Should retention be able to see non-apft/ht/wt flags?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 22:28:24 -0400

I have a serious bone to pick with the system that is currently allowing Soldiers to get out of the Army with honorable or general discharges when they came up hot on urine analysis and then put into the IRR. Yes National Guard I am looking squarely at you on this one. I have never heard or seen an Active Component or Reserves Soldier being able to be put into the IRR after coming up hot on urine analysis. But I cannot change the National Guard but I would like to at least see the retention system be able to tell me if I am being ask to bring in a Soldier to my unit that just happened to not have valid APFT in the last year due to being ETS or put in the IRR with no final APFT or if there is more to the story. I can work with those who have used or are using drugs. I have and still am working with these Soldiers to get them the help that they need. However, if you do not come to ask for help before the Commander reads off your name then "game on" and full press on you, particularly if it is more than one failed test. I have done myself paperwork to process Soldiers out due to limited staff as well as had my full-time staff working on these packets. I have had to make calls to get the packets moved along to avoid hitting an ETS date. Why do National Guard units allow Commanders to take the easy route and put them into the IRR where they can keep all their benefits and screw the next unit they go to? With many of my IRR and Active Component transfers they are not DMOSQ for my unit so I have to send them to reclass. I will gladly do that for a Soldier who is willing and able. If you fail ht/wt or APFT you get flagged and we work with you until you pass to go to school. However, with a drug hot you are flagged and that is it for DMOSQ. I am stuck with a mountain of paperwork to go through as well as having a non-DMOSQ Soldier because someone did not put them out the right way.

I would like to hear from all components to see if they have this issue and higher ranking officers and NCOs of how they think we can resolve this issue.

Response by SFC A.M. Drake made Apr 28 at 2014 10:36 PM

SFC A.M. Drake — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 22:36:53 -0400

Sir,

Good question cant wait for the other responses, I think the main issue is that the NG are controlled by the states and not the Feds...Each state is responsible for their own state militia are they not? If so then that is probably why the rules are a little different than the federal side, sort of like MP's only has jurisdiction on military posts and yet in an emergency any state police/trooper can come on post carte blanch!

Response by MSgt Keith Hebert made Apr 28 at 2014 10:56 PM

MSgt Keith Hebert — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 22:56:59 -0400

Wow I have never heard of that, and I retired from the air guard. I remember several guys getting processed out due to drugs and it happened quick.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Apr 28 at 2014 11:48 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 23:48:30 -0400

To answer the title question...retention (active Army) can see any and all flags, regardless of classification.

Why is this a 'retention' issue...this is a commander's issue.