Posted on May 7, 2020
Does an Option 26 contract prevent me from taking a COVID-19 short-term reenlistment?
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My enlistment contract I signed is an Option 26. I am obligated to 2 years and 19 weeks in the regular Army, followed by 2 years in the ARNG/AR component. I have referenced Line 3, paragraph G of my contract with the intent of understanding what exactly it entails. I spoke to a career counselor recently and was told that if I opt for one of these recently implemented short term reenlistments (3 to 11 months) due to COVID-19, that in doing so would be the equivalent of fulfilling my ARNG/AR component obligation and I would finish my active duty contract with no other obligations. While I trust what he is saying, I wasn’t able to show him this particular line in my contract. Is this true? Or does this paragraph change things. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Retention
Career Counselor
Reserves
NGB
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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Those are not reenlistments, those are extensions. It's an important distinction because reenlistments are in terms of whole years and start a new term on the date of the contract, where an extension just adds time on the old one.
A COVID extension will not remove your NG obligation. COVID extensions were created for the benefit of the Soldier at the expense of the Army, not for the benefit of the Army.
A COVID extension will not remove your NG obligation. COVID extensions were created for the benefit of the Soldier at the expense of the Army, not for the benefit of the Army.
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Per RallyPoint procedure, your name is required instead of initials. Below is the RallyPoint procedure and it provides guidance on changing your name.
https://rallypoint.force.com/Support/s/article/how-do-i-change-my-name-2020-03-13-10-21-35
https://rallypoint.force.com/Support/s/article/how-do-i-change-my-name-2020-03-13-10-21-35
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SSG (Join to see)
I met a SSG last year whose first name is just the letter J. So much confusion in the military!
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Thank you SFC, I will mention this to my career counselor. So regardless of how many months I extend, I would then be obligated to however much reserve or guard time I have left minus the amount of time I extended?
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SFC (Join to see)
You can extend for COVID and still be obligated to the NG. That contract was written before 12 month "Continued Service" extensions were implemented, so there is no guidelines listed in the original contract about those. But, by my understanding if you do a 12 months W extension that would commit you to the AD and you would not be obligated to the NG. Of course, you still have an MSO obligation to the IRR so you might as well join the USAR or NG at the end of your contract.
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