How to find a new position after your unit deactivates?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 17:47:49 -0500

If you knew your unit was deactivating soon what would your actions be? You have only been assigned to Fort Hood for 7 months which is a 4 year assignment. You have been informed by your command group they will sign a letter of release if you can find a new job position. These are my options.

A: Wait until your unit reassigns you to a new unit.

B: Contact your branch manager to find slots on post.

C. Contact III Core G-1 for assitance.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2014 6:01 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 18:01:25 -0500

SGT, this same exact scenario is playing out in my unit. My CO gave us the options of going IRR if we've been in long enough, transferring to another unit, going active (to a degree), or reclassing and switching to another unit. I chose to MOST and find another unit because I view this as an exciting new opportunity to expand my knowledge and add to my resume. SGT, unless you have you a family or roots in your community why not try going to another unit?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2014 12:14 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 12:14:09 -0500

I would cintact both your branch manger and III Corps G-1 to help you find a slot.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2014 11:52 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 11:52:24 -0500

I will be in this situation by the end of the year, so i'm very curious as to what to do when the time comes.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Mar 2 at 2014 12:13 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 12:13:20 -0500

See your servicing Career Counselor...they will have specific guidance for deactivating units.

Response by MSG Gene Potocki made Mar 2 at 2014 12:36 PM

MSG Gene Potocki — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 12:36:51 -0500

Bottom line go interview for the job you would like to have on post, if you leave it up to DA who knows where you'll end up. Best of luck.

Heres what happened when I deactivated a unit:

I had to close down the LRSD at Fort Riley in the early 90's. All the equipment was being sent to Fort Hood as they were standing up a the III Corp LRS unit

I called the Branch managers along with my Company Commander to have the troops move there also. As all the NCO's were Ranger / RSLC Qualified. We had junior enlisted that were also ranger qualified. Along with other skill sets that are required for a Long Range Surveillance Unit of the 90's.

We all filled out dream sheets for assignments as requested by DA managers. Her's what happened.

All E-6's sent to Fort Drum

All E-5's sent to Hawaii

All E-4 and below sent to Fort Bragg

I was sent to Teach ROTC (My choices: Italy, Ft. Campbell, Pathfinder or LRS Det - Korea)

My Boss got a teaching job (History) at West Point (first he had two years of schooling to get a Masters at the University of South Carolina)

Two months before the deactivation I got a call from DA wanting to know why none of my soldiers were PCS'ing to Hood to help stand up the new unit. Because if they didn't the army was going to have to spend money to train / qualify the new soldiers and leaders in the skills required of the duty position.

I told him he needed to talk with his crew up there as we had put this as an option to them. Never found out why they didn't keep us together, this happened with all division level LRS unit assigned to III Corp in the early 90's.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 8 at 2015 4:19 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 16:19:58 -0400

You can talk to some CSMs.