Posted on Apr 8, 2017
My Battalion Commander refuses to let me transfer. What can I do?
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I'm currently in the Army National Guard and have been trying to transfer for years, first to the Air National Guard(which was denied) and now I am trying to transfer to a different battalion (Field Artillery) but still in the same state and my BC is still denying it. My unit commander and 1SG has no issue with letting me go. What can I do? I am starting to consider congressional inquiry.
NGB
Chain of Command
Transfer
Reclass
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 19
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The Battalion Commander has authority to not let you go. The question to ask is why.
Is your unit so understrength that the movement of Soldiers threatens readiness?
Is there a deployment on the horizon that they are aware of and you are not?
Is there a reason why you are on the BC's radar and they are denying you for something you have done?
Barring those, the reasons become less and less rational. O-5s typically don't have a beef with individual E-5s unless they did something... but then you would know that was why. That leaves the first two possibilities as most likely.
As to what to do, well the only right way to do it is with your chain of command. Your company commander will need to be the one to intercede on your behalf.
Honestly, most units don't want Soldiers who don't want to be there. There has to be a reason why this denial is happening.
Is your unit so understrength that the movement of Soldiers threatens readiness?
Is there a deployment on the horizon that they are aware of and you are not?
Is there a reason why you are on the BC's radar and they are denying you for something you have done?
Barring those, the reasons become less and less rational. O-5s typically don't have a beef with individual E-5s unless they did something... but then you would know that was why. That leaves the first two possibilities as most likely.
As to what to do, well the only right way to do it is with your chain of command. Your company commander will need to be the one to intercede on your behalf.
Honestly, most units don't want Soldiers who don't want to be there. There has to be a reason why this denial is happening.
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SGT Jim Arnold
my thoughts are to stick with the chain of command. Any other outside forces will only lead to heartache and lots of pain
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LTC Jason Mackay
SGT (Join to see) - your unit might be overstrength, but you need to see what the strength is for your MOS, grade, one grade down, and one grade up. USR math can approach fun house mirror logic.
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SSG Jason Penn
1SG (Join to see) - Top, yes, there always is a reason, and sometimes the reason is because the BC is a complete dick. I personally have seen a Soldier ask a Company Commander for a transfer and the CC said to submit it on a DA4187 and he would approve it, but when the Soldier submitted the 4187, the CC immediately threw it in his waste basket as soon as the Soldier's back was turned. Another incident that happened was during a sensing session, the BC talked up all the NCOs saying how we were the backbone of the Army and how great a job we were doing, but then told all of the Officers in their session not to listen to the NCOs and that we were all incompetent pieces of shit that would lead them to ruin. How do I know this? A few of us were late for our session due to other duties that had to be performed and upon arrival, the Officers' session was already taking place and the BC said that just as we walked in the door. You are right that the issue needs to be addressed, and that the BC's open door policy needs to be invoked to find out why the transfer was denied. No answer, or the BC refuses to see you? Brigade is the next stop. Regardless, what I am pointing out is that just because he has a commission, it doesn't mean that he can't be a dick. I am not suggesting that he is, but you can't rule out that possibility.
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Sgt Dale Briggs
Not to be smart, but did you just ask the reason that you were denied? If there’s a specific reason surely your 1st Sgt would know. I assume your properly staffed if your NCOIC approve of your transferring, and it’s not like an O5 doesn't have anything better to do than screw with a Sgt for no reason at all when he can simply sign your transfer. Seems fishy, if it was staffing your 1st Sgt would have probably sat you down and flat out told you if your MOS was critical and the unit undermanned, since that’s not the case, I’d simple ask why. It’s not likely your 1st Sgt doesn’t know, they know everything imo.
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So, bottom line, there is no requirement for a commander to approve a voluntary transfer. If it is voluntary, ALL parties, Soldier, Losing unit, and Gaining unit must agree or it is a no go.
Without knowing all the details in your case, it seems like the BN CDR is worried about/being beat up about strength and making what seems like a short-sighted decision. I'm not saying he IS, because I don't know all the facts of the situation or his thought process. When I was a BN CDR, I would almost never turn down a voluntary transfer request. I might counsel & discuss, but I wouldn't want a Soldier I had to force the be there.
Without knowing all the details in your case, it seems like the BN CDR is worried about/being beat up about strength and making what seems like a short-sighted decision. I'm not saying he IS, because I don't know all the facts of the situation or his thought process. When I was a BN CDR, I would almost never turn down a voluntary transfer request. I might counsel & discuss, but I wouldn't want a Soldier I had to force the be there.
