Posted on Feb 12, 2023
Is there anything I can do about returning to drill after the rescission of the Coronavirus mandate?
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I'd like to start by saying I'm not trying to be a shitbag here. I don't want to leave the Army but I'm in a pretty big predicament here and would like your help with trying to find a solution.
In June, my unit told me that since I wasn't vaccinated and was a flat out refusal, my Army career was over. Starting in July, I was not able to come back to drill and they told me I'd be processed out.
In the meantime, I quit my job and have focused every part of my life on starting a business. It's now almost 9 months later and I'm really happy that I work for myself and I finally have the independence I wanted. I have guys on my payroll and run most of the business myself.
Yesterday, my SGT called and let me know that I need to start coming back to drill and I'm really scared.
My business cannot survive without me and running a business is all I've ever wanted out of life. Drill on the weekends isn't a big deal but I have to worry about AT which took a month at my unit last year. I also have to worry about deployment which would definitely kill everything I've worked on.
I'm not profitable enough yet to hire a manager to take my place.
Any ideas on what I could do to either stay in the army but keep my responsibilities less significant (IRR maybe?) or get out? As I said, I don't want out and I don't want to stop going to drill but I also don't want to let my business die. I appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks!
In June, my unit told me that since I wasn't vaccinated and was a flat out refusal, my Army career was over. Starting in July, I was not able to come back to drill and they told me I'd be processed out.
In the meantime, I quit my job and have focused every part of my life on starting a business. It's now almost 9 months later and I'm really happy that I work for myself and I finally have the independence I wanted. I have guys on my payroll and run most of the business myself.
Yesterday, my SGT called and let me know that I need to start coming back to drill and I'm really scared.
My business cannot survive without me and running a business is all I've ever wanted out of life. Drill on the weekends isn't a big deal but I have to worry about AT which took a month at my unit last year. I also have to worry about deployment which would definitely kill everything I've worked on.
I'm not profitable enough yet to hire a manager to take my place.
Any ideas on what I could do to either stay in the army but keep my responsibilities less significant (IRR maybe?) or get out? As I said, I don't want out and I don't want to stop going to drill but I also don't want to let my business die. I appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks!
Drill
Discharge
Business
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 7
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PFC (Join to see), You got some bad information.
Depending on what division you are in (2-star command), nobody was being "processed out". The direction from most Commanding Generals was that everyone that refused would get a GOMAR for disobeying orders. That GOMAR, for an NCO, would likely be a career-ender, but mixed results for junior enlisted. Only time will tell.
For anyone that requested an exemption (medical or religious) and was denied, their GOMARs are likely getting pulled back (once again depending on the CG and DoD guidance).
The issue you were in is that unvaccinated folks could not come to training assemblies or perform duty on military installations or go to schools. You could not get paid. Now if your unit were a-holes, they would mark you as an unsatisfactory participant and after 3 missed drills (9 UTAs) you would have been mailed a certified letter notifying you that they would begin separation. If you never got that, sometime in October, you were marked as "Absent". The difference is you likely won't have a good year creditable for retirement, but you were and are still in the Army.
Since USARC has clarified that unvaccinated folks can now attend UTAs and get paid (still can't go to military schools yet), you are "reinstated". What this means is you have the same obligations you had before the pandemic.
I agree with COL Vincent Stoneking, the Commander will probably not approve a hardship transfer. Not too many officers are forgiving for flat-out vaccine refusals, especially the ones who ghosted the unit.
But, I would recommend having a conversation with your Chain of Command regarding your issues. They can't help if you don't talk to them.
Depending on what division you are in (2-star command), nobody was being "processed out". The direction from most Commanding Generals was that everyone that refused would get a GOMAR for disobeying orders. That GOMAR, for an NCO, would likely be a career-ender, but mixed results for junior enlisted. Only time will tell.
For anyone that requested an exemption (medical or religious) and was denied, their GOMARs are likely getting pulled back (once again depending on the CG and DoD guidance).
The issue you were in is that unvaccinated folks could not come to training assemblies or perform duty on military installations or go to schools. You could not get paid. Now if your unit were a-holes, they would mark you as an unsatisfactory participant and after 3 missed drills (9 UTAs) you would have been mailed a certified letter notifying you that they would begin separation. If you never got that, sometime in October, you were marked as "Absent". The difference is you likely won't have a good year creditable for retirement, but you were and are still in the Army.
Since USARC has clarified that unvaccinated folks can now attend UTAs and get paid (still can't go to military schools yet), you are "reinstated". What this means is you have the same obligations you had before the pandemic.
I agree with COL Vincent Stoneking, the Commander will probably not approve a hardship transfer. Not too many officers are forgiving for flat-out vaccine refusals, especially the ones who ghosted the unit.
