What happens if I were to decline an assignment with 17.5 years AFS?

2019-12-05T15:19:38-05:00

I am a 25W4S with 17.5 years AFS. I'm currently stationed in Hawaii and just received notification from my Branch Manager that my ONLY options are... wait for it... Korea and Arifjan. *sad trombone noises* I had planned on dropping retirement paperwork at my next assignment, making it my last PCS. But the Army strikes again. I thought about declining the assignment, but I don't know how that affects my career. I'll add that I've already done a tour in Korea in 2014, so I don't need a short tour. Plus I will have my long tour out of the way once I leave Hawaii. Is there anything I can do?

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Dec 5 at 2019 4:05 PM

2019-12-05T16:05:38-05:00

You can always play the dirtbag card and "get injured" with a non-deployable injury. Sure it will stop any chance if promotion, but if you are planning on retirement, you won't get promoted in time anyway. And hey, so what if it screws over another SFC. That's THEIR problem.

(This is how I ended up with two of my last three assignments. Bit of a pet peeve.)

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Dec 5 at 2019 4:06 PM

2019-12-05T16:06:46-05:00

Goodbye retirement. Hello civilian life. Not an option I assume. Welcome to "Let's Screw the Soon-To-Be Retiree" game show! It happens to a few people...maybe 3 or 4 in 10. Usually it's an unaccompanied short tour like this one. You are kind of lucky I guess, because you only have 17.5 years in. I've seen people with 18.5 get the prize. They tried to do something similar to me, give me a one-year remote to Afghanistan. But I too much dwell time left when I dropped papers. I hope you like Bulgogi.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Dec 5 at 2019 8:39 PM

2019-12-05T20:39:19-05:00

What, we are only required one short and one long overseas tour...?

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Dec 5 at 2019 10:22 PM

2019-12-05T22:22:48-05:00

The best option under your situation is to bite the bullet and work on a follow-on assignment of preference with your branch manager. BTW, there is no such thing as one short / one long tour tickets; it’s all Army needs and it trumps everything. Does it sucks? You bet, but that is a self inflicted situation which we all agreed to accept.

Best of luck on your future endeavors!

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2019 10:45 PM

2019-12-05T22:45:55-05:00

Cross over to the Air Force! Life is great there!!