After going from USAR to Active, should I have been given more time in service and higher grade?

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 23:02:02 -0500

In February of 2017(my junior year in high school), I signed a Reserves contract with the intentions of going through an ROTC program to commission. The plans were to go to BCT in June of 2017 and AIT in June of 2018 and I went to drill weekends in the mean time. Then, before even shipping to Basic, I decided the Reserves wasn’t for me. So I told my recruiter that my intentions had changed and I wanted to go active. Shortly after, I signed another contract to go active duty. Got what I wanted, went to Basic after graduating high school in June 2018. Now I am an E2 and at my first duty station. Here’s my question. Should I have gotten E2 sooner than I did, given that I had time in service in Reserves? If so, can you cite regulations on this situation and can you give me some advice on how to bring this up to someone and to who? Or should I just ignore it altogether? Things to keep in mind: I didn’t get promoted while in Reserves, I didn’t get promoted until 6 months after the day I left for Basic for active duty, and even though I didn’t go to Basic in Reserves, I got a DD214 so it was official that I was in the Reserves, not just some weirdo future soldier that is there for the hell of it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2019 1:58 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 01:58:25 -0500

You have DD214? How do you have a DD214 if you never went to Basic? A 214 is for active service.
If you had gone to AIT you would be a qualified prior service soldier and your date of rank would be based off your reserve time. You never went anywhere so you were essentially an entry level separation, or that's what it sounds like. You can't simply change your mind and decide you want to go active once you have been accessed into service.
You should receive credit for your pay entry date for drilling. You are not considered prior service for several reasons. You are similar to a person who enters Delayed Entry Program and drops out before ever shipping to Basic.
You didn't get promoted in the reserves because you were never qualified as a soldier.
Your service started when you shipped off to Basic, not when you drilled.
No, you were not a Future Soldier, but when you became an initial entry discharge, that's essentially what your time amounted to.
The only positive note to come out of it is that your PEBD should be a few months earlier, so when you get your 2 year pay, it will come a few months prior to your 2 year active duty anniversary.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2019 6:49 AM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 06:49:18 -0500

So it's already been touched on basically. But like SFC Boyd said your TIS would be from the start of when you started drilling. But your DOR would start over once you shipped to boot. Like I tell all my privates now is the time in your life and career to start noticing everything.
"Learn how to lead from the good leaders you will be able to tell who they are, Listen, be squared away, and do your job better than anyone else".
Within no time you will be a specialist with your fancy pants on getting ready to report to a board with Senior Nco's on it wanting to become a sergeant. The time will fly fast.

Response by SGT Christopher Combs made Jan 30 at 2019 6:59 AM

SGT Christopher Combs — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 06:59:50 -0500

Unfortunately you're dealing with the reserves

Response by SSG Omar Ruiz-Canales made Jan 30 at 2019 2:02 PM

SSG Omar Ruiz-Canales — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 14:02:17 -0500

What you really were was a sponsored future reservist, up until the day you eventually went to BCT. Your days of attendance at the Reserve Base is exactly that.. days of attendance, but they do count as active days and towards promotion. So in a year you attended ho many days? 22days + 2 weeks Summer exercise? In total you have less than 40days in a year served. So no.. you pretty much got your PV2 rank when you were supposed to get it. Reserves doesn't give you extra credit points over straight active.