Is there anything I can do about returning to drill after the rescission of the Coronavirus mandate?

2023-02-12T16:41:28-05:00

I'd like to start by saying I'm not trying to be a shitbag here. I don't want to leave the Army but I'm in a pretty big predicament here and would like your help with trying to find a solution.

In June, my unit told me that since I wasn't vaccinated and was a flat out refusal, my Army career was over. Starting in July, I was not able to come back to drill and they told me I'd be processed out.

In the meantime, I quit my job and have focused every part of my life on starting a business. It's now almost 9 months later and I'm really happy that I work for myself and I finally have the independence I wanted. I have guys on my payroll and run most of the business myself.

Yesterday, my SGT called and let me know that I need to start coming back to drill and I'm really scared.

My business cannot survive without me and running a business is all I've ever wanted out of life. Drill on the weekends isn't a big deal but I have to worry about AT which took a month at my unit last year. I also have to worry about deployment which would definitely kill everything I've worked on.

I'm not profitable enough yet to hire a manager to take my place.

Any ideas on what I could do to either stay in the army but keep my responsibilities less significant (IRR maybe?) or get out? As I said, I don't want out and I don't want to stop going to drill but I also don't want to let my business die. I appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks!

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Feb 12 at 2023 6:36 PM

2023-02-12T18:36:33-05:00

Your best bet would be requesting a hardship transfer into the IRR, but given the current recruiting & retention shortfalls (I'll resist the temptation of commenting on the reasons for that, though I find it sadly amusing), I would expect that to get rejected at the current time. In order to be approved, you would need to show that your hardship is greater than a "mere inconvenience." Were I the BC, my default position would be that "AT is an inconvenience for everyone, you need to figure out how to meet your obligations."

A better bet would be to proactively work with you chain of command to perform an (or several) alternate AT in a more convenient time for your business.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Feb 13 at 2023 5:53 AM

2023-02-13T05:53:11-05:00

I run my own business, have since I moved to Denmark in 92. While here, I traveled to Germany (Berlin, Heidelberg, Wiesbaden, etc) to attend drill. I had to plan my work around drill. Over here our Reserve units were considered forward deployed units. Every time the AD unit we supported went to the field, we went, so I would go 3-4 times a year. During these times I worked with others to help cover any problems coming up. I deployed 3 times, each time I got someone else to cover for me. Yes, when I got back, it would take some time to rebuild, but that was the deal, I wanted a Retirement. Traveling to my unit, usually took about 6-8 hrs on the train, each way, sometimes longer. You got others working, train someone to step up. What will you do if you get sick or hurt? Someone has to do it, all part of being a leader - we all are replaceable. I did this until I went IRR the end of 2004.
Also the last couple years of my career was IRR. I got a position with the World Information Basic Library (WIBL). It is an open source intel job which can be done on line. It is run out of FT Leavenworth. You will have to go to HCR, access IRR positions. I wish I had the IP address for you, but it has been a long time. You put in so many hrs a month online researching the country you have been assigned. You will be assigned a team leader, country. Depending on how much time you put in, you can get a "good" month for retirement, I did. This is a good IRR job, you can also request AT with them if you want. Here is some information about it:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Basic_Information_Library

Keep your eye on the prize. I like my retirement now.

World Basic Information Library - Wikipedia

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Feb 13 at 2023 6:44 AM

2023-02-13T06:44:19-05:00

You mentioned how long it has been since you attended drill and that you were processed out for refusing the Vaccine? If so how can they make you drill if you were separated, where is your paperwork? Otherwise grab your boot straps and get ready for drill.

Response by CSM William Everroad made Feb 13 at 2023 8:42 AM

2023-02-13T08:42:09-05:00

PFC Private RallyPoint Member, You got some bad information.

Depending on what division you are in (2-star command), nobody was being "processed out". The direction from most Commanding Generals was that everyone that refused would get a GOMAR for disobeying orders. That GOMAR, for an NCO, would likely be a career-ender, but mixed results for junior enlisted. Only time will tell.

For anyone that requested an exemption (medical or religious) and was denied, their GOMARs are likely getting pulled back (once again depending on the CG and DoD guidance).

The issue you were in is that unvaccinated folks could not come to training assemblies or perform duty on military installations or go to schools. You could not get paid. Now if your unit were a-holes, they would mark you as an unsatisfactory participant and after 3 missed drills (9 UTAs) you would have been mailed a certified letter notifying you that they would begin separation. If you never got that, sometime in October, you were marked as "Absent". The difference is you likely won't have a good year creditable for retirement, but you were and are still in the Army.

Since USARC has clarified that unvaccinated folks can now attend UTAs and get paid (still can't go to military schools yet), you are "reinstated". What this means is you have the same obligations you had before the pandemic.

I agree with COL Vincent Stoneking, the Commander will probably not approve a hardship transfer. Not too many officers are forgiving for flat-out vaccine refusals, especially the ones who ghosted the unit.

But, I would recommend having a conversation with your Chain of Command regarding your issues. They can't help if you don't talk to them.

Response by SSG Bill McCoy made Feb 13 at 2023 10:48 AM

2023-02-13T10:48:20-05:00

I know what you mean about running your own business ... it is most gratifying, and requires a LOT of dedication and TIME. As for your question, I don't really know enough about the Reserves; but I can relate.
My oldest son spent ten years in the Reserves. To make SSG, he had to transfer from a unit in Washington, PA to one in W. Virginia, so he did. A year later, he was able to return to his home unit in PA. However, by then it had changed ... leadership had become rather bad. He got tired of the BS and apply to switch to IRR and was successful. It was a shame because he was a stellar soldier and had deployed with them to Iraq when they had their act together ... but that's when things started changing too.
Check with a trusted Sr. NCO in your unit ... or see if you have a nearby SJA you can consult. Sounds like you MIGHT have been mustered out, but now (perhaps) they're hurting for bodies and didn't finish the process to discharge you.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2023 3:28 PM

2023-02-13T15:28:28-05:00

You have a responsibility to attend drill or go into the IRR or the IMA program (if you can do that as a PFC). If all fails and you cannot get an Honorable or a General under Honorable conditions, the IRR, or the IMA, you will need to go back to drill.
Even if everything fails and you have to return to drill status, it's only one weekend a month and two weeks AT every year. Irrespective, you swore an oath, and you are both honor and duty bound to fulfill your obligation.
Perhaps you can work with them on the timing of your AT? From the 25th of DEC through JAN 6th a lot of businesses are closed. See what they say. The more valuable you make yourself to the unit, the more likely it is that the unit will put forth good will effort to meet you more than half way.

Response by TSgt James Sutton made Feb 28 at 2023 10:40 AM

2023-02-28T10:40:11-05:00

wait, you are not profitable enough yet to hire a manager....does that mean you don't make enough to satisfy your needs or you don't make enough to pay a manager and have some left over for you? I take it you want to hire a manager and be paid too from the way that comes out?

If you get deployed...don't you get paid by the government? Same for the monthlong commitment? In that case you should be easily able to afford to pay someone to manage the business while you are deployed unless maybe you have gotten used to a higher quality of life compared to what the military gave you and that is why you are balking at your commitment you signed up for?

Why not train someone who works for you to manage your business, with a hefty bonus while they are doing it if you have to get deployed?