Would I have to repay re-enlistment bonus in the reserves, if my conditional release (dd368) gets signed, and I am able to go active?

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 23:27:34 -0400

Last year, I made the mistake to re enlist in the reserves for the first time because of financial hardships. Just to find out after I had re enlisted that I would receive the bonus on ETS date which is August 15, 2019. For some reason I could of sweared the career counselor said it would take 30 days to receive the bonus. To make the story short, I have tried to go active duty but it had been impossible to get the dd368 signed twice..just recently our UA had sent out an email that now we can go active duty from the reserves. I'm taking the opportunity in a heart beat but I dont want to receive the bonus if it will prevent me from really going active duty.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2019 11:29 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 23:29:30 -0400

The terms of the bonus are in your re-enlistmeant papers. I would recommend reading them.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2019 1:43 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 01:43:19 -0400

You'll definitely have to repay the unearned portion of the bonus you've already received.

Response by CSM William Everroad made Aug 1 at 2019 9:47 AM

CSM William Everroad — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 09:47:34 -0400

2LT Private RallyPoint Member You can always request a conditional release form the reserves to go active duty. This is not a new thing. If you are accepted by AD or not is another story.
As SFC Private RallyPoint Member mentioned, if you receive any of the bonus prior to completing the terms of your contract, they will recoup it and cancel the rest.
Typically they will take a portion of the amount owed from each pay period, not to exceed a certain percentage of base pay. But, I have seen Soldiers' pay get sideways when it comes to debts in the pay system.
Even if you submit the 368 right now, it could take a year before all the paperwork is done and approved and you get your first duty assignment. Not to say I haven't seen transfers go in less than a month, but in those cases, we were in constant contact with Commanders and recruiters/retention constantly.