Posted on Apr 4, 2019
How does lodging/travel work when I'm over 200 miles away from my Reserve unit?
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I live in over 250 miles from my reserve unit and over the last 6 months since returning from basic training my unit has refused to pay for a hotel or barracks so I have had to pay out of pocket. as a pfc I am losing money every month paying for a hotel and gas compared to what I even make. I have continuously brought it up to my chain of command and nothing has been done. the only thing that my squad leader offered me was to stay at his house with him. do they expect me to stay at my squad leaders house every month for the next 6 years? I've been told it is illegal for them to be doing what they are doing but im not sure. I need help ASAP I can not afford to go to drill anymore and im getting heat for it from my command.
Travel
Drill
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
PFC (Join to see), the USAR has a policy for Lodging In Kind (LIK) for Soldiers like you and myself that have to travel 50+ miles for Reserve duty. Below is the link for the DoD policy. If there is a newer policy, I can't find it. That being said, please reach out to me via email here or [login to see] or even call me directly on my personal cell @ [login to see] . Because what you have been told is...quite frankly....a massive crock of shit.
https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/122509p.pdf
https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/122509p.pdf
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I’m not familiar with how Reserve works but a 250+ miles commute for a weekend drill is insane. You need to transfer to a closer unit. Yes, most likely you’ll have to reclassify but I’ll assume that most of the Reserve MOS schools are done during summer; and that is something you should be able to work out with the gaining unit. You could do some research and explore what type of units are closer and potential MOS schools thru ATTRS to have an idea. Again, that’s a long commute and potentially dangerous. Take care of yourself since apparently your Reserve CoC ain’t doing it!
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Whoever is telling you this is illegal is a barracks lawyer, i.e. someone who does not read regs.
Like many things, Home Station Lodging is authorized. Authorized does not mean funded. The Army Reserves and Army Guard stopped receiving funding for this before the war started. Until about 5 years ago the Guard and Reserves were able to divert GWOT funding for this, but that went away, too. This is handled at BDE level with a Unit Travel Card (UTC). Since we are no longer funded, units are required to provide cots on the drill floor for those traveling over 50 miles. If they are not doing that, then they are wrong and that needs to be brought up to the chain of command.
You cannot just "skip" drill if you can't afford it, that is called AWOL, and 3 AWOL drills in a 12 month period will get you a reduction in grade and a discharge that doesn't qualify for benefits. If you cannot afford to go to drill, you need to request an Authorized Absence or request to SUTA with a closer unit to you (Reserve or Guard).
Also, you need to find a unit closer to home (Reserve or Guard) and transfer to that.
You can transfer now and take up to two years to get the reclass done down the road.
This would be easier if we knew what unit you are talking about, your profile still lists your AIT as unit of assignment,
Like many things, Home Station Lodging is authorized. Authorized does not mean funded. The Army Reserves and Army Guard stopped receiving funding for this before the war started. Until about 5 years ago the Guard and Reserves were able to divert GWOT funding for this, but that went away, too. This is handled at BDE level with a Unit Travel Card (UTC). Since we are no longer funded, units are required to provide cots on the drill floor for those traveling over 50 miles. If they are not doing that, then they are wrong and that needs to be brought up to the chain of command.
You cannot just "skip" drill if you can't afford it, that is called AWOL, and 3 AWOL drills in a 12 month period will get you a reduction in grade and a discharge that doesn't qualify for benefits. If you cannot afford to go to drill, you need to request an Authorized Absence or request to SUTA with a closer unit to you (Reserve or Guard).
Also, you need to find a unit closer to home (Reserve or Guard) and transfer to that.
You can transfer now and take up to two years to get the reclass done down the road.
This would be easier if we knew what unit you are talking about, your profile still lists your AIT as unit of assignment,
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TSgt Carl Johnson
I didn't see the comment that stated that it is illegal, but it is certainly not in the best interest of PVT Broyles. I would think that a cot on the drill floor should qualify as quarters; I've certainly been quartered under worse conditions.
I have to question the judgement of a recruiting section that would enlist a young person from 250 miles away, knowing that there was no budget for lodging that person. That is setting her up for failure, and that is something no NCO or officer should ever do to a new recruit.
I agree that she should find a unit closer to home, even if she has to retrain. She would probably be happier in the long run, too, as it would be considerably less demanding on her.
I have to question the judgement of a recruiting section that would enlist a young person from 250 miles away, knowing that there was no budget for lodging that person. That is setting her up for failure, and that is something no NCO or officer should ever do to a new recruit.
I agree that she should find a unit closer to home, even if she has to retrain. She would probably be happier in the long run, too, as it would be considerably less demanding on her.
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