Posted on Apr 23, 2022
Can you be forced to ETS even though you’re trying to reenlist or extend?
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When on rotation To Korea, I was being forced to reenlist or extend, but I told my chain of command that I was waiting on the retention NCO (cause I wanted Germany or reclass). Still, I was sent back to the rear because I didn't decide on time. After getting back to the state, I have a situation on getting my GT score up, so I tried to extend and have been denied and told that I must ETS.
Career Counselor
Career Advice
Retention NCO
Reclass
Germany
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 5
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If you are fully qualified to reenlist, you can't be denied reenlistment without your commander barring you. Fully qualified meaning you have no reenlistment prohibition codes on your ERB.
Your commander has seven calender days to return the signed DA 3340 request for reenlistment as approved or recommended for a bar, that is IAW AR 601-280.If your commander just refuses to sign it, I suggest a quick trip to IG so that the IG can explain the regulation to your commander. If your commander recommends barring you, it goes to your battalion commander for approval. If that is approved, it goes to your Brigade commander for appeal. Assuming there is nothing more to it than this, your Brigades Senior Career Counselor would advise the Brigade Commander that you can't bar someone just because it appears they used a loophole to leave a rotation early by saying they were going to ETS and then changing their mind. Actually, you should have been left behind from the rotation when you didn't extend ahead of time, but that's a different issue.
Your commander has seven calender days to return the signed DA 3340 request for reenlistment as approved or recommended for a bar, that is IAW AR 601-280.If your commander just refuses to sign it, I suggest a quick trip to IG so that the IG can explain the regulation to your commander. If your commander recommends barring you, it goes to your battalion commander for approval. If that is approved, it goes to your Brigade commander for appeal. Assuming there is nothing more to it than this, your Brigades Senior Career Counselor would advise the Brigade Commander that you can't bar someone just because it appears they used a loophole to leave a rotation early by saying they were going to ETS and then changing their mind. Actually, you should have been left behind from the rotation when you didn't extend ahead of time, but that's a different issue.
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SGM Erik Marquez
SFC (Join to see) The SGT said "I was already taking steps to get Germany or reclass, but the retention NCO had already tried three times, and he said I would need to wait six months before he checked again. For the other jobs I have in mind to reclass to, I need a high GT score"
He was not denied reenlistment,,, he was just not offered what he wanted (Germany), was not qualified for other options he wanted (GT score too low), was not interested in what reenlistment options were open to him so he choose to not reenlist or extend, both options afforded him by his commander according to his first post.
This is just a case of the option he wants is not available, and his ETS timeline does not allow for an action plan to get himself qualified for other desirable options.
He was not denied reenlistment,,, he was just not offered what he wanted (Germany), was not qualified for other options he wanted (GT score too low), was not interested in what reenlistment options were open to him so he choose to not reenlist or extend, both options afforded him by his commander according to his first post.
This is just a case of the option he wants is not available, and his ETS timeline does not allow for an action plan to get himself qualified for other desirable options.
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SFC (Join to see)
SGM Erik Marquez I was able to read between the lines of what he was saying, although it was very confusing. I was the Senior for this Brigade so I understand more what he's trying to explain.
The unit was scheduled for a Korea rotation. The unit is required have the Soldier extend prior to leaving on the rotation, but they took him anyway. From the commanders perspective it looks like the Soldier chose not to extend for the rotation and was sent home early to ETS, and is now asking to reenlist. Basically getting themselves out of the Korea rotation early.
The Soldier is now flagged and under investigation and ineligible to reenlist. I don't know what the investigation is for, so I can't speculate if he got in trouble or the commander erroneously flagged him because he requested to reenlist after leaving early.
The unit was scheduled for a Korea rotation. The unit is required have the Soldier extend prior to leaving on the rotation, but they took him anyway. From the commanders perspective it looks like the Soldier chose not to extend for the rotation and was sent home early to ETS, and is now asking to reenlist. Basically getting themselves out of the Korea rotation early.
The Soldier is now flagged and under investigation and ineligible to reenlist. I don't know what the investigation is for, so I can't speculate if he got in trouble or the commander erroneously flagged him because he requested to reenlist after leaving early.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) I promise you that there’s nothing more to my story. I never made any decisions when I was in Korea. After I was flagged, I talked with the rear Commander, and he made it clear that they decided for me since I didn’t make one on time.
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SFC (Join to see)
SGT(P) (Join to see) good old 4-6 doing things they aren't allowed to do.... Take your 4856 there and head over to Division Retention and see SGM Schillereff above French Theater. Inform him that you attempted to reenlist and were immediately flagged by the Rear D. What the rear d commander did was just short of illegal.
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SGT(P) (Join to see) So you were on an OCONUS rotation with your unit. Your ETS date was approaching and triggered a choice, reenlist or extend. You choose for your own reasons to do neither.
That trigged an action point guided by policy to send you back to your home station to process you out of the service at your ETS date. (Because you wanted something that the retention NCO could not get you at that time, nothing wrong with that, but the point is it was your choice)
Once back at your home station for the purpose of doing all the mandated pre-separation training, classes, medical, ect. You tried to get the Rear D commander to halt the separation process, allow you to extend so you can take a GT improvement class, maybe get a higher score, maybe find a reclass MOS you want, that has a seat and you are qualified for, and then maybe you will follow through to reenlist. That is how that Rear D commander sees it, who by the way gets their commanders' intent and instructions from the higher HQ commander, which is the same commander that ordered you back to separate at your current ETS date...So there is that.
