Posted on Jan 4, 2019
PFC Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Operations Specialist
10.4K
34
46
0
0
0
NTC is being put directly in the middle of a semester.
I joined to get through college, i am running solely on a full tuition scholarship that i would lose by attending. Tried talking to chain of command about issue, they more or less said its my problem not theirs. Im not going to drop out of college on my last year because of a 1 month training event. The question is as a reservist what punishment am i realistically looking at by not showing up? (I've never gotten a "U" but i hear they can only give 4 a month now and the amount is no longer 8 possibly just PNN but its really all i can hope for at this point)?
Avatar feed
Responses: 11
Votes
  • Newest
  • Oldest
  • Votes
MAJ Attorney Advisor
5
5
0
You'll need to really work this one. Does your school have a military liaison office or military affairs office or some sort? I recommend going there, your Dean of Students, or some other faculty/administration advocate who can help you work something out with your professors. Your school may have a policy on military issues. If it's a public school, maybe your State has some sort of state-specific law, or state department that can advocate for you. Maybe your State representative/Senator can do something. On the Army side, will your leadership be willing to write you a letter explaining the situation? Does the Reserve have some sort of Education Office? We in the Guard have our own state Education Office who would probably help with this to reach out to the school and come up with a solution. This is not an easy thing to do, and you will need to put in some leg work. But the last thing you want is to expose yourself to a general or OTH discharge which may affect your employment search post college. There's no silver bullet that will solve this issue, but you need to get creative and resourceful to find a solution. Good luck!
(5)
Comment
(0)
LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
>1 y
It would help you make a more informed decision to go to the respective Dean or Veteran Support Office and get help on military leaves of absence. Even back in Desert Storm, they had this. My friend was mobilized and they let him go with a mutually negotiated agreement on his grades for the semester...as an engineering student no less.

It will be a school policy and not the Reserves.
(3)
Reply
(0)
CSM Thomas McGarry
CSM Thomas McGarry
>1 y
I may be wrong but I believe you would also be covered under Federal Law (USERTA) for thi, you may want to contact the Employee Support of the Guard/Reserves about this
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SGM Jeff Mccloud
4
4
0
If your NTC rotation is your unit's annual training, you can be discharged for AWOL for failing to report the first day of AT orders.
Civilian employers and schools are required by law to accommodate a reserve Soldier's drill, AT and deployment requirements, (that's why your chain of command said it was your problem, but it would have helped if they explained this part), so you need to start talking to your instructors today about rescheduling any tests or due dates to before or after NTC.
(4)
Comment
(0)
SFC(P) Drill Sergeant
SFC(P) (Join to see)
>1 y
PFC (Join to see) - It is not a MYTH by law if its 30 days or more then they have to readmit you into the same academic standard. But true by law they don't have to accommodate you but there are laws. Most professors I had over the years worked with me. I got a deployment 3 weeks after school started I showed the professor the orders he gave me the whole curriculum to complete then gave me the mid term and final before I left. I actually did a half ass paper and still he gave me a 3.4 in the class I was shocked.

https://cdn.ymaws.com/http://www.roa.org/resource/resmgr/LawReviews/2015/15039-LR.pdf
(1)
Reply
(0)
SGM Jeff Mccloud
SGM Jeff Mccloud
>1 y
PFC (Join to see) - It's not about wasting their time, excusing you from duty takes no time at all, your chain of command told you it was your problem because it is, in fact, your responsibility. And I think on some level you already know this.
No one held a gun to your head when you enlisted in the Army Reserves, nor when you enrolled in college. When you signed that contract and those enrollment papers, it was implied that you understood your responsibilities for each.
If you did not understand your responsibilities and the consequences, or chose to ignore them when you signed, then lesson learned.
It is also your responsibility to figure out how you can fulfill your responsibilities on both of your commitments instead of getting out of them. Welcome to the grown up world, you're going to see this a lot going forward.

It is not a myth, that law will not help you for drill or 15 day AT, but it will help you for a 30 day NTC order. Your state may have additional laws regarding this. College professors deal with students every day asking for extensions for assignments and tests. If you go in and ask for an exception to complete any requirements early (before NTC) as opposed to an extension for after NTC, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at their response.
Your BN has about 500-700 people that all have civilian employment, civilian school, child care and countless other responsibilities that they are all already making accommodations for. Taking a couple of midterms and writing a paper early is probably easier than what a lot of your other unit members will have to do to get ready for NTC.
(2)
Reply
(0)
SGT Monitor
SGT (Join to see)
>1 y
PFC (Join to see) - It is not a Myth. you need a copy of your orders and to sit down and talk to your instructors. If they will not work with you then every college has a chain of command just like the Army does. USE IT! A simple Google search for a laws pertaining to military missing college will do you wonders.

As for as the can't get more than 4 U's a month, that BS as well. Each drill day counts as 2 MUTA's so if you only do a 2 day drill then you only get 4 U's but if you have a 3 day drill you miss then you get 6 U's.

Lastly, if your command is as toxic as you claim then I suggest you address that on the next Command Claimant Survey that comes out that they require EVERY year for the soldiers to do, and if that doesn't work then as suggest above file an IG complaint.

There are protocols put into place to assist with any and all issues you could ever have, you just have to use them and do what needs to be done, except only YOU can do it. Also a word of advice. Pick your battles.
(0)
Reply
(0)
PFC Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Operations Specialist
PFC (Join to see)
>1 y
SFC(P) (Join to see) what you posted literally says in bold at the top that it doesnt apply if its not a deployment.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
LTC Executive Officer To Afc A Co S G 3/5/7
3
3
0
Well - even if you “joined to get through college”...you are well aware that there were certain training events (annual training, monthly drills) that you would have to attend. The Army decided that your unit would attend an NTC rotation - it happens. If you have orders (which you will if you are doing a 30 day rotation)...I find it hard to believe that your school would penalize you and you would forfeit your scholarship. Who told you that you would lose it? I have a feeling that person is uninformed.
(3)
Comment
(0)
PFC Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Operations Specialist
PFC (Join to see)
>1 y
The state of Oklahoma. Unless it is a deployment I will not get it extended if im gone fot more than 15 days my school doesnt accept me into the program anyway.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

How are you connected to the military?
  • Active Duty
  • Active Reserve / National Guard
  • Pre-Commission
  • Veteran / Retired
  • Civilian Supporter