Posted on Nov 24, 2020
SPC S1 Clerk/Rotc Cadet
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I am officially commissioning this December as a 2LT (SMP, prior enlisted). I was projected to commission back in August this year, but the only thing that pushed back my commission was a mental health clearance for duty.

I live in Chicago, and the closest Army MTF was either at Fort Campbell or Fort Knox. My ROTC program initially had me book a VA appointment at Great Lakes with a Navy nurse practitioner, who assessed me in March and wrote a memo in June in which she declared me fit for duty. However, this was not accepted by the ROTC Brigade Nurse, who requested that a DA 3822, or "any form that shows the type of evaluations performed...and clearance for Military service." The Navy nurse stated that she could not fill out an Army form, and suggested that I should book an appointment at Campbell. As this was going on during the pandemic, my program opted not to cut orders for me to fly in for one day. After my projected August commissioning date, my NCOIC suggested that I should get the DA 3822 filled out by one of the psychiatrists assigned to our unit. I got it processed in October, and the hold was lifted.

That being said, I don't hold any serious grudges for the kickback, and I'm relieved that I can still commission this year, but would it still be possible to regain some time in grade? I currently still have the Navy nurse's memo, as well as my old commissioning paperwork. I am actually graduating with my master's in December, but I was initially using my bachelor's degree from 2016 to commission early instead. Otherwise, I tried.
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Responses: 9
COL Jon Thompson
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Edited >1 y ago
You cannot get time in grade for a grade you did not have. To commission, you have to meet all the academic, training, and administrative requirements. I would stick with being thankful you are able to commission next month and move forward to be the best 2LT you can be.
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
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Agree, should just be thankful he didn't get ganked by the system.
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LTC Sustainment Chief Oc/T
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I don't believe so. Your time starts from commissioning and you weren't eligible for commissioning without that clearance for duty. You could discuss it with your PMS and possibly with proponency at whatever branch you commission into. But i wouldn't hold my breath.
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CPT Staff Officer
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I really don't think it's going to happen. At best it will be dated no later than the last officially accepted document holding up your entire commissioning process.

I feel the burn. I was supposed to just simply commission in SEP-2014, but ended up taking until MAY-2015 because of a back and forth medical process between a USAF clinic and Army HRC. It put me in a different cohort year and potentially cost me my chance to make LCT before age 60.

What is the impact on the long game? Will it change the highest rank you retire at? Just move forward from where you are the best you can.
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