What does it mean to be "command directed" to another unit for deployment?

SGT Jonny Wright — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 15:16:22 -0500

So I just found out Friday (2 days ago), that I was being "command directed" to another NG unit for their upcoming deployment this year. I have never heard of someone being command directed to deploy with another unit.
Also, as far as I know, only myself and 1 of my soldiers were pulled for this.
Does anyone know exactly what goes into command directing a soldier? Like is it the deploying unit specifically pulling you, or your unit volunteering you?

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Mar 6 at 2022 3:36 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 15:36:44 -0500

Likely due to your MOS "Power Generation Equipment Repairer", unit deploying has a valid slot and no current or inbound SM to fill it.

Response by SPC Nancy Greene made Mar 6 at 2022 5:41 PM

SPC Nancy Greene — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 17:41:58 -0500

‘Needs of the Army’ is probably related to your assignment to another unit...

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2022 6:44 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 18:44:47 -0500

Some BN or BDE in your state will be mobilized.
That BN or BDE does not have enough of your MOS, but your state does, and Guard deployments fill from the state first (and those Soldiers are involuntarily mobilized) before they post openings on Tour of Duty for people outside the state.
Odds are you and your Soldier won't be the only command directs showing up at that SRP, you'll just be the only two from your unit.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Mar 6 at 2022 7:20 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 19:20:42 -0500

When units deploy they send MOS shortages to the next higher HQ who in turn identifies the available Soldiers generally after available volunteers have been ruled out. Soldiers are usually notified when the opportunity arise.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 6 at 2022 9:22 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 21:22:31 -0500

Bluntly- your Commander has directed you to be a filler for another unit cause they are shorthanded.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2022 9:28 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 21:28:50 -0500

My Understanding from my year in the MI NG JFHQ is that unit fills start at the lowest unit and go up. If a company is deploying they will try to fill it withing the BN if they can't they'll move to the BDE and so on until it's filled. I hope this helps.
Best of luck.

Response by 1SG Russell S. made Mar 7 at 2022 8:40 AM

1SG Russell S. — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 08:40:36 -0500

Command directed means non voluntary so any bonus payments or retention incentives will remain in place for the soldier. Typically such payments stop upon a voluntary transfer.

Response by LTC Ray Buenteo made Mar 7 at 2022 8:42 AM

LTC Ray Buenteo — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 08:42:37 -0500

Needs of big army!

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Mar 7 at 2022 9:05 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 09:05:49 -0500

It's pretty common on AD. I would imagine it happens pretty much the same for the Guard. A Unit is deploying and needs someone in a specific MOS and you fit the need and are eligible to go. The Command is filling a need.

Response by LTC Joe Anderson made Mar 7 at 2022 1:02 PM

LTC Joe Anderson — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 13:02:57 -0500

Everyone on this stream has explain the Command Directed process pretty good. One more thing to note is; that normally when you drill you don't get paid mileage to drive to drill. However, while under a Command-Directed if you're drilling with the unit you'll deploy with, and have to drive some distance (I think 50 miles but don't remember for sure), then you are eligible for mileage pay/reimbursement, while you are drilling with the Command Directed Unit you're assigned to. So, if you are drilling, and it is quite some distance; make sure you fill out a travel voucher for mileage pay after each drill weekend.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Mar 7 at 2022 3:21 PM

SSgt Dan Montague — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 15:21:30 -0500

Back in "98 durning morning formation, our btry gunny came out and said that guns plt needs to give up 2 sgt section chiefs to report to Fox btry that day as they were the 24hr standby unit to deploy to Iraq. So Sgt Prull and I just looked at each other, as we were the only sgt's at the time. So yes we were command directed.

Response by MSG Thomas Currie made Mar 9 at 2022 3:02 PM

MSG Thomas Currie — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 15:02:48 -0500

"Command Directed" simply means you didn't request the transfer.

As for the Why Me part of your question, you were probably just the handiest available soldier in the right MOS and grade to fill a "mission essential" slot in the deploying unit.

Generally the deploying unit has nothing to do with the process beyond identifying that they have a mission essential slot that is vacant with no inbound soldier identified to fill it. Some personnel clerk then asked the computer to find deployable personnel in the right MOS and grade to match that slot, and your name popped out.

Yours might have been the only name or you might have been one of several, either way Tag You're It.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2022 3:16 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 15:16:02 -0500

I don't know what it means for the guard but in the reserves they call it cross leveling and I got order back in 2014 to deploy with a unit from West Virginia to back fill a need they had, the stupid thing is, my unit was getting ready to deploy for the same mission when I got back, so they had to back fill my slot.