What can I do, besides RST, for the drill dates I will be missing?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 22:39:13 -0500

I'm having some trouble wrapping my head around a problem of mine. I am currently on deployment but I will be returning soon. I am hoping to attend a 6 month long training academy within a few months of me returning home. Due to certain circumstances I'm expecting to be unable to fully rst for the drill dates I will be missing. Any suggestions?

Response by GySgt Gary Cordeiro made Nov 8 at 2020 10:43 PM

GySgt Gary Cordeiro — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 22:43:10 -0500

MOS change, if it fits better

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Nov 8 at 2020 10:48 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 22:48:13 -0500

I will asume is some sort of police academy. Anyway, give your CoC a heads up with plenty of time in advance and provide all supporting documentation.

Disclosure: my knowledge is on the Regular Army side of the house. I haven’t deal with the reserves in over 20 years.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2020 10:53 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 22:53:15 -0500

Start with your CoC for their input and guidance. Most will be flexible for this. Worst case scenario is that you transfer to the IRR for the length of your police academy training.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2020 12:02 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 00:02:28 -0500

AR 350-66, Chapter 2, 2–1, a): Marksmanship Training/Competition

RST with with a shooting event. Literally the regulation is written that a competitive shooting event or "training" in marksmanship is considered training. Will you be qualifying with a weapon in this academy, well poof done. It's in compliance of AR 350-66

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2020 12:30 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 00:30:07 -0500

It really depends on your Company Commander.

There is a way to "game" the attendance roster, and so long as you don't miss too many drills in a row the system wont "flag" you. Meaning, you could straight up be given excused absences and not have to even bother doing an RST, but too may in a row the system will flag you. Your Commander can't give you excused absences forever.

At a minimum you need to sign the attendance roster (even if for only 1 MUTA) every few months or do a RST DA1380 and get "paid".

Numbers wise, if you missed month 1-2 then RST at 3, then mis 4-5 and RST at 6, the system would not flag you. Now, what I mention with AR350-66 is your range training could technically be that RST. You'd never step foot at Battle Assembly.

You'd be down 16 retirement points, but that's your problem.

I know what I am saying is pushing the envelop, and COL's might be thankful I'm not one of their company commanders but the regs support it, and a soldier playing the game I mention above is way better than someone that is at 20+ "U's" and still on the books.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2020 12:41 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 00:41:29 -0500

Marksmanship is my pet peeve, so I will continue with AR350-66

To line your ducks up to use shooting guns as an RST in the USAR to convince your command you should probably lay out which organization is running the event, what specific training is being conducted, which weapon type/caliber, and the round count and course of fire. AR350-66 does not require all that, but it makes for a convincing argument if you can articulate the shooting event will be with a similar MTOE weapon platform you are assigned and the course of fire is more challenging than the Army's qualification standards.

The way AR 350-66 is written loading up your .22 rifle, and going to the back hills and shooting for an entire day at random crap still is within the regulation. However, you'll need verification of your activities and that's best done with match results that are published on-line, some sort of training certificate like Formal Training, or in this case your Academy score card for each training event.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2020 9:00 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 09:00:05 -0500

You are in an MP unit. Every year your unit has someone in a police academy.
Ask your CO and AGR what the best course of action is.
It could be IRR for six months, it could be coming in for 4 hours on Sunday of drill, as many police academies don't do anything on Sundays, if you can manage 4 hours on a Sunday once every three drills with an authorized absence for everything else, you will fall behind in your own points but remain in good standing and not NVP.

Some go IRR for a year, six months of academy and six months of FTO.

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Nov 10 at 2020 3:10 PM

1SG Dennis Hicks — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 15:10:24 -0500

I would sit down with your COC and discuss this, Good leadership understands these type of issues and will work with good troops.