What does it actually mean to take your military career in your own hands?

2018-05-02T14:58:56-04:00

So I have posed this question because I am trying to go active duty from the reserves and it's been a really difficult as well as long and drawn out process.
It's been really difficult because I get told one thing from one person and another thing from someone else.
What I know is that my packet is at the last step at division G1 awaiting approval from the 1 star General. I have asked for an update from my S1 and she told me that she would send and email inquiry to the battalion. Instead I get a message from my S1 the following morning saying that she talked to the commander (Rear D mind you), says that she will talk to me during BTA.
Which I know that means I'm in trouble.
Advice, guidance and help would ne helpful.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made May 2 at 2018 3:11 PM

2018-05-02T15:11:47-04:00

Try really hard not to worry, SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2018 3:14 PM

2018-05-02T15:14:19-04:00

First face it, that One Star does not have to release you from your contract, most will especially if it is for economic reasons, but they do not have to. The hard part is getting the packet all the way up to the top, too many hands involved and things get lost or misplaced or just end up in a pile of papers on someones desk who forgets about it.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2018 3:28 PM

2018-05-02T15:28:51-04:00

Well, it sounds like you have already started to take it into your own hands.

I would say bringing up the disscussion early, setting up realistic expectations and getting your leadership to help you to the next step.

Also be open to changimg the plan, say the command has an activation they want to put you on or something.

Good luck, I hope you find what you're looking for.

Response by CPT Nicholas D. made May 2 at 2018 5:28 PM

2018-05-02T17:28:49-04:00

To me, taking your career in your hands means you map out where you want to be and how you are going to get there. Once your destination and route are clear, you use the tools and conditions available to you to navigate. Just a few words of advice:

Timing is everything. If your unit is short final to mobilizing, dropping an exit strategy is going to be met with resistance. The best time to negotiate a release or change in your command’s career plans for you is when the losing party feels you have settled up your “account.” This is the “give-and-take.” If it’s a mobilization your unit is focused on, propose departure after the mobilization. If it’s a manning goal, inquire to when that goal is measured and request release after that. The quickest way to meet resistance is when your losing unit feels they are being taken advantage of.

Aim high. A lateral request to a sister unit is sometimes going to be challenged harder than an exceptional opportunity. Examples: It is easier to justify a WOFT (Warrant Officer Flight Training Packet) or a SFAS application than simply wanting to switch components. Why? People can’t challenge your request if it is something they can’t offer you. If 365 days of a paycheck is all you are searching for, inquire about FED Tech or AGR opportunities within the USAR. If you are going for game changer, your command will understand more if they can’t give you what you are asking for.

Tactical Patience. I submitted my first Direct Commission packet in April of 2014. I didn’t receive it until DEC of 2015. If it is worth the wait, it’s worth waiting for. The “deal” I was offered significantly improved over the time from flash to bang. I paid them a deployment to Iraq (See above regarding timing and letting the losing unit getting their money’s worth) and the new offer required 5 months of new aircraft training and another deployment. The product was worth the price. Know that the best opportunities in the Army involve the highest costs (Time, Effort, Energy, Pain, Distance from Loved one’s, etc)

Don’t burn bridges. After my course was set, I still worked my tail off until the last day in the losing unit and maintained my relationships in the process. I have a home to return to if I ever thought of going back. It was a good safety net just in case things fell through. But one of the worst things you can do in the heat of frustration is let your impatience affect your command’s perception of your performance and value. I’ve been in the Army long enough (19 years) to know that the “system” takes care of their top performers. The disgruntled usually get walked on, stepped over, or brushed aside. The best time to ask for something is when they are happy with you. “I did this for you, can you do this for me?”

Be able to sell the “why.” And make the “why” work for your leadership. Ultimately, why did CW3 Dixon submit a DC packet? Because THEY needed a Fixed Wing Det commander to fill an new O-grade MTOE position. I was a means to their needs. Win win. I got what I wanted, they got what THEY got what they needed. So why does PFC Sterger want to go Active Duty? Is there a way to get what you want by filling their needs (e.g. AGR, etc)

Your military career is a chess game, and every move you make will affect the landscape of the game board (and final result). If joining to be a 13B in the USAR was a mistake and you are trying to adjust your move (since enlisting 13B into the AC would have been easier done from the start), sometimes accepting that you lost your rook is a gamble you took, and you are going to use that situation to set up the board the way you want it. Take advantage of the pieces you still have and consider a new strategy. The only way to reset the game is to ETS and start over. The further into your career you get, the harder it is to do that.

But the story of your military service is yours to write. Use the bad chapters to set the stage for great chapters to follow.

Best of Luck!

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made May 2 at 2018 6:42 PM

2018-05-02T18:42:10-04:00

"Taking your career into your own hands" means to me being engaged in career shaping decisions to the extent practical throughout you time in service. You should:

-Decide what your goals are for your time in service
-Let the Army know through official means where you want to take your career. For example, volunteer for training and schools you want to attend to reach your career goals.
-Take on-line or other training that will move you toward your career goals
-Make sure your rater and senior rater know your goals and include them in your support form
-Talk with your immediate chain of command about your career goals and ways you can achieve them
-Be the very best at every aspect of your job and service to your country.

As far a dogging your paperwork through the personnel sysem goes, it can be a good idea as long as it's done respectfully. Asking your S1 to check on the progress of a packet is okay. It would have been better if you had asked the S1 about how long it might take for the packet to be processed when you turned it in and then waiting at least that long before bugging them. Some people get upset easily when Soldiers of lesser rank ask potentially embarassing questions. As far a your Commander being upset with you goes, I would advise you to be very respectful in any meeting. There's a fair chance the BG asked him about your packet. He may or may not have had the answer. Emphasize that you simply wanted to make sure the paperwork was moving because you are highly motivated to move on to Acive Duty to better serve our country.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2018 8:52 PM

2018-05-02T20:52:34-04:00

I've dealt with those packets already, minimum time frame is 30 days per unit. So if you are going from Company to Battalion 30 days, Battalion to Regiment, 30 days, Regiment to Brigade 30 days, Brigade to Division 30 days. All the while they get jumped back to JAG for Legal Review to ensure the line thrus are in order, and nothing about the document is legally insufficient. Of course there's always hiccups. The Unit Commander is doing training or is on leave, S1 has paperwork piled up, dumb boot loses the paperwork, or jacks it up. Some high speed NCO wants to make changes to it only to get overruled by a SNCO or Officer and have it changed back, which dumb boot screws up so it needs to be redone again, sufficiently killing another tree. Then it gets to some Commander who agrees with it but nonconcurs it only to write a memo stating they concur but list some reasons or some other such stuff as to why they didn't concur but also concur. Then it gets sent back and redone or it gets sent up, 50-50.

I haven't been in long but I've seen S1 and Legal and we kill forests, thank God for digital copies, email, and faxing.

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made May 3 at 2018 11:53 PM

2018-05-03T23:53:58-04:00

You can't control you destiny - but you can influence it.