frustrating to see young soldiers enter the USAR when they are trying to get a leg up in life right out of the nest, and then find themselves challenged with the uncompromising requirement of USAR service and just trying to survive in the civilian world entirely on their own.

TRADOC can be a welcome break from civilian obligations, but they always come back after graduation from AIT.

I wish there was more of a vetting for new USAR recruits and what that actually means to fit into their civilian obligations and what they will actually be tasked with in the USAR and specifically to the units they are assigned.

I say this because one can get slammed really hard with USAR obligations as a PFC and derail education timelines when they do not have the leverage in life to make things fit better, or find themselves in a cushy position that can fit their civilian obligations with check the box promotional opportunities.

It is mostly a roll of the dice, and certainly from a new recruit's perspective who is going in to the system blind and no more information than what is pushed as 1 weekend a month 2 weeks a year, and the MOS job description on GoArmy.com

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2022 8:40 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 20:40:50 -0500

Hello, everyone thank you so much for your advice. I have been talking to her and she going to try to get med board. She has high anxiety issues and she doesn't want to come back to the unit. I gave her resources and websites she can use for VA disability. I hate to start the out-processed paperwork on a soldier that I never meet. However, she has decided to not come back to the unit. I even asked her to go to the IRR, but the general officer has denied IRR packets. She hasn't completed half of her enlistment contract. So, I believe I did the best I could as an NCO. I will still tried to help her and motivated her to come to battle assembly. Thank you everyone again for the amazing advice. I really do appreciate it.