What are my options after being passed over for promotion twice?

2018-09-17T19:54:34-04:00

I have an urgent question re: Promotion Board to Major in the Army Reserve. I just found out I didn’t make my second look and just got the letter in the mail that I’m being forced out. I have fourteen good years in the Army (mostly active with some Reserve years and some enlisted years in the late 90s) and want to know what my options are to make it to 20? Anyone who can point me in the right direction I would appreciate it.
Some details:
-I spent most of my time on active duty in ‘00s-with one mobilized reserve 15 month period—got out in 2008 as a CPT, never did my CCC before I got out bc I thought I was done.
—Spent almost 9 years in IRR before deciding to come back in 2017.
—I never knew I was put up for Major Board (apparently) before so I submitted my packet for FY18 board that results just came out knowing I prob wouldn’t be selected because my CCC wasn’t done yet
—my CCC is now done, I was targeting FY 19 board in March to be picked up to MAJ
—I knew I was pushing my mandatory retirement date in Jul 2020 when I came back in to get promoted. I commissioned in 2000 so 2020 is when I hit 20 years commisioned and as a Captain and would have needed to retire. So I thought I was being smart and getting in under the radar to be promoted before I was forced out. I thought I managed my career right.
—this two time passed over and out really hit me out of nowhere—I do not know what to do, I want to do my 20 good years and retire.

Caveat to all of the above—I know it’s my responsibility to manage my own career and obviously I did not, but I am being perfectly honest when saying I just did not know I was put up for MAJ before—I feel like I totally flushed my career down the drain just when I thought I was getting back on track. I really enjoyed the past 18 months back in and now it might be over

Questions:
—is there any way to appeal to get a third look?
—is there any way for me stay in?
—is there anyway for me to reach 20 good years? Can I resign my commission and go enlisted to make it? (I’ve heard that somewhere)
—any advice would be really helpful and thanks for reading.

Kevin

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2018 8:42 PM

2018-09-17T20:42:56-04:00

I believe you can enlist as a SSG and retire as a CPT. You can still use your knowledge and experience.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2018 8:53 PM

2018-09-17T20:53:33-04:00

I has 14 + years active duty Air Force After a 3 year break i went into the Army Reserves and served 8 1/2 years. That allowed me to be retired at age 60 and every day of my active duty counted towards calculating my retired pay. For me it was very worth it. I would at least check it out. Oh, and I retired at the highest grade held. Message me if you want to discuss it further.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Sep 17 at 2018 9:18 PM

2018-09-17T21:18:10-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member Back when; our BN HQ Co’s Mess Sgt, Jake T was a previous CPT - he owned a nice Model A, fully restored.

Jake had earlier been a Co Cdr in the BN.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Sep 17 at 2018 9:50 PM

2018-09-17T21:50:28-04:00

Don't know if it is still the case, but I had a buddy passed over (Navy). He wanted to stay in after 13 years, and he was picked up by the Air Force. Served to 20 there. You may check in to lat transfers inside the Army, or even transfers to other services. Sometimes, their needs and requirements are different. Keep fighting!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2018 10:05 PM

2018-09-17T22:05:54-04:00

There's a couple of things, actually. I don't know specifically how they apply to reserve component, though.
You're at 18+ years. On AD you'd be qualified for sanctuary and be a terminal Captain until you retired. I can't imagine the RC doesn't have something similar.
If you were Enlisted prior to commission, you'd have statutory entitlement to revert to Enlisted and finish your time.
You can resign your commission and request to enlist. You'll be Enlisted as an E5 or highest Enlisted rank you held.
Again, these are AD rules, but usually RC has something similar in their policies. I would imagine that being 18 years you will simply be allowed to retire and never be allowed to compete again.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Sep 17 at 2018 10:08 PM

