What is the process taken to get out of an AD contract with a little over 2 years left and switching to NG, Reserves, or a general discharge?

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 10:12:03 -0500

Honest question I would like facts not so much opinions. (Minor opinions acceptable) what is the process taken to get out of a active duty contract with a little over two years left and ethier switching to national guard,reserves, or general discharge

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jan 17 at 2019 10:30 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 10:30:29 -0500

There is no established process for this scenario. You would have to call into one of several other categories in order to leave service prematurely, all of which are derogatory in nature. You best bet is to fulfill your commitment honorably, leaving the service with your head held high ready to take on the world. Thank you for your service.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2019 10:38 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 10:38:07 -0500

This is the process:
Complete your full term of service.
Be separated due to poor performance, misconduct, medical, hardship, or failure to maintain body composition standard.
Without you stating a cause for you to be released from the contract you entered into, this is as detailed an answer I can provide.
Based on your visible rank and your post stating you have a little over 2 years remaining, it appears you may be headed to an early separation.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2019 11:08 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 11:08:43 -0500

The fact is you have to ETS or get kicked out, lose all your benefits, and be completely ineligible for transferring into the Reserve component.
Outside of any extraordinary circumstances granting a hardship discharge, or medical discharge, those are the straight facts. Anyone else who tells you different is selling you something, or a barracks lawyer.

Response by SGT Dave Matteson made Jan 17 at 2019 11:49 AM

SGT Dave Matteson — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 11:49:31 -0500

Listen, do the time. Two years will fly by then go Guard or Reserves or...get out. You may surprise yourself and want to re-enlist. Everyone that has responded to you has had the same thought at the beginning "what did I do, Why did I do it". I've been kicking myself in the butt for retiring. Unfortunately it was time. If you force a hand you may never recover from it. Finish the tour.

Response by SSG Byron Howard Sr made Jan 17 at 2019 12:08 PM

SSG Byron Howard Sr — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 12:08:24 -0500

2 years is nothing finish and be proud of you sell the rest of the free world will be as proud of you as you are.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2019 12:42 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 12:42:20 -0500

The easiest way out is to do your time and get out honorably.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2019 3:09 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 15:09:27 -0500

Josh, you asked the same question two days ago, and were told that you can not get out of your contract. You failed to reply to any of theses responses. Evidently, you did not like the answers, so you are asking the question again, hoping for an answer that you like. Honest answer.

Your statement "I would like facts not so much opinions." Do you think that the responses from two days ago are opinions and not facts?

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/can-i-drop-early-from-active-duty-11b

Can I drop early from active duty 11b? | RallyPoint

Currently been in the army for 7 months. I hurt my back in airborne school (not to severe) but I was dropped from airborne. I’m currently in a hold could I request to be discharged or even national guard from home. Iceberg just lost interest now after losing airborne. Anyone give me advice?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2019 4:20 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 16:20:23 -0500

"I would like facts not so much opinions"... Roger that Major PV2! How about you just fulfill your obligation and do the two years. There is no early way out that would allow you to re-enlist anywhere. Just finish out the two years and then enlist in the guard or reserve.... Everyone just wants an easy path! It doesn't exist, just work!

Response by SSG Edward Tovatt made Jan 17 at 2019 4:36 PM

SSG Edward Tovatt — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 16:36:28 -0500

"Hunt the good stuff". You didn't give a reason why you want out early, so I'll assume it's because life in the infantry was either not what you expected or harder than you were expecting. Either way, I agree with the others that commented. You should fulfill your commitment and get out honorably. I would take it a step farther and encourage you to find the positive things in your daily routine. Go to the gym after work and get better at pt. Study the 10 level tasks that pertain to your role in your unit. Ultimately, you need to get better at what you do and I think you will find, life becomes easier. Besides, more likely than not, this job is probably better than most of the jobs you might find on the outside. I ETSed once before. I even had a really good PACE plan in place too, but civilian life just didn't work out for me. Fortunately, I got out after five years on good terms and found myself back on active status in under two weeks. You want to fulfill your commitment honorably and ETS on good terms.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2019 7:55 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 19:55:10 -0500

Easiest way out is to do your time. Take a knee, drink water, and embrace the suck.

Response by SPC Bradly Martin made Jan 17 at 2019 8:16 PM

SPC Bradly Martin — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 20:16:24 -0500

Doesn’t work that way partner. Do your time.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2019 11:20 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 23:20:13 -0500

Complete your contract obligation that you signed plain and simple.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Jan 18 at 2019 9:23 AM

SPC Erich Guenther — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 09:23:48 -0500

In the United States if you really wanted out, it is going to take 6 to 8 months on average from initial request and they are not going to give you NG or Reserves, they are just going to boot you out. During that time your rank will be frozen and you will be under a no favorable actions ban more than likely. Additionally, if your in a an Infantry unit they are going to harrass you with various work details, name calling and such and even try to convince you via unfriendly means to stay. Hence folks are going to tell you the easiest way out is just to stay in and do your time and that is actually the no BS answer here. As I told you before things get easier as a PFC and then SPC, your jumping out or attempting to right at the end of the initial period of adjustment. Requesting to get chaptered out is among the worst decisions you can make at this point.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2019 10:38 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 10:38:07 -0500

Finish, your service. If I had a dollar for every new guy that didn’t like being in the Army I’d be a rich man. You got basically 1 year before you start the SFL TAP process. The only thing you can do to get out early is refuse to train which will get you into a good amount of trouble possibly ruining your record for when you finally separate as well as the loss of most if not all of your benefits.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2019 2:33 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 14:33:44 -0500

75 days prior to ets, get a conditional release from a guard recruiter. Find a unit having a slot on their UMR, for your MOS, and recruiter will be able to walkyou through the rest.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2019 12:15 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 12:15:28 -0500

There is no situation that would allow you to get out of your contract early and join the Reserve Component. The Voluntarily Early Separation Program was discontinued about 2 years ago. Your only option is to finish your enlistment and transfer into the Reserve Component at your ETS. If qualified, you can sign that RC contract 6 months out. Any situation that would cause your early separation would not qualify you for transfer into the RC.

