What can I do to request that I stay at my duty station?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 20:10:11 -0500

I've been in the army for what will be 4 years in May as a 25Q. The entire time that I've been in, I've been in the same unit on the same post. At first, I couldn't wait to leave, but then life struck me-hard. I don't want to go into detail, but moving duty stations would not be good for me. Here's the thing-my unit is deactivating in October, however my company will be the first to leave in April. I've already decided to reclass to 68X, and I'm currently just waiting on a class to open up so that I can go to Ft. Sam Houston. I'm also planning on reenlisting. I want to work at the hospital on post in their Mental Health Services department. Is there any way that I can request this?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2021 8:33 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 20:33:57 -0500

SGT Private RallyPoint Member … If you're within your window to reenlist, not sure the time frame now- but within 1 year they might let you pick you duty station. You'll have to speak with your re-enlistment - retention folks to see what is available. It all comes down to the needs of the Army, but if you're a 1st Term enlistee, they'll usually want to do whatever they can to get you to sign on the line... that is dotted.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2021 9:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 21:36:58 -0500

No, you cannot. You could maybe get one of these, but not all of these.

If you're unit is deactivating you might be placed on assignment. If you are, you can only reenlist for the assignment.

If you're not placed on assignment by the time you're eligible to reenlist then you can reenlist to move or reclass. If you're on Fort Sam, then you're most likely in a TDA assignment and have been there too long to reenlist to stabilize there.

If you're not in your reenlistment window, you're not currently eligible to reclass because you're not in an over strength MOS. If you reclass you'll be sent TDY enroute to your next duty station, you don't get to pick that. You will not go TDY and Return, you won't be eligible to request to.

You may very well not be able to get a class seat for 68X before you run out of time. 68X does not take promotable E4. RCP for a non promotable E4 is 8 years so you'll need get a class seat and reenlist for it prior to year 5. If you do receive a CMF68 class seat, you may eventually return to Fort Sam, most likely as an instructor. Fort Sam is the most commonly requested location for CMF68 Soldiers and the branch manager saves those assignments for Soldiers returning from unaccompanied tours like Korea

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Feb 3 at 2021 9:24 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 09:24:47 -0500

Re-enlistment is when you can request duty station preference. Even if you want to stay in your current location you have to specify that because we all know if it isn't in writing then DOD will fill in the blanks with what is needed. You can try to communicate and request to stay but it's a roll of the dice

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2021 12:05 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 12:05:34 -0500

You might want to find a 68X at the hospital and see if they have any spots open for your rank.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Feb 4 at 2021 7:47 PM

Cpl Vic Burk — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 19:47:23 -0500

I am only familiar with the Marines but one of the options as an incentive to re-enlist is "retention on station." Maybe look into that as part of your reenlistment package? Just a thought.