What happens if I just stop showing up for drill in the military reserves?

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 21:31:04 -0400

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Apr 5 at 2019 9:34 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 21:34:24 -0400

Soon or later, they will drop you from the rolls, process your paperwork for UCMJ- AWOL, and discharge with a General Discharge which will show up on your employment records for the rest of your life. Which means no Federal/State and possibly city/county jobs. Plus a hard time from any HR dept with Veterans in it.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2019 9:37 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 21:37:23 -0400

My unit is over 150 miles and they have not been giving me a room when I go to drill recently had a change in financial situation I cannot afford to drive out there and pay for a hotel anymore

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2019 9:45 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 21:45:31 -0400

When you just stop showing up, after the first drill you will receive a certified letter explaining that you were Unauthorized Absent for 4 UTAs, with some boilerplate explanations covering how 9 total UTAs of Unathorized Absence will result in your AWOL discharge, characterized as Other Than Honorable, listing the benefits that you will not be eligible for, as well as instructions on how to contact your unit to clear this up and possibly even convince the Commander to change that Unauthorized Absence to Authorized.
The process will repeat for the next two drills after that.
When you have not responded to the third letter, you will receive a different one, this one is the Notice of Intent to Separate.
If you also ignore that, you will be put out with an OTH, ineligible for benefits or re-enlistment in any component.
If you did not clear supply and CIF, your tax returns will be garnished for the cash value of the gear you did not turn in.
It will be impossible to qualify for a federal job, and difficult to qualify for most state, county and city jobs.
And just about any person who has not also gone AWOL from the military will think you have serious lack of commitment and accountability issues based on the fact that you could not keep up your end of the contract for just showing up one weekend a month.
Other than that...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2019 9:53 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 21:53:14 -0400

Why did you even join. People like you aren’t needed.

Response by SGT Chris Stephens made Apr 7 at 2019 3:07 PM

SGT Chris Stephens — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 15:07:19 -0400

I'm not sure how the reserves work, but I had a situation come up where I had seven months left on my contract with the National Guard. Medical issues with my son came up to where it was more important for me to be at home. After providing proper medical documentation about his issues, I went through a program called ING (Inactive National Guard). This is usually meant for soldiers who need a break in service for various issues, but have the intent of coming back. Because I was less than a year out from ETS and you needed at least 1 year left on your contract for ING, my career counselor had me extend for one year, which brought me up to 1 year, 7 months left. From there, I was put on ING. You're allowed to be on that program for up to 2 years, but most are only on it for 1 year. After that 1 year, all I did was call my unit and inform them that the medical situation had not changed and would not change for years, I informed them I would be riding out the rest of my time on ING.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2019 9:32 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 21:32:55 -0400

Well I assume you know what AWOL means, so I guess you are wondering what the end state of that is. Well Soldiers have been known in the past to get bench warrants issued for their arrest, because you are in fact committing a crime under the UCMJ, even as a reservist (state National Guard Soldiers have state military codes that also coincide). However, eventually you will get kicked out of the Army (yes, even in the Reserves or National Guard). Ultimately, you will get an "Other than Honorable Discharge," and in certain circumstances even a Dishonorable. Regardless, you can rest assured this will almost guarantee elimination of you ever getting a government job (and many private sector jobs too). You will also lose your future benefits, and will likely have to pay ones received back. Oh and if you haven't turned any of your gear in before going AWOL, you'll get your taxes garnished for the full amount for that too. Bottom line, no matter your problem with the Army, going AWOL is not the answer (unless you really don't care about your future). We don't want people that don't want to be there either. So, there may be other ways for you to get out under a General Discharge for things like hardships, medical reasons, religious reasons, etc. But you have to communicate with your Chain of Command, not go AWOL, because it will be much worse for you.

Response by SPC Deb Root-White made Aug 19 at 2019 6:00 PM

SPC Deb Root-White — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 18:00:50 -0400

Why would anyone not show up for Reserves? Its not like you are giving up a whole lot for just 2 days a month and 2 weeks a year. If you have issues with the unit you are in, check to see what other units are in your area and what openings they may have. Don't mess up the rest of your life by just walking away from a commitment you made. I loved my time in the Reserves. I was able to move around to different units, depending on the situation, and for a time I put in lots of Man Days as clerical assistance for the full timers at 3 units.

I pray you rethink this before it becomes too late.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2019 7:28 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 19:28:56 -0400

Is your issue resolved? Just seeing your question.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2021 9:33 PM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 21:33:32 -0500

Im on the same boat. I was told I could be transferd back into the IRR if I didnt like by the local "career counsil" after I got out of active. It should be a crime to violate the army values and honor and intergrity went out the Window for that one after submitting my IRR packet they didnt bother me for a year so I figured everything was working out. Last year in October I had to show up again because my packet was sitting on top of a desk left behind by the old unit administrator and that I had to start showing back up. Now im told I cant get back into the IRR that I have to finish my contract. Which there for get me out with a general dishcharge.. one thing the army is good for is letting their veterans down and or soldiers

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2021 8:01 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 May 2021 08:01:31 -0400

If you fail to report to 3 weekend drills they will start to process the paperwork as Other Than Honorable Discharge and No despite what people think that will not effect your civilian employment bc that is not public record. Civilian employers will not as much as they may want have access to that record. It's always been a myth to scare you away from the very idea of just leaving or deserting your duties but much like the myth of the ocean is blue bc soooo many people say it's true.. they have no idea what they're talking about. When the paperwork is put in yes it can take 6 drill weekends to process making a total of 9 drill weekends missed resulting in the discharge I mentioned above and .. well you're out! That simple. People in law enforcement may not like you and veterans may not like you either but who really gives a fuck what they think bc they don't know your situation and are real quick to judge. If you have any questions Call GIRights and they'll explain the entire process to you. [login to see]

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2021 12:12 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 12:12:11 -0400

Don't the U's restart every fiscal year? (October)

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2021 3:38 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 15:38:10 -0400

Well, check it out. Before anyone questions my grit, or my love for the uniform and this country, hear me out. I’ve only got a few years to go to retirement, Ana I’m done! After this vaccine mandate, that the Muppet head put out, I’m thinking about not stepping foot on that base, ever again. AWOL, or no AWOL. So, people need to understand where people’s heads are at, before they lump everyone into a “shot bird” category. No one’s gonna question why I joined. I joined because of 9-11, and I wanted to go specifically to Iraq. I got my chance in ‘05. So, I’m not willing to go through the whole commander, chaplain, JAG, upper echelon bs, just to have my religious exemption denied. I’m done. So I don’t really give two squirts o’ piss what kind of discharge they give me, or what any other American thinks, for that matter.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2021 6:07 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 18:07:45 -0400

Let's be honest, though you receive U'sup to 4 per month. You can still show up later and full-fill your contract. The Reserves doesn't hold soldiers accountability, Leaders are to lazy to do counseling's or if they do it. Higher just states that they didn't try hard enough to retain you. Lots of soldiers skip AT and nothing ever happens to them. All you have to do is occasionally show up, pass a PT test and maintain yourself medically green. SGM's are more concerned about their numbers being green than caring about their soldiers. Though their are some good leaders out there like SGM's and Colonel's not all are bad and toxic. But it's pathetic to be treated as a number, I'm a SFC and still get treated like a number. Good luck to you, and don't worry about finding a job, you can make more in the private sector that the crap hole of GS world.