But, I would recommend having a conversation with your Chain of Command regarding your issues. They can't help if you don't talk to them.
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COL Vincent Stoneking
Just to make sure I am understood, my comment was WRT the chain of command signing off on hardship transfers due to the manning situation as well as the difficulty in making a compelling/differentiated hardship case.
I did not comment on vaccine refusal. On that topic, I have a personal opinion that has been out of step with official policy and actions to date. But I'm retired, and wouldn't have been making those decisions even if I weren't, so it doesn't matter.
Just want to make clear that I wasn't making any commentary on the decision to refuse the vaccine & was just addressing the immediate issue.
I did not comment on vaccine refusal. On that topic, I have a personal opinion that has been out of step with official policy and actions to date. But I'm retired, and wouldn't have been making those decisions even if I weren't, so it doesn't matter.
Just want to make clear that I wasn't making any commentary on the decision to refuse the vaccine & was just addressing the immediate issue.
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CSM William Everroad
COL Vincent Stoneking - Understood, I could have been clearer in my response. I did not mean to imply your stance, merely what I have seen over the past two years.
On a side note: All of my CDRs have taken hardship transfer requests seriously (even before COVID) and evaluated them based on the argument provided by the SM. While at times some bias is introduced (mainly by Company Commanders), the prevailing thought is that most Commanders have felt that hardship requests aren't earned through performance, but it certainly helps it get approved.
On a side note: All of my CDRs have taken hardship transfer requests seriously (even before COVID) and evaluated them based on the argument provided by the SM. While at times some bias is introduced (mainly by Company Commanders), the prevailing thought is that most Commanders have felt that hardship requests aren't earned through performance, but it certainly helps it get approved.
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COL Vincent Stoneking
CSM William Everroad - Agreed. Hardship transfers are a really tricky. Especially in the NG and Reserves where you're basically saying "I'm okay with this position being unfilled for the foreseeable future."
My default was always to support the Soldier, if possible. However, approving hardship transfers was also saying that I was good with dumping the work onto others. And potentially being without a skillset if a low density MOS.
My default was always to support the Soldier, if possible. However, approving hardship transfers was also saying that I was good with dumping the work onto others. And potentially being without a skillset if a low density MOS.
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CSM William Everroad
COL Vincent Stoneking - good point, my Commanders and I frequently had that conversation about workload. Everytime a member of the team departs, its more on the AGRs and they become ingrained in that way of doing business. Pretty soon the S3 is running everything.
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Your best bet would be requesting a hardship transfer into the IRR, but given the current recruiting & retention shortfalls (I'll resist the temptation of commenting on the reasons for that, though I find it sadly amusing), I would expect that to get rejected at the current time. In order to be approved, you would need to show that your hardship is greater than a "mere inconvenience." Were I the BC, my default position would be that "AT is an inconvenience for everyone, you need to figure out how to meet your obligations."
A better bet would be to proactively work with you chain of command to perform an (or several) alternate AT in a more convenient time for your business.
A better bet would be to proactively work with you chain of command to perform an (or several) alternate AT in a more convenient time for your business.
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You mentioned how long it has been since you attended drill and that you were processed out for refusing the Vaccine? If so how can they make you drill if you were separated, where is your paperwork? Otherwise grab your boot straps and get ready for drill.
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
MSG (Join to see) It is a shame to cut someone from the Team and then demand they play in the super bowel. I would imagine that the IG would support the fact that the Soldier fell under the then policy, and until all are reinstated mandatorily they should not have to re-enter. At best I believe the Army will make it optional based on certain requirements. Anyway, I think its a shame to double tap people, one day you don't have it, the next you get have to play.
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MSG (Join to see)
CSM Darieus ZaGara Exactly. Troop in my Rear D was put on No PAY Status, had Chapter initiated. He moved from MN (where unit is) to Florida. Now he's being told to lace those boots back up. All that time and energy (from everyone) wasted. Just to turn around and scramble. And higher folks wonder why they're having retention problems
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
MSG (Join to see) Wow that is crazy. I don’t often apologize for changes in the Army, but changes that impact lives so negatively and failing to look for solutions rather than to further isolate Soldiers who have already been put under a tremendous amount of stress in their personal lives. It’s a damn shame.
I can say that I will take this up the oerverbial flag pole to those with whom I am still friends and or acquaintances. I do sone friends in low places, Guard and active duty. Can’t promise it will assist by I have to try. Thanks my friend.
I can say that I will take this up the oerverbial flag pole to those with whom I am still friends and or acquaintances. I do sone friends in low places, Guard and active duty. Can’t promise it will assist by I have to try. Thanks my friend.
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