Posted on Oct 19, 2015
Why is it so hard to discharge soldiers who continually miss drill/battle assembly?
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I'm seeing more and more soldiers just out of training not showing up. First I ask myself why. Second I ask why should it take 9 missed mutas to actually affect the soldier? Sure you can take their bonuses and GI Bill benefits but at the end of the day it's a general discharge. I think there needs to be stiffer penalties for those soldiers who waste the militaries time, money, and resources. Any other thoughts on this?
Posted in these groups: 
Army Reserve
Discharge
Army Reserve Discharge
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 33
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Great question, as readiness nco I deal with this 90% of the time it seems like and I've only been in the position for 6 months. I am still trying to discharge people that I've never met and they haven't been to drill in a year. When I went to a recent class and had a briefing from legal, the NCOIC's answer to me when I asked your same question was it takes so long because it should and the soldier has rights. I was not happy with that answer. I best advice is do your due diligence to keep pushing the dirt bags out by doing the right paperwork and procedures and don't kick the can down road even when frustrates the hell out of you. Sorry kind of a rant on my part.
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The actions from the UA are not that difficult; its a letter sent to the last known residence of the soldier. The first letter is sent via certified mail; subsequent letters can be mailed by First Class USPS. An affidavit of service by mail needs to be completed for each letter mailed. All of this should be routine for a UA. Once the Soldier gets 10 or more Us, all of the copies of those letters, affidavits and mailing certificates are sent to legal along with a 268. With our unit we have gotten "rid" of 7 unseats by perfecting the process. The main problem now is OPERATION FULL COURT PRESS. "they" don't want to get rid of anyone because they need the numbers for $$$.
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It's a numbers game. The more soldiers we have on the books the more money we get for our budget. Not that it's right but that's how it goes.
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And those are he ones that need to be kicked out! But here is the catch....while there are regulations for everything that is done, the commander can ensure they don't return to the military either by effectively using the proper discharge codes.
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Ok. After some more thought, input, and reading some responses on this topic let me ask this.
A majority of the responses so far have been from SR level personnel ie: CDR's, 1SG's etc. where are the PLT SGT's, SL's, and TL's, and what impact do they contribute to this? Are they doing their jobs? Is the unit leadership empowering/mentoring them to do their jobs?
I'm in a PLT SGT position. I'm in contact with my SL's numerous times during the month with via phone, text or face to face. Not just for unit business, but also making sure they're doing good etc. more often then not just to shoot the shit with them. I also remind them to stay in contact with their TL's and Soldiers. Occasionally I'll talk to my TL's and even some of my Soldiers. I know who is having any issues etc. I honesty can't recall the last time I've had a AWOL Soldier.(41 man Infantry PLT currently over strength).
A majority of the responses so far have been from SR level personnel ie: CDR's, 1SG's etc. where are the PLT SGT's, SL's, and TL's, and what impact do they contribute to this? Are they doing their jobs? Is the unit leadership empowering/mentoring them to do their jobs?
I'm in a PLT SGT position. I'm in contact with my SL's numerous times during the month with via phone, text or face to face. Not just for unit business, but also making sure they're doing good etc. more often then not just to shoot the shit with them. I also remind them to stay in contact with their TL's and Soldiers. Occasionally I'll talk to my TL's and even some of my Soldiers. I know who is having any issues etc. I honesty can't recall the last time I've had a AWOL Soldier.(41 man Infantry PLT currently over strength).
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Retention is a key responsibility, and it's everyone's job. This can found in the regulations. The military's resources are already invested in the soldier, so discharging them would be wasteful and irresponsible. People have lives to live outside of the military and taking their benefits because they missed a couple of drills is a little ridiculous. You have an important responsibility to retain a soldier if at all possible.
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As a recipient of General under Honorable due to UnSat I must give my view. I enjoyed being a soldier, really enjoyed training, however the thing that caused my lack of participation was when I showed up for drill that faithful weekend every month I was met with the following scenario almost every time I went.
Lack of training......show up for morning formation, fall out and sit around all day waiting for someone to decide what we will do. It was pretty lack luster when it came to weekend drill. Sad when the only excitement was when selected for KP. Because you knew you would be busy all day! That's why I quit showing up as did 90% of the guys that signed up around the same time I did. Why waste my time and energy for someone that just didn't care about my time.
Looking back, I should have just asked to transfer into R/A but I was young and thought I knew what I was doing. My old NG unit has been since decommissioned and no longer exists. Charlie Co 3rd / 130th infantry.
Because I never saw active duty the U.S. Government doesn't even acknowledge me as a veteran, however, I can assure you I never relinquished my oath to defend this country.
Lack of training......show up for morning formation, fall out and sit around all day waiting for someone to decide what we will do. It was pretty lack luster when it came to weekend drill. Sad when the only excitement was when selected for KP. Because you knew you would be busy all day! That's why I quit showing up as did 90% of the guys that signed up around the same time I did. Why waste my time and energy for someone that just didn't care about my time.
Looking back, I should have just asked to transfer into R/A but I was young and thought I knew what I was doing. My old NG unit has been since decommissioned and no longer exists. Charlie Co 3rd / 130th infantry.
Because I never saw active duty the U.S. Government doesn't even acknowledge me as a veteran, however, I can assure you I never relinquished my oath to defend this country.
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LTC Stephen B.
First off, thank you for your input - the opposite-side's perspective should always be valued. While I sympathize with your position at the time, I don't personally agree with your response to the situation. But to the point: I took over an ARNG detachment in AZ back in the early 90s. AZ Guard had a lot of pressure on to keep end strength up. The other LT and I (both prior Marines) had a heart-to-heart with the NCOs and CW3 regarding the history of the det and the personnel - both good and bad. Each drill after first formation, we sent the CW3 out with a list of those absent and in about an hour he'd be back with many of them in tow. He knew where they lived and at which relative's house they'd be hanging out to avoid a drill. Next we did some heavy weeding and dead-wood removal. Most on here probably won't be surprised that the biggest problem aside from getting rid of the bad is keeping the good, and the two are related. Had to remove an AGR PLT SGT who was constantly somewhere else. Most of the excuses were legitimate but unverifiable. I had the State move him to a position elsewhere in the State so I could get an NCO that would actually be present to train his/her Soldiers. That one move not only lifted the morale of the platoon, but the entire detachment got the message that times were changing. We had about an 80% attrition rate the first 12-14 months and took some severe beatings on paper. But when we were done, we were 105% strength with the highest attendance rate in the State and (according to the State Chaplain) the most active and effective family support group as well. NCOs were allowed to handle 'NCO business' and were expected to do so. Once Soldiers were no longer 'holding up the armory walls' during drill weekend, they were more than enthusiastic about bringing in their friends, and were also self-policing - no one wanted to go back to the way the unit was.
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SPC Taylor Webb
All we did was talk all day because the radios where too "expensive" or some bullshit, literately did nothing, but maybe on occasion pmcs with the mechanics as a 94E
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Your S1 has to ensure he or she keeps the UNSAT letters and build the non participate packet. And another option is to transfer them into the IRR.
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