Shouldn't a soldier be taken of the duty rosters when they are 30 days from starting terminal leave?

SGT Sergio Jimenez — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 14:15:18 -0500

I currently have 14 days left before I start terminal leave ... Apart from other problems I am having in starting a smooth transition. I am put on details or SD. I keep hearing that when a soldier is 30 days out he/she should not be on any duty rosters. Is this true?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2019 2:35 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 14:35:17 -0500

I have never seen that, in fact I've seen quite the opposite. Usually the Duty roster is loaded with the guys in their last few months stopping only when it's time to clear.
Good luck with your transition to civilian life.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2019 2:39 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 14:39:06 -0500

Why would that be true at all? Being on the duty roster means you get the next day off to take care of any personal appointments you wouldn't normally be able to take care of during the duty day.

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Dec 8 at 2019 3:30 PM

CPL Gary Pifer — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 15:30:41 -0500

Please go to the nearest VA hospital and tell the disabled Vets.. how unfair life is. The VA National Cemetery is also a Good place to Vent...

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2019 4:27 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 16:27:17 -0500

It is actually the opposite of what you are doing.
If you reenlist, you can be authorized a 30 day break from duty rosters.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2019 4:37 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 16:37:02 -0500

No, in fact since you are on terminal status, you aren't really on a mission nor do you have any of the exceptions other Soldiers would have that would exempt you from the DA 6. You might even get duty at a higher rate because of this. Your recovery / off shift time should be enough to get what you need done. You're still in the Army until you get that discharge. And even then, there is a certain amount of time after that in which you are still subject to some regulation.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Dec 8 at 2019 4:38 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 16:38:23 -0500

Never heard such a thing. However, good leadership will work around your clearing schedule and whatever pre-ETS affairs that you cloud bona fide (not some made up crap) might have - besides clearing activities. All it takes is proper coordination... meaning talking with your NCO Support Channel.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Dec 8 at 2019 4:47 PM

SSG Brian G. — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 16:47:19 -0500

Why would you need to be taken off the duty roster? Just because you are leaving the Army does not mean you are relieved of the responsibilities of it, until you sign out on terminal leave.

Last I checked the only a few things that being that short did for you. You did not have to take APFT's, did not have to do height and weight, did not have to qualify with your weapon. Everything else you still had to do.

Nothing says you cannot be a gate guard, pull CQ, or any of the other sundry tasks. It does not take long at all to clear a post. It can be done in 2-3 days.... one if the soldier is motivated. Sure there are briefings, medicals and evaluations that you have to attend but those are scheduled and the soldiers command is informed of them in due course and the terminal soldier ordered to attend.

Response by SSG Terry Cummings made Dec 8 at 2019 5:26 PM

SSG Terry Cummings — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 17:26:01 -0500

the military has been changing in areas sence I retired. that reminds me of a young man in his late 20's at a company that i was working at after i retired from the military ,he was making a very good hourly wage in a clean warehouse and had a morning 15 min. break a 45 min lunch break and a 15 min break in afternoon worked a 8 hour shift. when I walked up to him and ask why the last five minutes he was chatting with another employee and both were not working? his remark was This is not the Military. well I wont go into my reply ( I was polite but stern) I just wondered who was training these young people thier work ethic's? I just hope our Military is not dropping that important type of training? we had it when I was in.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2019 5:29 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 17:29:14 -0500

No. You are still in the military. But there are case by case basis as well for certain things. But at the end of the day you are still a Soldier until you start leave.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2019 6:35 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 18:35:37 -0500

Not true lmao burn you leave bro sure way to not end up on the duty roster lol

Response by CPO Bill Penrod made Dec 8 at 2019 9:29 PM

CPO Bill Penrod — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 21:29:04 -0500

You'll never find that in instructions. Lots depends on when one rolls off the watch bill like is role replacement on board and trained.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Dec 8 at 2019 9:29 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 21:29:53 -0500

You should have ten business days to out process before starting terminal leave. Have you received that?

Response by SP5 Dennis Loberger made Dec 8 at 2019 11:36 PM

SP5 Dennis Loberger — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 23:36:31 -0500

If that is the case, the world of a soldier has changed even more than I thought.

Response by MAJ Lee Goehl made Dec 9 at 2019 2:24 AM

MAJ Lee Goehl — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 02:24:49 -0500

When I was in you made the top of the list for details as you were ETS and didn't effect the rest of the units training.

Response by CPO Nate S. made Dec 9 at 2019 7:25 AM

CPO Nate S. — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 07:25:42 -0500

Sorry, this is a non-starter. I stood duty 72 hrs before my retirement ceremony. I saw no reason to scramble my fellow Chief's plans for their time off after duty. That is the price paid for service! Simple as that.

Also, you say you "keep hearing". Try looking at this link:

https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Military%20Leaves%20and%20Passes%20AR%20600-8-10

Don' rely on hearsay, ever!!! Seems like to this "old sailor" that you start by talking with your personnel office and ask to see the command's terminal leave policy and standing duty policies. See if the cross reference. If you are going to challenge any rule know the rule cool - yourself. Then learn to ask questions, you already know the answer too.

One of two things will happen:

- A good CoC will appreciate you having the guts to keep up, even if they tell you NO!!! Often times the CoC will tell you the truth as to why / why not they can do / not do something in regard to duty. this could simply be a human resources shortage issue.

- A bad CoC will not give a damn about educating you as above. I will tell you that a bad command may hold challenging them over your head. So be prepared for heavy seas, as it were.

No one has ever faulted a subordinate for knowing and attempting to follow the "...rules of engagement..." they have only faulted them when they chose to be ignorant of those rules, especially when such ignorance has caused harm. This is not the same as knowing and choosing to ignore for a greater good, that is vastly different than choosing to be ignorant and in that ignorance harm results. Be sure you understand the difference!!!

