What should I do if my National Guard unit is in Ohio but my husband and I live in North Carolina and he’s stationed here?

2019-04-25T00:34:46-04:00

I know transferring would make sense but, I have a bonus coming and I need help finding the best option. If I do not move I’ll have to come back and forth but if I do I will lose my bonus right? Is there a way I can keep it? And what if he gets transferred again will I be facing the same problem? Please give me guidance

Response by SFC George Smith made Apr 25 at 2019 12:51 AM

2019-04-25T00:51:01-04:00

Ask for a transfer to a like type or sister Unit

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Apr 25 at 2019 6:33 AM

2019-04-25T06:33:44-04:00

You need to speak directly to your unit. No one on this site can give you a one size fits all response. If your spouse remains I. The Army he will move again. You will be faced with this continually throughout, it is a dynamic that comes will dual service, active, guard or reserve component. It becomes more challenging the more senior you both become. I would say that you need to work through your bonus issue, but you have some long term review to do with your spouse. Good luck and thank you for your service.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Apr 25 at 2019 8:04 AM

2019-04-25T08:04:56-04:00

OK, this is just some general stuff about how bonuses work. Depending on your contract, you get part when you MOS qualify, then either on the anniversary of your second and fourth year, or if it's just split, the anniversary of your third year of enlistment. You can check with your retention NCO or S1 shop, but my experience is that Guard enlistment bonuses are specific to the state. If you have received a bonus, you would have to pay back the amount tied to your remaining enlistment, so if you got your initial bonus money and served two years, you would owe the state for that year.
Still, the only real answer while come from the State Headquarters, so hit your retention/S1 up to see what they may be able to do for you.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2019 8:28 AM

2019-04-25T08:28:26-04:00

How much is the bonus? At some point you have to determine if the cost of staying in the OH ARNG is still worth it,even with the bonus.
Every year of traveling to drill in Ohio is going to cost you $2160 in gas or airline tickets and 24 missed days of work for travel days.
If you got the max bonus of $20K for six years, $13K after taxes, you just about break even on the costs of commuting to OH ARNG and how much the bonus is.
If the bonus was less than max, you are losing money by staying on OH ARNG.
IST to the NC ARNG, you can file an Exception to Policy (ETP) that states that you are still filling the same MOS in the Guard, and you'll probably get to keep the bonus anyway.
If you lose the bonus, you weren't really losing any money, considering how much it would cost you to keep commuting to OH.

Response by SFC(P) Jonathan P. made Apr 25 at 2019 9:02 AM

2019-04-25T09:02:36-04:00

The bonus is for extension of service. If he stays in his current MOs then the bonus won’t be affected. How ever if he re clases he would have to wait to complete re class to receive the bonus.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2019 12:45 PM

2019-04-25T12:45:36-04:00

You'll need to do an Interstate Transfer (IST) to a unit that has the same MOS as your bonus is for (if it's MOS specific or an affiliation bonus) - it will probably have to be a unit that has a critical shortage of that low-density MOS.

Contact a National Guard Recruiter in the state you'd like to join (or states around the state where you live) as see if they can find a unit that has a vacancy. They'll help you with getting released and attached to a new unit. It will be a long process, but your old unit will understand- just communicate with them & also if you find the new unit to join, your old unit should let you drill with the new unit until the transfer is complete. Communication with your old Command/Leadership is key!