Retention
Retention
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-Enlisted July 2016.
-Re-enlisted March 2020 for 6 years.
-Was a SPC (P) at the time of re-enlistment.
-Made SGT in May 2020, while in Afghanistan (no BLC).
-Did not go to BLC after redeployment.
-Was administratively reduced to SPC on 1 May 2022.
As of today, I am still a SPC non-promotable. My RCP date is 24 August 2024. It is to my understanding that upon my reduction, my ETS should have been changed in IPPS-A to 24 August 2024 because of my demotion. However, it still reflects my contractual ETS in IPPS-A, which is 08 March 2026.
It is also to my understanding that the only individual with the power and responsibility to change that date is my unit career counselor. However, when I brought this to her attention, she did not change it.
She stated that because I was a SPC (P) at the time of reenlistment, then my RCP should be 10 years, not 8. She also said that because I never went to BLC, I was never technically reduced in grade so therefore, the regulation does not apply to me. To this day, I have not found any regulation that backs that up.
In this in-person conversation, I was giving this SSG a hard time because I was not buying this. The Retention NCOIC, a MSG, swooped in, sat on the desk all suave like and then told me about a beautiful ETP that extends RCPs for soldiers. They both assured me that I was not leaving the Army until my contractual ETS in March of 2026.
But I told that MSG right then that I read the memorandum he was referring to, and it does not cover me because the current memo only applies to soldiers with ETS dates from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2025 and my contractual ETS falls beyond that frame, and the extension of a soldier’s RCP date is voluntary and requires that the SM submits specific paperwork, which I will not volunteer to do.
I left this in-person meeting with an understanding that the retention office was wrong, and I do not care if it was ignorance or intentional, I just need an answer in the regulation. I spent several weeks reading AR and DA PAM 601-280, the memorandum extending RCPs, and all other regulations regarding RCP; I visited every office regarding separation, I consulted with other career counselors, the separations office, my branch manager, and even the former unit career counselor. Everyone and the regulation all point to the fact that my ETS should be 24 August 2024. As of right now, I have not found any regulation that nullifies an RCP based on *how* a soldier gets to their rank.
After understanding the ins and outs of what I was asking, I emailed my retention office and my career counselor requesting that my ETS be updated to reflect my RCP, reciting the information I gathered through regulation and the instruction of the various offices I visited. She has still come to the conclusion that we need to speak in person again, and my ETS has not yet been updated.
My greatest concern is that my retention authorities are incorrect, and if I don't vie to correct them and just simply take their word, then one day I will suddenly stop getting paid and I will have to fight hard as hell to get my paycheck and separate. This happens all too often with soldiers who reach their RCP. Yet, I am trying to stay ahead of it because I am the sole income for my family, I have a newborn, and I can not afford to miss a paycheck in this economy; I need this resolved so I know whether or not I need to start job searching now.
I am 100% certain I am supposed to separate this August, but it is like pulling teeth to get my career counselor to understand the regulation and update my ETS, and yet she is the only one who can update my ETS; upon updating my ETS, I will be able to request terminal leave and get my separation orders, and begin outprocessing.
Do any of you know ANY doctrine that could prove me wrong so I can rest easy knowing I am not about to lose my job in six months? Any regulation that renders my RCP null and void? My career counselor has not provided anything to justify her reasoning for not updating my ETS, so I am hoping someone out there can back up her claims before this turns into an IG complaint. The longer we sit on this, the less chance I get at utilizing the benefits provided to us while we are leaving, not to mention I can't begin my job search until this is cleared up.
Thank you all for whatever information you have on this.
-Re-enlisted March 2020 for 6 years.
-Was a SPC (P) at the time of re-enlistment.
-Made SGT in May 2020, while in Afghanistan (no BLC).
-Did not go to BLC after redeployment.
-Was administratively reduced to SPC on 1 May 2022.
As of today, I am still a SPC non-promotable. My RCP date is 24 August 2024. It is to my understanding that upon my reduction, my ETS should have been changed in IPPS-A to 24 August 2024 because of my demotion. However, it still reflects my contractual ETS in IPPS-A, which is 08 March 2026.
It is also to my understanding that the only individual with the power and responsibility to change that date is my unit career counselor. However, when I brought this to her attention, she did not change it.
She stated that because I was a SPC (P) at the time of reenlistment, then my RCP should be 10 years, not 8. She also said that because I never went to BLC, I was never technically reduced in grade so therefore, the regulation does not apply to me. To this day, I have not found any regulation that backs that up.
In this in-person conversation, I was giving this SSG a hard time because I was not buying this. The Retention NCOIC, a MSG, swooped in, sat on the desk all suave like and then told me about a beautiful ETP that extends RCPs for soldiers. They both assured me that I was not leaving the Army until my contractual ETS in March of 2026.