IIS 8.5 Detailed Error - 404.11 - Not Found

Response by SPC Christopher Perrien made Dec 9 at 2019 8:49 AM

SPC Christopher Perrien — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 08:49:29 -0500

When I was in 85-89(active) normally you got 5 or 10 days to clear when ETS(no guard duty/CQ/or regular duty). Just made morning and evening formations and went to to all the appointments/offices to get a check-mark/initials and/or stamp on your clearing list(there are alot of them) and stayed invisible those last 10 days, when you weren't doing that. If you got seen , TOP might have you watching the phone, for a couple hours , just to remind you to stay "invisible" , don't hang out with your buds who are working.

The 30 day "short-timer" no-duty/light/rear duty bit is a holdover from the past, and might still apply(informally) to units in hot war-zones. It is more or less considered anyone that short might be distracted or hang back some and not be in the game 100% , so might hamper unit effectiveness so no combat or patrols . Plus it was a courtesy to people who made it that far that they have rear-echelon duties instead of pulling triggers or "getting killed" the last 30.

Response by MSG Gary Eckert made Dec 9 at 2019 9:23 AM

MSG Gary Eckert — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 09:23:45 -0500

It really depends on the duty and the local polices at your Command. For example, no one can be given Casualty Assistance Officer unless they have six months remaining on station. Here at Ft Leavenworth, you won't be made an IO with less than 60 days remaining. Even if you remain eligible for the duty, you can be excused from the duty if your have a conflicting mandatory appointment. The DA Form 6 reflects a D and your number continues to grow. If you want to be "D" from the duty roster you owe it to the person running the DA Form 6 to provide that information in a timely manner. No one likes to change the roster at the last minute.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2019 9:44 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 09:44:44 -0500

LOL, nope.
That DA 6 is full of people that are "short".
You are in the Army until you aren't. Command has to allow you to go to transition appointments and such, but yes you can totally pull CQ until the day before you go on transition leave.
Sucks, but yes.

Response by GySgt Kenneth Pepper made Dec 9 at 2019 10:41 AM

GySgt Kenneth Pepper — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 10:41:04 -0500

I think this is a practice, not a policy. The difference being ink and paper for a policy. I always started pretending a SM was already gone when they hit the 30 day mark, but again that is simply a way of getting used to having an empty roster spot.
Don't let it bother you. If you have to pull 24 hour duty use that time to make copies of all your medical records, training jacket, etc., then enjoy the following day off.
Again, focus on a smooth transition. Get your ducks in a row and prepare for civilian life, where there are no duty rosters or working parties.....only backstabbers and haters.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2019 10:50 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 10:50:14 -0500

If anything you'll do it more. I was super lucky I guess and only had CQ 2 or 3 times in the first 2.5 years, then by the time I was out-processing I had it about 4 times in 2 weeks.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2019 1:02 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 13:02:43 -0500

"Hearing" something doesn't mean it's true. There's nothing in any regulation that states such a thing - not that I'm aware.

Response by SPC Dennis Kregel made Dec 9 at 2019 4:52 PM

SPC Dennis Kregel — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 16:52:56 -0500

With all the changes in the military culture lately I am not surprised that this question was asked, however I am surprised that it was asked by an NCO.....

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2019 6:44 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 18:44:39 -0500

Do your duty. You will ETS soon enough.

Response by SSG George Holtje made Dec 9 at 2019 7:36 PM

SSG George Holtje — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 19:36:16 -0500

That’s a call made by 1SG/CSM. Just make sure it’s a balanced call. I was eligible for many ‘easy’ jobs after I turned in my packet that were offered to NCOs that weren’t anywhere near ETS or Retirement.
I never got a logical explanation by I was on my Bradley until a new 1SG took over and sent me to Rear D. My only real complaint was field time was interfering with my ACAP.

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Dec 9 at 2019 8:10 PM

PVT Mark Zehner — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 20:10:16 -0500

Simply no

Response by CWO3 Dave Alcantara made Dec 9 at 2019 10:56 PM

CWO3 Dave Alcantara — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 22:56:55 -0500

And?

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Dec 9 at 2019 10:57 PM

CW4 Craig Urban — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 22:57:22 -0500

Yes

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Dec 9 at 2019 10:58 PM

CW4 Craig Urban — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 22:58:03 -0500

I used all my leave to visit europe

Response by SFC Robert Falco made Dec 10 at 2019 3:21 PM

SFC Robert Falco — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 15:21:02 -0500

LOL, I deployed to NTC with less than 60 days to retirement... Unless it's written in a reg it's pretty much up to your command.

Response by SGM Ray Jones made Jan 23 at 2020 1:02 AM

SGM Ray Jones — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 01:02:38 -0500

That’s a good question, however, I retired 25 years ago, and might have not kept abreast with the modern Army. I will say this though: your final physical examination is very important. It’s going to help you prepare for VA Regional Office. Any injury or illness may get bigger once you get older. Also, getting prepared for civilian world requires resumes & interviews. To answer your question, not sure what happening nowadays. SGM

Response by SGT Nickolas Ortiz made Feb 14 at 2020 6:46 PM

SGT Nickolas Ortiz — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 18:46:47 -0500

Why? You're still a soldier, aren't you? If your Command needs you on the Duty Roster, then Duty Roster it is. I just question what you did wrong to have your Command keep you on the roster?

Response by SSG David Kaelin made Feb 15 at 2020 1:26 PM

SSG David Kaelin — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 13:26:31 -0500

Some units I was in did that. Others did not.

I don't think the Army as a whole has a policy.