Would a Interstate transfer be possible?

2019-09-12T17:27:50-04:00

My wife is National guard for West Virginia, but I’m currently stationed in Georgia, making her drill over 500 miles away. Her unit while be going on a training deployment and mobilizing in December (she does not have orders, but is on a DMD), which we were entirely fine with until another problem presented itself. A fellow soldier started harassing her to the point where she fears for her own safety being stuck around him. The is an open investigation so I’m unable to disclose the details, but it will be closed soon. In the meantime, we started looking into interstate transfers to resolve the problem at the unit, and to make drill more convenient. We have talked to her unit and they were against the transfer saying it was impossible due to the future deployment, but after I sat down with the CO and 1SG, they said that they would sign off on the transfer. I’ve also contacted the state IST coordinator for West Virginia, and informed him of everything going on, and he said that the transfer should still be possible. I’ve contacted a guard recruiter here in Augusta, and have found multiple units with open slots for her MOS. She’s a 25U so it’s very easy to find gaining units. She did not receive a bonus and was just issued TA50 last week so clearing CIF would not be hard. I have my command team working with me to try and help with the transfer and the investigation, because her unit did not want to handle it appropriately, thought a commanders inquiry would be fine, even though she requested to file a formal complaint. The IST coordinator and I both think there should be no issue with the transfer, but her unit keeps discouraging her and saying “the state will deny it” and “the process takes a year”. I was just wanting to get some advice/opinions on the situation from people that may have experience with either case or who may be able to give advice. Thank you.
PFC Keigans

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2019 6:03 PM

2019-09-12T18:03:59-04:00

I have IST'ed twice in my career. Both times the process took around 3 weeks, because I stayed on them.

Response by SPC Casey Ashfield made Sep 12 at 2019 6:16 PM

2019-09-12T18:16:15-04:00

The IST coordinator is going to be your best friend trying to get it pushed through. The unit will have little say in the matter other than turning in equipment that appears on the clothing record. When I did IST, I only visited my unit once to turn gear back in. Stay on your IST POC and do everything promptly. And as always, keep copies of everything. Paperwork loves to get lost at State levels.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Sep 13 at 2019 2:24 AM

2019-09-13T02:24:26-04:00

Not a transfer no, but a release from one states guard and recruitment to another states National Guard. It is a matter of getting a release and having it signed off on. Sadly, the fact of the investigation being in place could be a helpful factor.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Sep 13 at 2019 8:01 AM

2019-09-13T08:01:59-04:00

I did an interstate transfer in the Guard and a transfer to the Reserve, neither were a problem. Of course, I was S1 when I went to the Reserves, so I had a bit of an advantage. The truth is that the local or Battalion Commander is not the authority on interstate transfers and in most states the IST coordinator will arrange that pretty quickly. I chose to drill in Ohio for the first three months because we were deploying to Alaska and I was one of the aircraft commanders, but no one gave me any problems with the transfer when we got back. Have her put in a transfer, the form is NGB 22-5.
She will need to have a current and passing APFT and PHA to transfer. A recruiter in Georgia may be able to expedite that process.