Response by SSgt Elihu Lowery made Jan 20 at 2019 5:01 PM

SSgt Elihu Lowery — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 17:01:14 -0500

Well, the General Discharge is easy enough to get but unless you really want to go down that negative path I would recommend that you contact a Guard or Reserve Recruiter. There are programs from time to time that allow Active Duty personnel to transfer to one of the reserve components. Just call them and find out if they are still available and if so if your qualified for one.

Response by SSgt Thomas L. made Jan 21 at 2019 5:53 AM

SSgt Thomas L. — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 05:53:41 -0500

You're thinking of Palace Chase. I'm not sure if it's offered any more. Google it.

Response by SSgt Jeanne Wallace made Jan 21 at 2019 11:06 AM

SSgt Jeanne Wallace — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 11:06:53 -0500

you say you have a 'little over 2 years' to go on your enlistment....I was AF our shortest enlistment term was 4 years if that is also true in the Army ..simple math tells me that you have only been in for about a year and a half? ...not enough time to get any of the longer schools finished..or even get good at any of the shorter ones...so you are not progressing well and likely this is the first time you have had to confront that kind of situation.. Unless you do some thing bad ( illegal, or derilict your duties) barring a family catastrophy you arent getting out with any thing resembling a "good" discharge ( people with Admins have trouble getting jobs, BCDs are worse) ..I know you want facts not advice...facts are you can get out by robbing a bank , punching out your NCOIC... many ways ,most will end you in jail or with a stain on your name that you cannot erase...Palace Chases are a thing of the past ( when the AF was over manned in the 80's you could apply to do double time in you home state guard) the services are far from over manned these days...you signed a contract, behave like an ADULT and fulfill it....find one good thing a day and focus on it, do one thing the best you can every day and build on that ...."a little over 2 years" is too short of a time to mess up the next 60 years of your life over.....and this may sound corny..but go talk to a chaplain..some times just talking your feelings out with some one not in your chain can really give you some perspective..

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2019 12:32 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 12:32:07 -0500

I'd stay in, I was separated from the army early for medical problems. Trust me army life is way better then civilian life.

Response by Sgt Mark Tarte made Feb 3 at 2019 8:29 PM

Sgt Mark Tarte — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 20:29:35 -0500

My time was over 40 years ago so I wouldn’t have a good answer for you.

Response by CW3 Chris Davis made Feb 10 at 2019 11:44 AM

CW3 Chris Davis — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 11:44:46 -0500

My biggest question is why do you want out so badly that you can't stick it out? Did you not understand the implications of signing on the dotted line so to speak? If you were a Specialist or higher in rank I would suggest that you submit an AGR packet however, as a PV2 there are no options there. Now with that said and I do understand the Army is not what it was back in 1983 when I first raised my right hand, however, it can't be that bad that you can't hang in there for 2 years and then pursue and continue your career in the NG or Reserves, and at that point make sure you look at the benefits that come along with each. Good luck Josh and please don't make a rash decision just because you are fed up, remember civilian jobs suck too.. Just saying my friend.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2019 10:22 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 22:22:41 -0500

Depends on how critical your MOS is to Army and how badly the NG/Reserve unit needs members to “Palace Chase” into the unit. There is also Humanitarian discharge due to Mom/Dad needing you to care for them but very difficult to get. Need to talk to NG/Reserve Recruiter to see any opportunity that could help you.

Response by SSgt Ed Hamlin made Feb 21 at 2019 12:13 PM

SSgt Ed Hamlin — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 12:13:25 -0500

Finish your enlistment. If you apply for an early discharge the ramifications will follow you for the remainder of you life and impact job opportunities for decades. As a Senior recruiter while on AD I have had many former members come to me for an explanation of why they were having difficulties finding employment and benefits via VA (education & healthcare) You will lose what ever benefits you would receive after your contract enlistment.. Two years is a very short period of time when you consider your lifetime. Make the most of your time, education, training, etc.... It will help you more than doing everything you can to separate early.

Response by Sgt Steve Williams made Mar 12 at 2019 6:58 PM

Sgt Steve Williams — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 18:58:28 -0400

You don't want opinions but here goes anyway. You are obviously young. You would be better off doing research on how a general (or worse) discharge will impact so much of the rest of your life. And while I'm at it, I'd suggest you do a little better your last two years than your ranks suggests you have done so far.

Response by SSgt Gerald Sapaugh made May 8 at 2019 11:04 PM

SSgt Gerald Sapaugh — Wed, 08 May 2019 23:04:30 -0400

NEVER EVER TAKE A GENERAL DISCHARGE...STAY THE COURSE AND COMPLETE YOUR CONTRACT THEN SWITCH. A General Discharge to civilians is as bad as a Bad Conduct Discharge.