What is keeping commands from taking advantage of the Bar to Reenlistment?

I have tried to initiate 4 bars at 2 commands with 3 different commanders that were mandatory by regulation: 2 for no family care plan (plenty of time and assistance provided) in both cases the soldier's had approved plans then fired their child care providers and didn't use the CDC to get stay home free days), 1 DUI, and 1 ABCP non-compliance. All those were as a BN Career Counselor. You pick those up when someone is trying to reenlist and you do an eligibility scrub. The other 3 I have suggested were for a Soldier that had habitual counseling and corrective training by thier NCOs before me and were at best argumentative or worst outright hostile when I implemented a "pre-bar" recovery plan. Another who told me outright that they didn't want to go to the board and refused to prepare. The last one refused to comply with the plan that was put in place after they demonstrated a habit of financial irresponsibility so bad that they asked for an AER loan while they already had an AER loan (got it before me and I found out the soldier needed cash to get home from vacation.) That one refused to comply with the pre-bar recovery plan and I PCSd soon after handing them off because they got promoted. I just see a lot of people throwing chapters and article 15s at soldiers and skipping the rehab. It's not a Career ender if used early and correctly.

That could be it. I am MI, and I know some of our guys can't stand prolonged eye contact, so that could be the problem.

I'd definitely pull a Security Clearance then add the Bar.

Yes.They just recently changed from administrative to punitive. The Bar still has to be supported with a recovery plan too, so it does more than a chapter/Article 15 by giving the Solider one last chance. Instead of just "putting the soldier on notice" it also shows that the Command is willing to show them how to get right.

Has it ever been rehabilitative? If I initiated a bar to re-enlist, it was because I thought the guy wasn't fit, for what ever reason, to continue in the Service. I thought of it being just short of discharging someone for cause.

Untrainanble can be a reason for a bar, but ideally it is to be used in instances where a Soldier needs a stronger incentive to improve on problem behavior. It's not supposed to be used as a first resort or in lieu of other action such as NJP or actions that initiate an automatic chapter or admin action. Part of the bar is a plan for recovery.

CPT Lawrence Cable - Sir, originally it was intended to be a rehabilitation tool. It was suppose to be a eye opener to informing the soldier that if s/he continued their current course they would no long be able to serve. The biggest changes are that it now effects careerists as well. If a BAR is not removed within 6mo, a commander must initiate separation it also will prevent a soldier from reentering service after discharge. That was not the case before.

I can see your point, but that is what NCOs are for. Ideally the whole supervisory chain is involved in rehabilitating Soldiers.

A BAR is very streamlined. You submit a 4126 and any supporting documents, have the company and BN commander sign it, and done. I do not see an easier way to do it.

Ah yes the supporting documents, where do they come from? The NCO's and officers have to build that up to give to the Commander. If the Commander has to do it, then that drain returns.

A commander should never feel responsible for soldiers family. If a soldier is failing to do his/her job sufficiently in a soldier should be barred. Don't get me wrong, a commander should always care for the soldier and his family, But A commander should never allow a subpar soldier to remain in the military