What should I do since I've been force transferred to a position for which I’m not MOS qualified, lost my bonus and slowed my promotion down?

2019-10-18T07:11:58-04:00

For a deployment I was moved from my 19K slot in an Armor company to hold a 12B slot (not a 12B) in a BEB because they didn’t have enough B6 ASI Troops to operate an ABV, so they pulled tankers instead of sending 12B’s to the ASI school. Now I’m in a 12B slot that on paper I’m not qualified for. Here’s the kicker(s); the state took my bonus and as an explanation said “you’re not MOS qualified for the slot you’re in”. Also, I’m in a great spot on the 19K E5 list, I’ve been told I can still accept a promotion from another unit when they get to me on the list, but as slots are opening up in the one I’m in I’m “not allowed to be promoted into them” again, because I’m not a 12B. I’ve asked repeatedly to be transferred, I’ve asked to at least be sent to reclass school if they won’t transfer me, all of these are being shot down. I have no idea where else to turn but I don’t want to lose my bonus or for my career as a tanker to be essentially paused for almost 2 years over a command directed move.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Oct 18 at 2019 7:59 AM

2019-10-18T07:59:28-04:00

OK, who are you asking? If I was not getting a response from my immediate COC, I would ask for an Open Door with the Company Commander first, the Sergeant Major, and then the BN CO. I'm all for needs of the Army, but not at the financial expense of a enlisted soldier that is not at fault. If you don't get satisfaction, then up the Chain to Brigade and the AG.
Often things are done because it's expedient to fill a line item and no one wants to cause trouble. It's likely that the upper commanders are not aware of your problem, which is why I say use the open door policy that is regulation.
I'm baffled at why they would pull a 19 series to run an AVLB. Don't they have a Master Driver that is capable of qualifying a 12B? Hell, I as licensed on a AVLB and a CEV (and yes, I did actually take the training and the test. Never set a bad example).

Response by SPC Ruben Marin made Oct 18 at 2019 4:41 PM

2019-10-18T16:41:50-04:00

I'm with Cpt Lawrence Cable on this one. Use the chain of command to your advantage. Some times the Army doesn't think about how such a move could affect a person's life personally. To lose a bonus and possible advancement in rank might be enough to sell them on switching you out with someone else not on the fast track and without anything major to lose. Good luck!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2019 5:29 PM

2019-10-18T17:29:24-04:00

For a deployment, your unit should be plugging names into positions on the DMD, deployment manning document. This just moves you to a particular position for deployment and it won’t affect your current slot. You don’t lose your bonus. Once the deployment is over you go back to that 19K slot. It sounds like they moved you on the UMR. A UMR position move will affect your bonus, because you have been moved out of the slot that was tied to that bonus. The need to move you back to the 19K UMR position and put you in a 12B position on the DMD. None of this affects your standing on the promotion list. You compete in your PMOS, in your case the 19K MOS is the only one you’re qualified for. To compete as a 12B you would have to be MOSQ and request a CPMOS change prior to your state’s next board. If you are currently on the E5 to E6 19K list then you will stay there, they cannot remove you from the list.