Posted on Apr 23, 2022
Can you be forced to ETS even though you’re trying to reenlist or extend?
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When on rotation To Korea, I was being forced to reenlist or extend, but I told my chain of command that I was waiting on the retention NCO (cause I wanted Germany or reclass). Still, I was sent back to the rear because I didn't decide on time. After getting back to the state, I have a situation on getting my GT score up, so I tried to extend and have been denied and told that I must ETS.
Career Counselor
Career Advice
Retention NCO
Reclass
Germany
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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If you are fully qualified to reenlist, you can't be denied reenlistment without your commander barring you. Fully qualified meaning you have no reenlistment prohibition codes on your ERB.
Your commander has seven calender days to return the signed DA 3340 request for reenlistment as approved or recommended for a bar, that is IAW AR 601-280.If your commander just refuses to sign it, I suggest a quick trip to IG so that the IG can explain the regulation to your commander. If your commander recommends barring you, it goes to your battalion commander for approval. If that is approved, it goes to your Brigade commander for appeal. Assuming there is nothing more to it than this, your Brigades Senior Career Counselor would advise the Brigade Commander that you can't bar someone just because it appears they used a loophole to leave a rotation early by saying they were going to ETS and then changing their mind. Actually, you should have been left behind from the rotation when you didn't extend ahead of time, but that's a different issue.
Your commander has seven calender days to return the signed DA 3340 request for reenlistment as approved or recommended for a bar, that is IAW AR 601-280.If your commander just refuses to sign it, I suggest a quick trip to IG so that the IG can explain the regulation to your commander. If your commander recommends barring you, it goes to your battalion commander for approval. If that is approved, it goes to your Brigade commander for appeal. Assuming there is nothing more to it than this, your Brigades Senior Career Counselor would advise the Brigade Commander that you can't bar someone just because it appears they used a loophole to leave a rotation early by saying they were going to ETS and then changing their mind. Actually, you should have been left behind from the rotation when you didn't extend ahead of time, but that's a different issue.
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SGM Erik Marquez
SFC (Join to see) The SGT said "I was already taking steps to get Germany or reclass, but the retention NCO had already tried three times, and he said I would need to wait six months before he checked again. For the other jobs I have in mind to reclass to, I need a high GT score"
He was not denied reenlistment,,, he was just not offered what he wanted (Germany), was not qualified for other options he wanted (GT score too low), was not interested in what reenlistment options were open to him so he choose to not reenlist or extend, both options afforded him by his commander according to his first post.
This is just a case of the option he wants is not available, and his ETS timeline does not allow for an action plan to get himself qualified for other desirable options.
He was not denied reenlistment,,, he was just not offered what he wanted (Germany), was not qualified for other options he wanted (GT score too low), was not interested in what reenlistment options were open to him so he choose to not reenlist or extend, both options afforded him by his commander according to his first post.
This is just a case of the option he wants is not available, and his ETS timeline does not allow for an action plan to get himself qualified for other desirable options.
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SFC (Join to see)
SGM Erik Marquez I was able to read between the lines of what he was saying, although it was very confusing. I was the Senior for this Brigade so I understand more what he's trying to explain.
The unit was scheduled for a Korea rotation. The unit is required have the Soldier extend prior to leaving on the rotation, but they took him anyway. From the commanders perspective it looks like the Soldier chose not to extend for the rotation and was sent home early to ETS, and is now asking to reenlist. Basically getting themselves out of the Korea rotation early.
The Soldier is now flagged and under investigation and ineligible to reenlist. I don't know what the investigation is for, so I can't speculate if he got in trouble or the commander erroneously flagged him because he requested to reenlist after leaving early.
The unit was scheduled for a Korea rotation. The unit is required have the Soldier extend prior to leaving on the rotation, but they took him anyway. From the commanders perspective it looks like the Soldier chose not to extend for the rotation and was sent home early to ETS, and is now asking to reenlist. Basically getting themselves out of the Korea rotation early.
The Soldier is now flagged and under investigation and ineligible to reenlist. I don't know what the investigation is for, so I can't speculate if he got in trouble or the commander erroneously flagged him because he requested to reenlist after leaving early.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) I promise you that there’s nothing more to my story. I never made any decisions when I was in Korea. After I was flagged, I talked with the rear Commander, and he made it clear that they decided for me since I didn’t make one on time.
