Posted on Jul 30, 2016
The Army Retention Program - What are your questions?
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As the Army continues to go through changes, the ever-evolving Army Retention Program can be hard to keep up with...let RallyPoint's Career Counselors answer your questions.
Posted in these groups: 
Retention
Leadership Development
Re-enlistment
Professional Development
79S: Career Counselor
Retention Leadership Development Re-enlistment Professional Development 79S: Career Counselor
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
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This looks like it might be an excellent service for folks at any point in their career. I imagine the info provided by a RP service would be as current and concurrent with Army pubs and docs on the program as info received at on base programs, counseling sessions, or seminars on the Retention Program.
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I have a question about retention and this post seems to be the perfect place to get my answers. Sorry if this post is long, but I have been having issues. I have been in my retention window for about 7 months now and I have been struggling to reenlist. Currently I am trying to reclass from my PMOS 35M which is over strength to 35T which is understrength. The issue I am having is primarily with my career counselor I think any way, here is the situation:
When I first came into my window I brought it to my career counselor's attention what I planned to reclassify to. The career counselor spent 45 minutes telling me that I should just stay in my MOS and promotion will get better because the "purge" as she referred to it was over. I explained I did not want to stay in my MOS and that I want for sure to reclassify without a doubt. She then suggested that I do a 2 year contract in my current MOS and voluntarily reclassify. I did not want to do this because I did not want to risk IN/OUT calls changing and me getting stuck in my current MOS. She finally accepted this and submitted something called a "hotline".
Two weeks later she told me that my hotline came back with the message "cannot support no training dates available" (6 June 2016). I asked her what I should do next and she suggested again to reenlist for 2 years as a 35M and voluntarily reclassify. Again I stated I was not going to this, and that I wanted to reenlist for 35T, and asked what my options were. Her reply was to wait until the following month and submit another "hotline".
On 5 July 2016 she said that she submitted another "hotline" and two weeks later it received the same reply "cannot support no training dates available". And again she recommended reenlisting as a 35M for 2 years. This time I got suspicious, because she kept pushing the reenlist as a 35M. So I emailed reclassification and retention branch. They stated that if I submit my 4187 on 22 Aug they will try to get me into the 4 November class as long as my 4187 stated "Command and SM support less than 60 days PCS". I told my career counselor and she said because they used "DA4187" instead of "hotline" that I should reenlist as a 35M and submit the DA4187 on 22 Aug for voluntary reclass since I cannot be in my Retention Opportunity Window to do so. As you can see this is seriously frustrating. I told her that I wanted to submit my "hotline" one more time, and she said she would do it on 9 August.
I guess my question is 1) Does any of this sound right or make any sense? 2) Would the best option be to reenlist for 2 years in my PMOS and then submit the DA4187 for voluntary reclassification? 3) Why would a class date be available on 4 November if I voluntarily reclassed as opposed to reenlisted for reclassification? And finally 4) Is there anything else I can do?
When I first came into my window I brought it to my career counselor's attention what I planned to reclassify to. The career counselor spent 45 minutes telling me that I should just stay in my MOS and promotion will get better because the "purge" as she referred to it was over. I explained I did not want to stay in my MOS and that I want for sure to reclassify without a doubt. She then suggested that I do a 2 year contract in my current MOS and voluntarily reclassify. I did not want to do this because I did not want to risk IN/OUT calls changing and me getting stuck in my current MOS. She finally accepted this and submitted something called a "hotline".
Two weeks later she told me that my hotline came back with the message "cannot support no training dates available" (6 June 2016). I asked her what I should do next and she suggested again to reenlist for 2 years as a 35M and voluntarily reclassify. Again I stated I was not going to this, and that I wanted to reenlist for 35T, and asked what my options were. Her reply was to wait until the following month and submit another "hotline".
On 5 July 2016 she said that she submitted another "hotline" and two weeks later it received the same reply "cannot support no training dates available". And again she recommended reenlisting as a 35M for 2 years. This time I got suspicious, because she kept pushing the reenlist as a 35M. So I emailed reclassification and retention branch. They stated that if I submit my 4187 on 22 Aug they will try to get me into the 4 November class as long as my 4187 stated "Command and SM support less than 60 days PCS". I told my career counselor and she said because they used "DA4187" instead of "hotline" that I should reenlist as a 35M and submit the DA4187 on 22 Aug for voluntary reclass since I cannot be in my Retention Opportunity Window to do so. As you can see this is seriously frustrating. I told her that I wanted to submit my "hotline" one more time, and she said she would do it on 9 August.
I guess my question is 1) Does any of this sound right or make any sense? 2) Would the best option be to reenlist for 2 years in my PMOS and then submit the DA4187 for voluntary reclassification? 3) Why would a class date be available on 4 November if I voluntarily reclassed as opposed to reenlisted for reclassification? And finally 4) Is there anything else I can do?
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SGM Matthew Quick
Note: A 'Hotline' is a direct request from the servicing Career Counselor, through their RETAIN system, to HRC's Retention and Reclassification Branch (RRB).
1 - Yes; once a Career Counselor receives a negative response, they must wait 30 days to submit a new request. This is likely in place so as not to over-burden RRB with multiple requests when training/assignments are not currently available.
2 - It appears so...get the DA Form 4187 signed through your chain of command now and have your Career Counselor submit on 22 August.
3 - Different rules. It appears you'll receive a short-notice training availability.
4 - Remain professional and continue to work with your Career Counselor and the unit's Senior Career Counselor for resolution. You can always see your Division's Retention Operations NCO, but may be referred BACK to the unit's Senior Career Counselor for resolution.
1 - Yes; once a Career Counselor receives a negative response, they must wait 30 days to submit a new request. This is likely in place so as not to over-burden RRB with multiple requests when training/assignments are not currently available.
2 - It appears so...get the DA Form 4187 signed through your chain of command now and have your Career Counselor submit on 22 August.
3 - Different rules. It appears you'll receive a short-notice training availability.
4 - Remain professional and continue to work with your Career Counselor and the unit's Senior Career Counselor for resolution. You can always see your Division's Retention Operations NCO, but may be referred BACK to the unit's Senior Career Counselor for resolution.
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SSG (Join to see)
SGM Matthew Quick - Thank you SGM Quick. I have already submitted the 4187 through my chain so that it is ready on 22 August. I have tried to do my best to remain professional it has just been a frustrating process made even worse by the amount of time taken to complete it. Waiting 30 days to be denied a training date has not helped my moral either. My Career in the Army and my family are relying on this reenlistment, and I absolutely fear staying in my current MOS. As I stated my Career Counselor's constant push for me to reenlist in my current MOS, has made me feel that they are not acting in my best interest. Your information helped me understand what is happening a little better.
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SGM Matthew Quick
SSG (Join to see) - Many of our Battalion Career Counselors are new to this career field (only authorized SSG and above) and still trying to master this career field; it's not easy. If you ever feel you're not getting the most accurate information, see the unit's Senior Career Counselor for clarity. Career Counselors learn from experience...unfortunately, someone has to provide that experience.
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