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SGT (Join to see)
Thanks for your input sir. Basically, years ago I tried to get a conditional release twice to go to the Air National Guard which was denied by the last BC and the current one. They counseled me on the reason why is because I re-enlisted for 6 and received a bonus with the NY Army National Guard and have to fulfill my contract with them. So I accepted the fact that they won't let me go Air, so I spoke to the FA unit (which is in the same state just different battalion) and they said that they are looking for soldiers and that they are growing and they want to take me. I asked my unit RNCO and he said it shouldn't be an issue because it's still within the NYARNG. So I tried to request the transfer to that unit and he denied it. When my commander talked to him about it, he said it was because of retention.
I would like to speak to the BC and try to convince him to let me go. My heart is not in it anymore with my current MOS and it doesn't make any sense for him to keep me stuck like a prisoner here when there are many high speed E-4's that are waiting for a slot to open up.
Do you have any advice on how to approach him with this?
I would like to speak to the BC and try to convince him to let me go. My heart is not in it anymore with my current MOS and it doesn't make any sense for him to keep me stuck like a prisoner here when there are many high speed E-4's that are waiting for a slot to open up.
Do you have any advice on how to approach him with this?
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COL Vincent Stoneking
SGT (Join to see) - I think I would keep it simple and to the point. Something along the lines of:
"Sir, I'd really like to transfer to a different unit. I'm really not enthusiastic about my current MOS/unit location/duties/whatever. I still want to serve, but believe I would be a better fit in [other unit/MOS] because [reasons]."
I would try to be brief, to the point, and focused to the extent possible on objective facts/reasons. "I don't like it here" isn't a terribly objective statement. "Unit X is 5 miles from my house" or "MOS Y better aligns with my long term plans" sounds better. Whatever you do, you don't want it to even sound like you might be whining.
Oh, and make sure you've checked in with your chain before asking to talk to the BC. Even if the BC has an open door policy that says you don't need to, you do. "Blindsiding" them would burn bridges that you don't want to burn. (Not saying you would, but it's always good to put that out there on the internet.)
It may be that they won't budge, but approach it positively.
"Sir, I'd really like to transfer to a different unit. I'm really not enthusiastic about my current MOS/unit location/duties/whatever. I still want to serve, but believe I would be a better fit in [other unit/MOS] because [reasons]."
I would try to be brief, to the point, and focused to the extent possible on objective facts/reasons. "I don't like it here" isn't a terribly objective statement. "Unit X is 5 miles from my house" or "MOS Y better aligns with my long term plans" sounds better. Whatever you do, you don't want it to even sound like you might be whining.
Oh, and make sure you've checked in with your chain before asking to talk to the BC. Even if the BC has an open door policy that says you don't need to, you do. "Blindsiding" them would burn bridges that you don't want to burn. (Not saying you would, but it's always good to put that out there on the internet.)
It may be that they won't budge, but approach it positively.
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I'd say use the open door policy (obviously informing your 1SG and Company Commander) and talk to your BC and find out straight from him as to why he has such a big issue with this. If that doesn't get anywhere, use the open door policy with your brigade commander. If the brigade commander just thinks your BC is being a dick, he can tell him to stand down and stop preventing your from career progression. If that doesn't get anywhere then go to congressional. But make sure you utilize everything possible. Running to your congressman too soon will potentially black list you and you don't want that. But quite frankly, your BC sounds like a dick and like he's using his power to make you and/or others miserable. My fiancé is transferring to my unit for ease of child care and no one is batting an eye. Good luck on your attempt. Just don't let one person stand in your way.
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TSgt (Join to see)
My nephew is attempting to go from the Army NG to active duty Marine Corps. He did a split enlistment where he went to boot camp in-between his junior and senior year then was supposed to attend AIT this summer. He submitted the DD368 and was denied by the Company Commander and the reason was because he has not completed his AIT and does not hold a valid MOS. Obviously the denial cannot be because of unit strength because he cannot even be counted on their rolls yet therefore is not even an asset to the unit. Even if there were a deployment coming up he wouldn't be able to go because of his status, Is this a legit reason for a denial or is the Major just pushing his leaf around.
"Major do you know what birds do to leaves? They shit on them. Do you see my collar? These are birds, look closely at you collar and get the hell out of my office"
Col. Fox USMC retired
"Major do you know what birds do to leaves? They shit on them. Do you see my collar? These are birds, look closely at you collar and get the hell out of my office"
Col. Fox USMC retired
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