2018-09-17T22:08:16-04:00

I read what's here already...would you he willing to try switching service at all? I know you'd prefer to stay, I get that, I only ask as a matter of pure practicality, honest...also, of at app possible, elaborate on your degrees, assocs, Bach, masters, any PhD work...it'd help to know that to suggest other things...you could try going Guard or Reserve, and finishing out our time that way, I saw there was the mention of enlisting as SSgt, I did actually know an O-3 in my unit who got RIFd, and did that, he got to MSgt when I knew him, however, a RIF is viewed differently, I've gathered...he did finish his 20 and retired as an O-3 that I do know for certain. However, if you'd be willing to submit to other svcs, you can ask for a waiver, possibly, you'd have to be boarded, I was Army ROTC, I then had to apply twice for USAF OTS, amdmgo through twice before I finished, recycling once...I don't know how warrant is handled in such a case, of your want to try opting for that, either Army or a different svc, I don't know if ITE he allowed...give more info if you can, aboutmdegrees, interests, ambitions, flexibility to switch, I'm not saying hat in the expectation you'd want to switch, I'm merely pointing out possibilities...you could also try for Hard or Reserve Tech, maybe AGR, if you went Reserve Tech, if possible with Army, tour wear the uniform during the week, and he a Federal civil servant, drilling with your unit...Guard Tech, tour he under a state, so I don't know if Federal time would translate toward a state retire!EMT, that was why if you could go Reserve Tech, the translation might he easier, you might need to change MOSmor service once again, maybe USAF, I can also suggest USPHS if you'd have a compatible degree, even for a clinical admin field, or IT related...lemme give the whole thing more thought, OK? Meanwhile, if you can, elaborate as I'd said, it'd help alp of us try to suggest various other possibilities for you, honest, OK? If you'd care to chat, please feel free to ask, of course, by all means, anytime, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Sep 17 at 2018 10:08 PM

2018-09-17T22:08:55-04:00

And I'm afraid CCC as an acronym escapes me....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Sep 17 at 2018 10:10 PM

2018-09-17T22:10:57-04:00

http://www.usphs.gov

In all seriousness, look at this, esp for clinical admin or healthcare management, esp if you're IT experienced at all, or can get such a bachelor's, honest, trust me and look, OK?

www.usphs.gov

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2018 10:11 PM

2018-09-17T22:11:58-04:00

You can go past 20 years but you can't be over 60 yrs old.
If you are younger than 46 years old, you can go Warrant. Was your CCC in Infantry? Go MP, Civil.Affairs, Logistics or Engineer which are Combat Support or Combat Service Support in the USAR. There are other Branches like Medical, Chemical, Transportation or Finance that I did not mention. All I'm saying is 11B is important but less so in the USAR. You could go Civil.Affairs. They allow you, in certain units, to go Aiborne, Air Asault or even go to DLI to learn a language and a select few can try out for Ranger School. You could retire as a MSG or Sergeant Major then revert to O-3 retirement Pay.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Sep 17 at 2018 10:13 PM

2018-09-17T22:13:44-04:00

http://www.excelsior.edu

Look at their second bachelor's option, call their topp free, send them your transcripts, then also call [login to see] for USPHS and speak with their recruiters...if you'd want to go clinical, USPHS allows up to 44 in age, you might need to retrain, however, of you'd want clinical, they have a pressing need for psych related clinical, to he aaaiged to the other svcs, in 3 year tours, all I'm saying is, it could be a way, that's the only reason I suggest lookin at it, honest, OK?

www.excelsior.edu

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Sep 17 at 2018 10:16 PM

2018-09-17T22:16:13-04:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Reserve_Technician_Program

This is the USAF Reserve Tech program, I don't know how Army does it....

Air Reserve Technician Program - Wikipedia

Air Reserve Technicians, commonly referred to as ARTs, are a nucleus of full-time uniformed U.S. Air Force leaders, managers, operators, planners and trainers in what is known as the Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the United States Air Force, the ARC consisting of both the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Sep 17 at 2018 10:20 PM

2018-09-17T22:20:16-04:00

https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/career-advice/resume-writing/national-guard-technician-federal-resume.html

Trust me, read this...my understanding is, you can still stay O-3 in Guard or Reserve, you'd just be evald be their boards, as opposed to active duty boards...if you went clinical, or law, then you could try for another service as clinical or JAG on active, though you'd likely need a waiver...however, being as you only need six years for 20, if 20 would suffice for Grad or Reserve retirement still, which you'd need to check, of course, ten, at least, you could, possibly, finish that way, I only mention it as a thought, honest....

Writing a National Guard Technician Dual-status Federal Resume

If you're a NG Technician looking for new civil service positions, follow these resume tips.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Sep 17 at 2018 10:26 PM

2018-09-17T22:26:53-04:00

My sole point is this...help us try to he able to try to help you, by elavoratng, as I'd said...being infantry, would USMC possibly consider you if they were short? I mean, I only ask as, with your experience, I didn't know, of course, it just see!ed a natural thing to ask, honest...just another thought, I realize that one might not fly, it just occurred to me to mention....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Sep 17 at 2018 10:28 PM

2018-09-17T22:28:47-04:00

And Navy reopened WO1 for cyber recently, if you might have any IT background...I realize I'd suggested that for USPHS as well, I !merely also thought to suggest it, however, as I'd said, I don't know how warrants would be affected in such a case, assuming you might want to try for it, it was just another thought, honest....