Bottom line, no commander I met in 28 years allows a good Soldier, a Sergeant at that, separate if there is any way to get you what you want to reenlist. Retention rates are a metric commanders get graded on. If a unit commander is not looking for ways to get you to reenlist, either they suck at their job, and that's possible, or they have no interest in seeing you reenlist, not enough to bar you obviously, as they offered you while in Korea to reenlist or extend.
Your choices are simple.
Follow through on the choice you made not to reenlist or extend.
Ask to speak to the Rear D commander, layout your requested plan to make yourself eligible for, and then reenlist to continue serving the Army, in a MOS you desire. All the commander can say is no, but they might see a reason to say yes, and jump though the hoops needed,
That trigged an action point guided by policy to send you back to your home station to process you out of the service at your ETS date. (Because you wanted something that the retention NCO could not get you at that time, nothing wrong with that, but the point is it was your choice)
Once back at your home station for the purpose of doing all the mandated pre-separation training, classes, medical, ect. You tried to get the Rear D commander to halt the separation process, allow you to extend so you can take a GT improvement class, maybe get a higher score, maybe find a reclass MOS you want, that has a seat and you are qualified for, and then maybe you will follow through to reenlist. That is how that Rear D commander sees it, who by the way gets their commanders' intent and instructions from the higher HQ commander, which is the same commander that ordered you back to separate at your current ETS date...So there is that.
Bottom line, no commander I met in 28 years allows a good Soldier, a Sergeant at that, separate if there is any way to get you what you want to reenlist. Retention rates are a metric commanders get graded on. If a unit commander is not looking for ways to get you to reenlist, either they suck at their job, and that's possible, or they have no interest in seeing you reenlist, not enough to bar you obviously, as they offered you while in Korea to reenlist or extend.
Your choices are simple.
Follow through on the choice you made not to reenlist or extend.
Ask to speak to the Rear D commander, layout your requested plan to make yourself eligible for, and then reenlist to continue serving the Army, in a MOS you desire. All the commander can say is no, but they might see a reason to say yes, and jump though the hoops needed,
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
So before the command team approached me, I was already taking steps to get Germany or reclass, but the retention NCO had already tried three times, and he said I would need to wait six months before he checked again. For the other jobs I have in mind to reclass to, I need a high GT score, so when I was sent back to the rear, I tried getting in the class, but they have a 3-month waiting list, so that's why I say I should try and extend. My reason for not extending when I was on rotation was because I was told I had a high chance I would come up-on order.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
MSgt (Join to see) - Please ask any questions I am ready to answer. I don't know what to do. That's why I am asking.
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MSG Thomas Currie
SGT(P) (Join to see) - There is another option that you don't seem to have considered: Just retake the test! To be very blunt, if your goal of raising your GT score is in any way realistic, you probably don't need any "GT Improvement" class. Just retaking the test will probably get you a higher score than you have now.
Taking the class first then retaking the test might get you slightly more improvement than just retaking the test without spending time in a classroom first, but if you need THAT MUCH improvement, it's not a good bet that you'll make it.
I don't know all your circumstances, but most people took their original ASVAB under less than ideal conditions, so just simply retaking the tests calmly after a good night's sleep will bring up your scores several points. If you are close to the score you need, a retest will probably be enough. If you need to magic jump in your GT score to qualify for the MOS you want, even taking the classes probably won't get you there.
As for your claim that you are being "forced" to ETS, I have to agree with everyone who has told you THAT can't happen -- but the difference is that I don't believe it is happening (at least not as you are trying to say). I'm betting that you are not flagged and not barred (unless you did something you aren't mentioning) and that your unit will let you reenlist right now. The problem isn't that they won't let you reenlist, the problem is that you don't like the options available, so you think you'd like to "extend" so you can hang around taking classes and hoping for some better option in a few months. THAT just isn't an option. You don't get to extend for your convenience while waiting to decide what you want to do. You already ran out the clock while deployed, not your only choices are S*** or get off the pot.
Taking the class first then retaking the test might get you slightly more improvement than just retaking the test without spending time in a classroom first, but if you need THAT MUCH improvement, it's not a good bet that you'll make it.
I don't know all your circumstances, but most people took their original ASVAB under less than ideal conditions, so just simply retaking the tests calmly after a good night's sleep will bring up your scores several points. If you are close to the score you need, a retest will probably be enough. If you need to magic jump in your GT score to qualify for the MOS you want, even taking the classes probably won't get you there.
As for your claim that you are being "forced" to ETS, I have to agree with everyone who has told you THAT can't happen -- but the difference is that I don't believe it is happening (at least not as you are trying to say). I'm betting that you are not flagged and not barred (unless you did something you aren't mentioning) and that your unit will let you reenlist right now. The problem isn't that they won't let you reenlist, the problem is that you don't like the options available, so you think you'd like to "extend" so you can hang around taking classes and hoping for some better option in a few months. THAT just isn't an option. You don't get to extend for your convenience while waiting to decide what you want to do. You already ran out the clock while deployed, not your only choices are S*** or get off the pot.
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