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I checked the "Do not promote" box for the MSG list in 2019 and still got picked up.
I have 18 years 6 months AD and intended to retire at my small current post which is mostly civilian with a good civilian job already lined up. My wife is in her last year of law school here and also planned to get a civilian position on the same post. There are too many reasons to list but I am done with the Army. I was just trying to put my head down for 18 more months and get out. I was told since I signed an Indefinite contract years ago declining promotion wasn't an option and then I quickly received orders to Drum for 6/20.
My wife refuses to PCS. She told me when she moved here 4 years ago that this was her last PCS and she'd be putting down roots here and finally starting her career. I promised her it was the last and I'd make sure all my stuff was in order to retire.
Of course, the Army doesn't care about anything in my family life and I have no idea what to do. I was so close to retirement and it's all being ripped out from under me along with a divorce from my wife of 10 years and a long-distance relationship with my young son. My ETS date now has 4 more years added to it for a promotion I never wanted. I'm at the point I'm ready to AWOL or get a DUI just to save my marriage and stay put. I question if I was lied to and declining promotion was always an option.
Is there any avenue to take to stop this PCS?
I have 18 years 6 months AD and intended to retire at my small current post which is mostly civilian with a good civilian job already lined up. My wife is in her last year of law school here and also planned to get a civilian position on the same post. There are too many reasons to list but I am done with the Army. I was just trying to put my head down for 18 more months and get out. I was told since I signed an Indefinite contract years ago declining promotion wasn't an option and then I quickly received orders to Drum for 6/20.
My wife refuses to PCS. She told me when she moved here 4 years ago that this was her last PCS and she'd be putting down roots here and finally starting her career. I promised her it was the last and I'd make sure all my stuff was in order to retire.
Of course, the Army doesn't care about anything in my family life and I have no idea what to do. I was so close to retirement and it's all being ripped out from under me along with a divorce from my wife of 10 years and a long-distance relationship with my young son. My ETS date now has 4 more years added to it for a promotion I never wanted. I'm at the point I'm ready to AWOL or get a DUI just to save my marriage and stay put. I question if I was lied to and declining promotion was always an option.
Is there any avenue to take to stop this PCS?
PCS
Retirement
Promotions
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 26
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5
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You are not promoted, you are selected for promotion. Unless of course you didn't update your profile and are now a MSG. The three year SRR begins at pin on. You can find the declination statement on the enlisted promotions page. I'm assuming whoever told you that an indefinite reenlistment meant you can't deny a promotion probably doesn't work at promotions branch. HRC is like a box with a bunch of little separated geniuses in it, who are oblivious to anything but their own cubicle. The branch manager you call might know everything about assignments, but nothing about reenlistments, or compassionate reassignment, or specialty branches.
You're not eligible to retire in lieu of PCS, but you can PCS and drop your retirement immediately upon being eligible.
If you did accept the promotion and pin on the rank, you are still not necessarily required to stay an additional three years. The requirement is to stay three years to keep the MSG rank, not that you are ineligible to retire until three more years. If HRC approves your retirement they simply revoke your MSG rank. The other outcome is that they deny your retirement based on strengths if you did take the promotion.
Usually your branch manager will work with you if you tell them you are dropping your retirement immediately and you're within six months of that. Not the branch manager for the E8s, mind you. I've heard they can be very difficult to work with. But, decline your promotion and you will no longer be considered for an E8 position.
You're not eligible to retire in lieu of PCS, but you can PCS and drop your retirement immediately upon being eligible.
If you did accept the promotion and pin on the rank, you are still not necessarily required to stay an additional three years. The requirement is to stay three years to keep the MSG rank, not that you are ineligible to retire until three more years. If HRC approves your retirement they simply revoke your MSG rank. The other outcome is that they deny your retirement based on strengths if you did take the promotion.
Usually your branch manager will work with you if you tell them you are dropping your retirement immediately and you're within six months of that. Not the branch manager for the E8s, mind you. I've heard they can be very difficult to work with. But, decline your promotion and you will no longer be considered for an E8 position.
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LTC (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) - in any event, whether he gets to retire as MSG or not, he still gets credit for time spent at E8 for calculating retirement pay.
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CW5 Jack Gaudet
I would probably say yes, your retirement is usually based on the highest grade satisfactorily held but time in service is based on the pay level you are at. I would pose this question to the retirement point to ask.
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SFC (Join to see) Based on what I see in your post,
Retirement in lieu of PCS is not an option for you ...as that requires retirement within 6 months.
Selection for promotion is a done deal under current business rules..
So what to do about PCS??? I too was told in no uncertain terms, we had moved for the last time, we ARE home, you may PCS, we will not...... so my suggestion to you.. set your family for success at current location, pick your head up and PCS on your own. You do about 2 months at new station and request retirement right as you have 12 months remaining (so 19 years TIS)
By now in the Army you know 18 months is nothing ....its a deployment plus a few months..
Its 360 general work days before considering training holidays, national holidays and leave and pass days. Over the 18 months, you take a few days to go see family, they take a few long weekends to come see you and before you know it you will be in the retirement office signing final paperwork and reviewing your DD214.
NOTE nothing I said or inferred going ROAD. Retired On Active Duty... Do your job till the last day and that is not do as I say not as I do suggestion..
I was at NTC validating our DIV TOC for a unplanned / hardly announced trip to a non permissive location in Africa just a few days before I retired...And told the CORPS and DIV CDRS if my TOC went, I was going .....
Keep your head up, lean on others family and friends dont stop doing your job or planning for your future
Retirement in lieu of PCS is not an option for you ...as that requires retirement within 6 months.
Selection for promotion is a done deal under current business rules..
So what to do about PCS??? I too was told in no uncertain terms, we had moved for the last time, we ARE home, you may PCS, we will not...... so my suggestion to you.. set your family for success at current location, pick your head up and PCS on your own. You do about 2 months at new station and request retirement right as you have 12 months remaining (so 19 years TIS)
By now in the Army you know 18 months is nothing ....its a deployment plus a few months..
Its 360 general work days before considering training holidays, national holidays and leave and pass days. Over the 18 months, you take a few days to go see family, they take a few long weekends to come see you and before you know it you will be in the retirement office signing final paperwork and reviewing your DD214.
NOTE nothing I said or inferred going ROAD. Retired On Active Duty... Do your job till the last day and that is not do as I say not as I do suggestion..
I was at NTC validating our DIV TOC for a unplanned / hardly announced trip to a non permissive location in Africa just a few days before I retired...And told the CORPS and DIV CDRS if my TOC went, I was going .....
Keep your head up, lean on others family and friends dont stop doing your job or planning for your future
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Worst case scenario you accept the promotion and PCS alone for 1.5 years.
Don't do anything stupid. It simply is not worth it just to stay where you are now.
Is there any way you can get an extension for where you are? I have been out a while so I am not sure. Also avail yourself of your Unit Chaplain, he or she may be able to help in situations like this.
Don't do anything stupid. It simply is not worth it just to stay where you are now.
Is there any way you can get an extension for where you are? I have been out a while so I am not sure. Also avail yourself of your Unit Chaplain, he or she may be able to help in situations like this.
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LTC (Join to see)
report date isn't until 6/20 so he's looking at PCS alone for less than 13 months. take 60 days terminal leave and that cuts it down to 11 months. figure in the ~$500/month pay raise from E7 to E8 plus the bump in retirement pay and it is well worth it to take the promotion.
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