When should I contact my branch for a follow-on dual-military assignment?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 22:16:41 -0400

My wife recently left for BCT, she is set to graduate June 13, then she proceeds to Fort Gordon for 25B AIT which is 20 weeks, she should complete IET around mid November. Here's where it gets sticky, I am doing a 2 year unaccompanied tour in Germany, with a DEROs of June 2020. We plan on enrolling into the Married Army's Couple Program once she gets to AIT, but it would be pointless to get her to PCS to Germany, due to me having 7 months left come November as well as my career progression. So would it be a good idea to call branch after we enroll in MACP and get them to communicate and try to put us on assignment? We want JBLM, Ft. Bragg or Ft Stewart. All suggestions are welcomed, I'm really trying to get on top of this before her branch makes a decision for the both of us.

Thanks,
vr,
SGT Lindsay

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2019 10:27 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 22:27:25 -0400

Enroll in MACP. Call both branches as soon as you can.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Apr 8 at 2019 4:49 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 04:49:24 -0400

Do it as soon as she ships, that’s
when she’s in contract! That gives time for you to work it with both yours and her branch.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Apr 8 at 2019 12:59 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 12:59:59 -0400

Enroll in MACP as soon as you are allowed. And immediately after that, call both branches - even before MACP is approved. They can't do anything OFFICIAL until MACP is approved, but you can give them the heads up that this is what you are doing, and ask (assuming it is approved) what your options will be. It really depends on personality from there. Branch may feel like you are wasting their time because it isn't approved yet (unlikely, but possible), or they could very well appreciate the heads up and, if nothing else, shuffle you to the bottom of this motnh's "to do" list while waiting for MACP to finalize (and be thankful they don't have to try to "undo" something because MACP hits right after their grand master scheme (muah-hah-ha-ha!!!) was finally put into motion). Giving Branch a heads up can never hurt you, as long as you do it in a purely "heads up" manner.

Then, once MACP is approved, call branch back ASAP and say "it is finalized, what are we looking at?"