But I told that MSG right then that I read the memorandum he was referring to, and it does not cover me because the current memo only applies to soldiers with ETS dates from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2025 and my contractual ETS falls beyond that frame, and the extension of a soldier’s RCP date is voluntary and requires that the SM submits specific paperwork, which I will not volunteer to do.
I left this in-person meeting with an understanding that the retention office was wrong, and I do not care if it was ignorance or intentional, I just need an answer in the regulation. I spent several weeks reading AR and DA PAM 601-280, the memorandum extending RCPs, and all other regulations regarding RCP; I visited every office regarding separation, I consulted with other career counselors, the separations office, my branch manager, and even the former unit career counselor. Everyone and the regulation all point to the fact that my ETS should be 24 August 2024. As of right now, I have not found any regulation that nullifies an RCP based on *how* a soldier gets to their rank.
After understanding the ins and outs of what I was asking, I emailed my retention office and my career counselor requesting that my ETS be updated to reflect my RCP, reciting the information I gathered through regulation and the instruction of the various offices I visited. She has still come to the conclusion that we need to speak in person again, and my ETS has not yet been updated.
My greatest concern is that my retention authorities are incorrect, and if I don't vie to correct them and just simply take their word, then one day I will suddenly stop getting paid and I will have to fight hard as hell to get my paycheck and separate. This happens all too often with soldiers who reach their RCP. Yet, I am trying to stay ahead of it because I am the sole income for my family, I have a newborn, and I can not afford to miss a paycheck in this economy; I need this resolved so I know whether or not I need to start job searching now.
I am 100% certain I am supposed to separate this August, but it is like pulling teeth to get my career counselor to understand the regulation and update my ETS, and yet she is the only one who can update my ETS; upon updating my ETS, I will be able to request terminal leave and get my separation orders, and begin outprocessing.
Do any of you know ANY doctrine that could prove me wrong so I can rest easy knowing I am not about to lose my job in six months? Any regulation that renders my RCP null and void? My career counselor has not provided anything to justify her reasoning for not updating my ETS, so I am hoping someone out there can back up her claims before this turns into an IG complaint. The longer we sit on this, the less chance I get at utilizing the benefits provided to us while we are leaving, not to mention I can't begin my job search until this is cleared up.
Thank you all for whatever information you have on this.
Posted in these groups: 
Retention
Retention NCO
79S: Career Counselor
Career Counselor
Army Retention Course
Retention Retention NCO 79S: Career Counselor Career Counselor Army Retention Course
Posted 2 mo ago
Responses: 2
Suspended Profile
Don't rule out having an office-call visit with your Bde CSM. My Bde CSM was my go-to person for these types of questions (espc. trying to determine if someone qualifies for separation under RCP when there are various factors involved, the same type of factors that you are dealing with). Should you find that you do qualify for separation under RCP, it is ultimately up to the discretion of the Army and your chain of command to determine if separation is appropriate in your situation. There were situations when I decided that RCP was not the best COA for the Army or the Soldier. In other instances, it was the better COA, and was what the Soldier wanted too. So, you've worked through the Retention and Career Counselor levels and I think it's time you sought assistance from your local SME on Army programs and retention policies -- your Brigade CSM. If you are eventually processed for separation under RCP it will go through the Bde CSM at some point anyway, so it's your chance to get this topic on his/her radar now.
When you were admin reduced, was your DOR to SPC reflective to 1 May 2022 on the 4187 that reduced you?
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SPC (Join to see)
I know in IPPS-A my DOR for SPC is 1 May 2022, but I don't know where to look for the 4187. iPerms?
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MSG (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) - Look in iPerms. There MUST be a document for your admin reduction.
Everything I know about RCP is it goes by DOR and TIS. For example, I once knew a dude that was a SSG but was reduced to SGT for Insubordination. As soon as he was reduced...they started the the paperwork to remove him from Service because he had 17 years at the time of Reduction and RCP for SGT is 14 years.
But, with that above scenario and yours, your RCP should be 2024. What I am guessing is that they think you are still a SPC(P). If your IPPS-A profile is stating you're a SPC and NOT promotable, then your RCP is 2024.
While I cannot find anything concrete stating this.... I am still digging.....everything else I am finding states your RCP is this year.
Everything I know about RCP is it goes by DOR and TIS. For example, I once knew a dude that was a SSG but was reduced to SGT for Insubordination. As soon as he was reduced...they started the the paperwork to remove him from Service because he had 17 years at the time of Reduction and RCP for SGT is 14 years.
But, with that above scenario and yours, your RCP should be 2024. What I am guessing is that they think you are still a SPC(P). If your IPPS-A profile is stating you're a SPC and NOT promotable, then your RCP is 2024.
While I cannot find anything concrete stating this.... I am still digging.....everything else I am finding states your RCP is this year.
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