Advice on what to do about my back pay and date of rank?

2020-09-15T10:51:32-04:00

I joined the Reserve in Jan 2019 and a friend joined after me so I was supposed to be promoted to E2 before basic. However, I guess my unit didn’t do the proper paperwork prior to me starting basic training, and somehow my original promotion orders were lost for a while. So I received E1 pay the whole time at basic training. Before I graduated basic (Aug 2019), my drill sergeant put me up for promotion. Because of the problems with my first promotion, they contacted my unit but couldn’t get it straightened out so they promoted me to E2. I was told if I get in contact with my unit they may be able to back date the promotions and make me an E3, like I was supposed to be. That’s what unit administrator did. He made new orders for both promotions backdating them to the dates they were supposed to have been (E2 - Jan 2019, E3 - Aug 2018). However, I still haven’t received any backpay (for E2 or E3) and I’m still getting paid E2. He has pushed my orders through several times in effort to get this taken care of. Finally, he received a way to potentially fix these issues a couple days ago. He said I should be getting my back pay within the next two weeks. However, due to certain regulations apparently they had to change my PFC date of rank to Jan 2020, where it was previously Aug 2019. This will greatly reduce my backpay as I was on Active orders from late May 2019 until early Feb 2020. He said he is going to see if he can get my date of rank changed back to what it is supposed to be. I’m not sure what else to do. Can anyone offer any advice? Or is it just sit and wait at the point? I would really hate to lose out on so much money owed to me because of all this.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Sep 15 at 2020 10:52 AM

2020-09-15T10:52:36-04:00

Dear Beverly, I pray that you are successful; at finding out the answers to your questions. SPC Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Sep 15 at 2020 11:19 AM

2020-09-15T11:19:54-04:00

You need to get your chain of Command in the loop. Team leader, squad leader, Plt Sgt, etc etc.

This type of thing happens but it will be a lot easier for your Sgt or SSgt or above to squash this and move on to the next thing.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2020 12:43 PM

2020-09-15T12:43:45-04:00

It sounds like your unit administrator is going through the steps to assist you. This is not going to be a quick process. Once your dates of rank get sorted and corrected in the systems, then the UA can submit the request for backpay to finance. Finance will either kick back the request or approve it and submit you for pay. At finance, your request is out of the control of everyone in your unit, there will be no oversight.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2020 3:18 PM

2020-09-15T15:18:42-04:00

SNAFU is the acronym you are reaching for. Patience is your friend. It will get sorted out but you need to stay engaged and work with the system. Politely I might add. :)

Until it is sorted, do not (personally) budget money you *might* get. Only budget money you *do* get. Stay out of financial trouble while sorting this through.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2020 4:20 PM

2020-09-15T16:20:35-04:00

Collect all your pay statements and your promotion orders that establish date of rank. From there you might be able to use the self service RPAC website and hand the math calculation to them on a silver platter.

As USAR months can pass before the next step in the action if you are dependent on others to act for you. You will eventually learn if you want anything done you'll need to figure out how to do it yourself, and the only reason to use your chain of command is get the proper signature authority to sign what needs to be signed.

I don't know what kind of unit you are in, but if you are in a unit with a SELF SERVICE RPAC this whole thing can be executed without jumping through any chain of command hoops.

You're new, I get it. What is RPAC? Ask your NCO's and S1. You're going to be the most powerful PFC in the USAR if you can action your own RPAC items.

Response by SPC Nancy Greene made Sep 15 at 2020 6:59 PM

2020-09-15T18:59:17-04:00

In order to receive backpay for your promotion, You have to apply for the backpay. There is a form to complete and file. I would suggest contacting your ADMIN Promotions Clerk and completing the form and having it submitted. Keep copies of everything.
I assisted a Soldier in Germany with his promotion to SSG/E6 which should have occurred five years before I published his orders. We submitted the appropriate paperwork and he received full backpay for the full five years ($60,000.00)
(He also had enough TIS and TIG to be recommended for SFC/E7 and picked that up shortly after...he went from SGT/E5 to SGC/E7 in about three months!)
Good luck and don’t give up!