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SFC (Join to see)
SGT(P) (Join to see) good old 4-6 doing things they aren't allowed to do.... Take your 4856 there and head over to Division Retention and see SGM Schillereff above French Theater. Inform him that you attempted to reenlist and were immediately flagged by the Rear D. What the rear d commander did was just short of illegal.
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SGT(P) (Join to see) So you were on an OCONUS rotation with your unit. Your ETS date was approaching and triggered a choice, reenlist or extend. You choose for your own reasons to do neither.
That trigged an action point guided by policy to send you back to your home station to process you out of the service at your ETS date. (Because you wanted something that the retention NCO could not get you at that time, nothing wrong with that, but the point is it was your choice)
Once back at your home station for the purpose of doing all the mandated pre-separation training, classes, medical, ect. You tried to get the Rear D commander to halt the separation process, allow you to extend so you can take a GT improvement class, maybe get a higher score, maybe find a reclass MOS you want, that has a seat and you are qualified for, and then maybe you will follow through to reenlist. That is how that Rear D commander sees it, who by the way gets their commanders' intent and instructions from the higher HQ commander, which is the same commander that ordered you back to separate at your current ETS date...So there is that.
Bottom line, no commander I met in 28 years allows a good Soldier, a Sergeant at that, separate if there is any way to get you what you want to reenlist. Retention rates are a metric commanders get graded on. If a unit commander is not looking for ways to get you to reenlist, either they suck at their job, and that's possible, or they have no interest in seeing you reenlist, not enough to bar you obviously, as they offered you while in Korea to reenlist or extend.
Your choices are simple.
Follow through on the choice you made not to reenlist or extend.
Ask to speak to the Rear D commander, layout your requested plan to make yourself eligible for, and then reenlist to continue serving the Army, in a MOS you desire. All the commander can say is no, but they might see a reason to say yes, and jump though the hoops needed,
That trigged an action point guided by policy to send you back to your home station to process you out of the service at your ETS date. (Because you wanted something that the retention NCO could not get you at that time, nothing wrong with that, but the point is it was your choice)
Once back at your home station for the purpose of doing all the mandated pre-separation training, classes, medical, ect. You tried to get the Rear D commander to halt the separation process, allow you to extend so you can take a GT improvement class, maybe get a higher score, maybe find a reclass MOS you want, that has a seat and you are qualified for, and then maybe you will follow through to reenlist. That is how that Rear D commander sees it, who by the way gets their commanders' intent and instructions from the higher HQ commander, which is the same commander that ordered you back to separate at your current ETS date...So there is that.
Bottom line, no commander I met in 28 years allows a good Soldier, a Sergeant at that, separate if there is any way to get you what you want to reenlist. Retention rates are a metric commanders get graded on. If a unit commander is not looking for ways to get you to reenlist, either they suck at their job, and that's possible, or they have no interest in seeing you reenlist, not enough to bar you obviously, as they offered you while in Korea to reenlist or extend.
Your choices are simple.
Follow through on the choice you made not to reenlist or extend.
Ask to speak to the Rear D commander, layout your requested plan to make yourself eligible for, and then reenlist to continue serving the Army, in a MOS you desire. All the commander can say is no, but they might see a reason to say yes, and jump though the hoops needed,
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So you were asked to extend/reenlist and when you didn’t by a deadline they sent you to the rear to ets? Then you submitted an extension package and they denied it?
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
SSgt Christophe Murphy - Yes. It was officially denied, and after it was denied, my commander flagged me. The retention NCO sent the paperwork on March 8, and I was Flagged on March 9, after the command team saw the paperwork.
My reason for not extending when I was on rotation was because I was told I had a high chance I would come up-on order if I extended at the moment to a location I may not like. I would have to be there for at least 24 months before getting a chance to pick where I wanted to go, so that's why I waited.
My reason for not extending when I was on rotation was because I was told I had a high chance I would come up-on order if I extended at the moment to a location I may not like. I would have to be there for at least 24 months before getting a chance to pick where I wanted to go, so that's why I waited.
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
SGT(P) (Join to see) flagged you? For what? Sounds like there is more going on here
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
SGT(P) (Join to see) - Just as SFC Boyd mentioned, you can't be flagged for trying to extend. Either there is more to the flag or someone on the Command side is being petty and the flag won't stick. Which is possible because I am sure someone up there feels like you are jerking them around with going back and forth. I would recommend following the guidance from SFC Boyd.
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