When searching for reserve slots are you only eligible to request your current Rank

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 17:25:31 -0400

I'm searching for reserve units and there seems to none 25B close to my home of record which is where I plan to go. They have E6 slots close but what is the rule on requesting those positions?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2015 5:37 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 17:37:00 -0400

Give it a shot if you're within your window. Worst that can happen is they say no right?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2015 5:44 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 17:44:22 -0400

I was informed once or twice that you could be slotted two ranks above and one below your current rank.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2015 5:56 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 17:56:44 -0400

Also consider retrain to a second MOS

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2015 6:00 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 18:00:05 -0400

2 up and 1 down, I believe. So, you could sit in an E4,E6 or E7 slot

Response by LTC John Shaw made Aug 3 at 2015 6:01 PM

LTC John Shaw — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 18:01:44 -0400

Recruiter have rules, you should be able to move into a position at least one higher, maybe two. Which recruiting command have you spoken with?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2015 6:03 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 18:03:32 -0400

Since you have the P status, and if that SSG slot is vacant, then you can easily be put into that slot. In my Reserve unit, I have 2 SGTs filling SSG slots and I am a SSG in a SFC slot. Trust me, you will be good to go.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2015 7:21 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 19:21:21 -0400

Are you Active Duty now? If so when you transition you can be put into an E6 slot. It is not likely you could be put in an E7 slot. If you are already in the Reserve, basically still the same situation. If you want specific information, drop me a line and I will put you in touch with someonw in the area you are looking at.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2015 12:23 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 00:23:11 -0400

I've received a lot of Soldiers from active duty this year. The Retention/Recruiting NCO is able to place Soldiers in any position (1 pay grade down or 2 up). Right now the reserves is double slotting to maintain strength so getting in shouldn't be a problem. If the retention NCO is having problems getting you in to the unit there are exceptions to policy - the commander of the unit you are wanting can sign an acceptance memo getting you in.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Aug 4 at 2015 12:33 AM

CMSgt James Nolan — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 00:33:34 -0400

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member I can only speak of Air Guard when it comes to positions. Essentially, we can take some someone into our unit, as long as we have a vacancy. It is up to the Commander, as to how high of a grade we will accept (we rarely take TSgt/E-6 or higher), because we have to allow upward mobility for our own dedicated troops, without crushing morale.
If you have a valuable skill set, you should be a "catch" and may be able to sell that to the unit you are looking to join.

For us, in the Air Guard, you can be placed into a slot that is assigned a grade (ex E-4 in a E-7 slot), that does not mean that you are going to make E-7 or perform as E-7, you are an E-4. We simply have x# of slots in each grade and occasionally, a vacancy occurs. We then start to move troops around to fill the slots with appropriate ranks. I assume that Army is same way. Hope that helps.

Response by SGT Mark Seymour made Aug 4 at 2015 7:44 AM

SGT Mark Seymour — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 07:44:49 -0400

As I recall as long as the slot is above your current rank you are good to go.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2015 4:42 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 04:42:46 -0400

DIMA is another option if you have some flexibility. Knock out all you training in one chunk and you're done for the year. You can take a position higher than your current rank.

Response by COL Michael Freeman made Aug 5 at 2015 4:23 PM

COL Michael Freeman — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 16:23:14 -0400

I suggest you contact the 95th Division (IET) at Ft Sill. They have some flexibility on duty location while holding a HQ slot. As the former G6 of the 98th Division, I had 25Bs in Brigades and at HQ. I never seemed to have enough. If you like computer support, this is perfect for you. Check them out. http://www.usar.army.mil/ourstory/commands/108TNG/95TNG/Pages/default.aspx

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2015 9:55 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 21:55:49 -0400

1 up and 1 down

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2015 2:35 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 14:35:56 -0400

No lots of flexibility but beware as money for mosq schools are drying up.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2015 8:01 AM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 08:01:48 -0400

In 34 years, I have seen PFC's in MSG slots and vica versa. Your command can do ANYTHING they want and create slots and triple slot individuals if they want to. Even in congressional inquiries, I have been told, "Regulations are only a guideline". You just have to prove you would be "useful" to the command you would like to go to...

Response by SGT John Condon made Aug 9 at 2015 7:39 PM

SGT John Condon — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 19:39:34 -0400

It's been a while for me, but I know it was 2 up & 1 down. But I'd be careful. When I left active duty, I was slotted in an E-7 position as an E-5. However, that was only on paper. I ended up in an E-5 position & couldn't move up b/c of my MOS (there weren't any E-6 positions period for my MOS in the unit). I would have needed to get a 2nd MOS & go through all of the schooling for that (which I was told could take up to 2 re-enlistments by the recruiter in the Guard) just to get promoted to E-6.

Response by SSG Douglas Turner made Aug 12 at 2015 12:17 AM

SSG Douglas Turner — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 00:17:35 -0400

I believe you can be slotted two ranks above and one below your current rank. So, look for Units with those openings. I'm sure you will find something. Also you could change MOS and find a slot. I had to change MOS 5 times to just stay in the USAR.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Aug 17 at 2015 8:32 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 08:32:53 -0400

I was put into a slot one rank above mine, simply because that was what was there. Sounds like that happens often, so you should have no issues-hopefully.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2015 1:16 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 13:16:38 -0400

The commander decides if he will accept you regardless. Sometimes retention will just put you in a unit, but he is not suppose to do it. As a unit administrator in the army reserves, I have seen plenty of mismatches on the UMR.