I can’t ever get through to my branch manager. How do I properly ask to leave?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 13:24:00 -0400

I had my rentention pull a requisition list of places I can go. My re-enlistment window isn’t open yet so I was going to call and give him the info for where I want to go since I have it readily available for when I’m able to leave. What do I do?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2018 1:34 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 13:34:36 -0400

Usually they answer emails more than phone calls. That's my experience.

I emailed my branch manager a year from when my stabilization ended to get an idea of assignments. She flat out told me it was too early to know what the needs of the Army would be in a year.

Unless you reenlist for a specific duty station, you're at the whim of the Army. You can tell your branch manager what you want - and he or she will tell you what the Army has to offer you.

If your reenlistment window isn't even open yet, I'm not sure what branch can tell you that retention didn't already tell you. I would talk to retention and see if you can get duty station of choice.

Oh and when I was going to reenlist in Iraq, I told retention if he couldn't get me Ft Meade, I'm not reenlisting. It took him a couple months but then it came up. I didn't ever talk to branch.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2018 1:50 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 13:50:58 -0400

I agree with SFC Private RallyPoint Member, everytime I email I get better results. You can also fill our your ASK (assignment satisfaction key)

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2018 2:02 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 14:02:05 -0400

Submit a 4187.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Jul 27 at 2018 2:40 PM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 14:40:56 -0400

cross your fingers branch managers are not your friend.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2018 3:37 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 15:37:10 -0400

Bug them too much you might be sent to Drum or Polk......Start with an email. Maybe a phone call after they answer your email if they say to call them....

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jul 27 at 2018 5:14 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 17:14:54 -0400

It is not often that you requesting a location through Branch. Your CSM would have some luck, your nominative CSM can make it happen. However, it cannot hurt to try. Send an email, you would do better. Thank you for your service.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2018 6:05 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 18:05:35 -0400

As previously mentioned, the first step is to update you ASK, then try to contact your BM, if unsuccessful via phone, try email (using your .mil account is preferable). Ensure you are inquiring about possible future assignment locations, they know what’s available and they now what the priority fills are. They are required to fill priority reqs first. Remember they deal with hundreds of Soldiers daily, be courteous and bottom line up front (BLUF).

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2018 6:57 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 18:57:00 -0400

Since it’s ‘needs of the Army’ first, I’d recommend you make your case for the job you want first. Example, I’ve done Company level so much, is there any chance my MOS has a vacancy at BN/BDE/DIV/Corps Staff, and if so what places?

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jul 27 at 2018 10:33 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 22:33:57 -0400

Do they not still do the "Dream Sheet", where you send to HRC the places you want to be assigned, not that it will happen.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Jul 28 at 2018 4:29 AM

CW4 Craig Urban — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 04:29:12 -0400

Put in your dream sheet and wait
Your branch manager will not talk to you until you make E7. My warrant officer branch manager would not talk to uses you go to the Hoffman building. I until I made cw3

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2018 2:56 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 14:56:35 -0400

I would highly suggest NOT approaching your branch manager with a few number. I’ve had better luck asking what is available in the timeframe I was looking to PCS (always been summer as I have school aged children), and if I got nothing good (or more likely, everything was bad, like Korea, Drum or Irwin, getting the highest CSM I was on good speaking terms with to engage for me. All BMs are different, but in my knowledge (limited to CMF 35) they don’t prefer to talk to SPCs (or any rank under SFC) directly on the phone without saying so first. Never EVER piss off your branch manager. The Army is not Burger King; you will not have it your way.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2018 4:03 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 16:03:16 -0400

Branch cannot change requistions made through reenlistment. When your window opens up, reenlist for the assignment. If there is a bonus associated with it, you will get it. Your biggest worry is whether the assignment is still available when your reenlistment window opens up.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2020 4:29 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 16:29:40 -0400

Just because a requisition list says something is open does not mean you qualify for it. There are a multitude of things that come into play with assignments. From my understanding right now, 42A are over strength indicating you are needs of the army. If you aren’t in your re-enlistment window, your branch isn’t going to give you the light of day until they need to.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2020 9:30 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 21:30:15 -0400

I'm pretty sure you have to go to career management. Or your first shirt

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2020 9:39 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 21:39:05 -0400

Email them, fill out the ASK, is about it, unless you wish to reclass then just drop the packet.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Aug 25 at 2021 1:05 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 13:05:30 -0400

So it's been a year. Did you ever escape? ;o)