If I receive a family care plan chapter, will I have to repay my enlistment bonus? What benefits do I get?

2021-03-24T23:35:27-04:00

So I just got told I need a fcp or chapter. I ets in 7 months. Married to a civilian. But he travels for long periods of time so that leaves me with my daughter with no one to watch her. So do I have to repay my enlistment bonus? What benefits do I get? Is there another way to go about this? I need guidance...

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2021 11:36 PM

2021-03-24T23:36:34-04:00

To add: I have a babysitter for regular days just no one to watch her while I go to the field next month

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2021 12:30 AM

2021-03-25T00:30:31-04:00

SFC Boyd, do you have any advice?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2021 12:56 AM

2021-03-25T00:56:33-04:00

You'll still receive an honorable discharge. You'll receive all your GI Bill benefits as long as you serve 36 months by your separation date. Yes, you will be required to pay back a portion of your enlistment bonus but it's a prorated portion. For instance, if you enlisted for 4 years (48 months) and you separated in 4 months, you would only pay back the last three months worth of your bonus. For instance, if you received $48,000 for your bonus, you'd pay back $3,000. You'll pay back the pretax amount which does suck.

Usually when you're within six months of ETS your command won't bother with kicking you out unless it's over misconduct. The amount of work isn't worth getting you out of the Army a few months earlier. If your command starts the Separation right now you probably won't be separated for another 3-4 months from today. It could be faster, but your command is going to the field next month, meaning you're not a priority right now.

Try to offer this alternative instead: they bar you from reenlistment and if you don't come up with a FCP at the end of the second 90 day review, you ETS. It saves everyone time, energy, and paperwork. This way your Commander and 1SG have done something to address the situation, which they are required to do, and it offers you a chance to find a FCP in the mean time. Plus they now have someone to utilize for details and rear D while they're in the field as opposed to losing a second Soldier to escort you to all your chapter appointments

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Mar 25 at 2021 10:04 AM

2021-03-25T10:04:10-04:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member is spot on.

The only thing I can add is that you have 7 months left. Find a way to make it work. Fi you add in terminal leave, you have 6 months left. If you add in clearing, you have 5 months left - and half of THAT time, you will be at SFL-TAP appointments.

Find a way to make it through your field exercise next month, cobble together an FCP that workjs for the next few months, and make it to ETS. It is better for EVERYONE involved.

And this is much less for you than anyone else who might read this later, it makes no difference how you got here, only that you are here, but....

This is why FCP's are a big deal, and why you need to start working on one sooner rather than later. Your husband traveling a lot is not a surprise or a new things (I assume). Planning ahead for this sort of thing prevents a lot of issues down the road.