Response by LTC John Mohor made Sep 17 at 2018 11:00 PM

2018-09-17T23:00:26-04:00

CPT Kevin Newell talk to in service recruiters for both enlisted and Warrant. Even if you needed to enlist as an E-3 or E-4 you will get you're retired pay as a CPT after you have that twenty year letter in hand. I started looking into it when I was passed over the first time for 0-4. It's doable don't lose hope!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2018 6:56 AM

2018-09-18T06:56:29-04:00

Thanks to everyone who posted and offered advice. To clarify my position more (as I wrote the original post a little PO'd).
I have a lot of Active Duty time and a couple of years in the Reserves with a long lag time in the IRR. I was enlisted 1995-2000, commissioned on Active Duty in '00, made O-3 in 2003, got out in 2005, got called back in 2007 (surge) and did an additional 18 months and got out in 2008 (thinking this was it and never doing PME), spent 9 years in IRR and came back in to the Army Reserves in beginning of 2017. I have over 4300 points so right about 13 years of time in total with "14 good years" as the Reserves counts them. FY18 Board I heard from everyone and my Branch manager that I should submit my packet even as I was finishing my PME (Captains Career Course). I thought why not? I guess I should not knowing I was apparently boarded while in IRR?? And not knowing two time look and I'm done--I was ignorant to it, I didn't know what I didn't know as they say....so, now I'm done my CCC and would get picked up in FY 19 board if I could submit, BUT I don't have that chance all because I submitted for the board in the wrong year...If I just would have waited one more year I would not have to be going through this.
What I hear from this thread as my options to try to pursue:
--resign my commission and enlist
--look at Warrant program
--look at transfer to a different service
--contact a General to get an exception/waiver
I will try all of the above, I have 6 more years to make my 20 and I am not going to give up. If I have to be an E-6 for my last years so be it. I started out as enlisted so I would be coming full circle.
Any other advice?? Any contacts for the above options? Recruiters? please send my way. Thanks to everyone!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2018 6:56 AM

2018-09-18T06:56:48-04:00

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Sep 18 at 2018 7:47 AM

2018-09-18T07:47:14-04:00

If your CCC was completed at least one day before the Selection Board, you can apply to be reconsidered through PERSCOM. The information to do that is in AR 135-155. Other than that, unless you have 18 years in, not much you can do.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2018 9:56 AM

2018-09-18T09:56:17-04:00

I know plenty of people who have gone back enlisted to finish out their time.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2018 11:21 AM

2018-09-18T11:21:42-04:00

We had a CPT in my old unit come under the same situation. He did not get his CCC done in time- but I told him to contact his career manager (all Reserve CPT and above have one at Army Reserve Careers Division) and had his Date of Rank adjusted for his IRR time. IRR time should not count against you.

See below posts regarding looking at enlisted time to finish out 20. You'll still retire as an O-3.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2018 10:57 AM

2018-11-18T10:57:16-05:00

Sir, you do have options available to you and your best resource for attaining those answers is through a Army Reserve Career Counselor. If you would like my assistance, please reach out to me and I will see what we can do to ensure you are still able to achieve your Army retirement. You do have a couple options but its best to review your individual case before making a specific advisement.

John P. Durapau
SFC / Army Reserve Career Counselor
6th BN ARCD
1265 Porters Chapel Road
Vicksburg, MS 39180
Office Phone: (601) 631 - 6115
Mobile: (228) 383 - 8863
Email: [login to see]

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2019 12:59 PM

2019-09-09T12:59:35-04:00

CPT Kevin, what resulted with your situation? I find myself in the same boat and would like to do something if there's anything that can be done. I hope you still check this site on occasion--R.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2019 10:05 AM

2019-09-10T10:05:29-04:00

I knew a few Marines in the same boat that were allowed to revert to Enlisted - SSgt or GySgt, depending on their seniority and the ruling of HQMC. You still retire at highest grade held. During Nam they raided the SNCO ranks for new butter bars. Some kept the rank, but many didn't. Some retired as a Sgt Maj, but still drew the highest pay of rank(s) held. Don't know about other branches policy. No shame, so hold your head high. Tighten your pack straps and continue to march.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2020 9:05 PM

2020-03-03T21:05:51-05:00

I’m now in the same boat as you were. Passed over for Major twice and not selected for continuation. Did you ever get more guidance on finishing your 20?