What is an estimated timeline of when my chapter process will be complete?

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 05:31:27 -0500

Hello, I am currently in the process of a 5-17 medical chapter and I'm just looking for a basic timeline. I completed SFL-TAP, Sep Exams, basically everything required for the packet and went a couple days ago to get the rights I have during the whole process read to me by someone from TDS. My commander told me that it has to get signed by the BN Commander and a couple other people to be officially approved before I can be sent back to the US(My unit is currently on rotation in South Korea). I started this whole process back in October when I first arrived here and I'm just becoming frustrated at how slow things seem to be moving. Any info of a timeline would be greatly appreciated.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2019 6:04 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 06:04:24 -0500

My gut feeling without knowing the specifics of the issue or your command team would be that you would be administratively discharged after the entire unit redeploys from South Korea back to the US.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2019 8:17 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 08:17:00 -0500

How long an admin separation takes is completely at the discretion of SOP of the command all the way up to the Brigade. It could take as little as a few weeks if SFL TAP is done.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Jan 24 at 2019 8:43 AM

SSG Brian G. — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 08:43:52 -0500

The length of time it takes will depend upon command discretion as well as location. Stateside things move a lot faster as there are less command elements to go through. Chapters can take weeks, months, even a year. Each situation is different and there is no one size fits all from initiation to completion time frame. Literally it takes as long as it takes. The only thing I can say is, keep on top of it if you are looking to get it over with, or sit back and enjoy the time that you have and when it happens, it happens.

Response by SGT Aric Lier made Jan 24 at 2019 10:24 AM

SGT Aric Lier — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 10:24:52 -0500

we had a guy that was to be chaptered out when I arrived at my duty station... 2 years later they sent him home... oh and he would have ETS'd the next week! its all up to the COC

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2019 12:57 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 12:57:36 -0500

Nobody but your chain of command can answer that, and I believe they gave you the best answer they had. Continue planning, and save money.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2019 1:44 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 13:44:58 -0500

Why are you being chaptered instead of a med board?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2019 10:48 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 22:48:50 -0500

Once BN and BDE commander sign it’s complete. It is then Forwarded to transition for orders. If you have a good legal shop they should be on the CoC to get packet back so that it doesn’t negatively effect their processing times. A chapter should take about a month.

Response by PFC Elijah Rose made Jan 25 at 2019 3:58 AM

PFC Elijah Rose — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 03:58:17 -0500

Welcome to hell.

Most of your time will be spent waiting on signatures. There's a lot of people who have to put their name on the packet before anything happens and each one will do it whenever they get around to it. It's not like anyone really ever refuses to sign off on it, and there's a 95% chance your chapter is total BS. But still the process in grand total will inevitably take weeks if not longer, but the particulars can vary from unit to unit.
If the packet has to go before a medical board then it will take obscenely long because those doctors only meet once in a while. If it has to go through a shrink, they'll just write a bunch of nasty things about your personality and call it good. Hopefully your NCOs leave you alone in the meantime, being a holdover can be just as miserable as prison.