Posted on May 19, 2018
What is my rank supposed to be after a break in service, SPC or CPL?
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I was on active duty a long time ago and recently went back in to the guard. When I got out I was E-5, but due to break in service I was only able to enlist now as an E-4. The contract stipulates a pay grade of E-4 but no specific rank. This is where it is getting hard for me to figure out. Before I was a SGT I was a CPL. I was actually promoted to CPL with a DA4187 that I still have. What I am trying to figure out is if being reverted back to E-4 automatically makes me a SPC or a CPL. All the paperwork they have done so far says SPC but I think that's only because they weren't aware of this or didn't know. When I showed up for reception some of the senior NCOs there seemed to think I should be a CPL because I was "officially" promoted and it wasn't just a verbal thing in the unit. Just to be clear, it doesn't matter to me what my rank is but obviously I want to do the right thing here. I also want to figure it out before I spend $$ getting the wrong rank sewn on to all my tops.
I dug into the regs and found AR600-8-19 (7-11) that stipulates when a a soldier changes units they will normally retain rank of CPL unless there is a lateral appointment back to SPC. There is another reg that states a CPL can serve in a non-NCO duty position as well. 600-8-19 gives a list of reasons why a CPL can be administratively reduced to SPC and they are all basically for derogatory reasons. A break in service does not come up.
Just posting to see what others think about this.
I dug into the regs and found AR600-8-19 (7-11) that stipulates when a a soldier changes units they will normally retain rank of CPL unless there is a lateral appointment back to SPC. There is another reg that states a CPL can serve in a non-NCO duty position as well. 600-8-19 gives a list of reasons why a CPL can be administratively reduced to SPC and they are all basically for derogatory reasons. A break in service does not come up.
Just posting to see what others think about this.
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Responses: 13
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SGT Joseph Gunderson
No, he likely cannot. CPL is awarded to E4s as needed by a chain of command. That is it. In fact, you can be promoted to CPL in one TCB, transferred a month later to a sibling TCB, and be immediately dropped back down to CPL. You have no say in retaining CPL. Try again.
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depends on the unit, I went back as a cpl. took a squad leader position and was promoted to 5 within a short time. yes they had an abundance of specialist all non pro. and needed to fill slots for deployment. I also told them I was laterally promoted to cpl by Gen Taylor and would not give that up
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You do know that we have damn few CPL's in the service right? It will be doubtful that you will be a CPL, since I imagine you will have to go thru some sort of OSUT/AIT training. Making you an NCO would cause many problems with you as a trainee in a training unit.
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SPC (Join to see)
I do not require any training, I am already assigned to a unit and MOSQ. I don't know about other MOSs but in the infantry we have a ton of CPLs particularly in the guard. I was told the reason for this is that the regs recently changed that I think the NCOES course is a requirement to actually pin E5 so all the promotable E4s are stuck waiting for the course availability to get pinned.
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