Is there anyway that I can not worry about drill until I am settled into TN? Will I be punished if I stopped showing for drill?

2020-02-19T19:19:37-05:00

THE SITUATION
I live in Missouri.
My current unit is 120 miles away from my home.
I am going to be moving to Tennessee soon.
My wife will be leaving for TN in late March but I will be staying with the kids in MO until school is out (May 29).
Once school is out, the kids and I will head to TN.
Starting in July 2020, I have ADOS orders for 8 months.
This is my second enlistment.
I completed 6 years National Guard and was transferred to IRR.
4 months after ETS I transferred to Reserves.
I also received a bonus for this Reserve enlistment if that matters.

THE QUESTION
Trying to go to Drill is a hassle, between trying to take days off, find babysitters, losing out on money, RSTing, etc. I have no friends or family in this State so leaving the kids with strangers is a big NO. Is there anyway that I can not worry about drill until I am settled into TN? Will I be punished if I stopped showing for drill?

I saw this link "https://girightshotline.org/en/military-knowledge-base/topic/absences-from-the-reserves" and it gave me some insights to temporarily going back to the IRR.

Is this true?

Can anyone provide any good information?

Thanks in advance.

GI Rights Hotline: Resources

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2020 8:24 PM

2020-02-19T20:24:14-05:00

Talk to your Chain, the worst thing you can do is just not show up!

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2020 8:29 PM

2020-02-19T20:29:00-05:00

SPC, the best advice I could give you is to maintain constant communication with you leadership. I would email your FFL, 1SG, and UA. Loop them all in on your situation. You are able to request excused absences from BA but your unit will need a good reason, which you seem to have, and you'll need to be 100% on all your readiness, medical, admin, etc.
In order to stay off of the Non-participants list you have to receive pay every 90 days. That can be for drill, LHI appointments, EBDL, or RSTs. Work with your unit to request those days. You can RST during the work week if your unit can use you or you can request to work at the recruiting station or other military organization. This would require pre-authorization from your 1SG and CDR. You can request a memo to present to your employer and your kids would be at school.
Lastly, find your new unit in TN. Log onto the HRC Soldier portal > tools > vacancy search, and log for your MOS. Contact the unit and link them up with your UA or RPAC you get your TPU transfer request packet started. They can state a specific start date of you know when that will be. Your current unit will be a lot more flexible of your transfer order is pending.

Feel free to reach out of you have specific questions.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2020 8:49 PM

2020-02-19T20:49:19-05:00

You need to bring these issues up with your Chain stat. Best case scenario is that they allow you to do RSTs each month and you work from home doing EBDL courses that will get you paid for the training and meet the required amount of hours you'd miss for BTA. Worst case is that you don't show up and you start getting U's and end up being put out for getting too many of them.

Response by LTC Charles T Dalbec made Feb 19 at 2020 8:49 PM

2020-02-19T20:49:19-05:00

Specialist Martinez, constant contact with your chain of command is your responsibility. Recommend in writing/email Etc so you have an audit trail of the communication. Ask FLL to forward to 1sg, Company Commander. Don’t get dropped from Jumps RC please follow!!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2020 9:58 PM

2020-02-19T21:58:18-05:00

IRR packets can take months to process, so it would not benefit you at all. I would talk with ARCD, RPAC (if you have them nearby), UA, or as suggested look on HRC for units that will be in the area you are moving too or are closer to your current location. Request to RST with them (can be on weekdays too) until you can sort out your moving situation and you are officially on ADOS orders. Your leadership should be appraised so they can facilitate.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2020 10:17 PM

2020-02-19T22:17:53-05:00

Be careful with not showing up especially since you’ve stated you received a bonus for this enlistment because you don’t want to put yourself in a position where they recoup the bonus. In order to keep the bonus you’ve received you must fulfill your contractual obligations.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2020 11:14 PM

2020-02-19T23:14:12-05:00

Thanks for all of the responses.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2020 7:36 AM

2020-02-20T07:36:16-05:00

Just about everyone has already stated the importance of talking and communicating with your CoC. Consequences of not showing up without getting excused. You will receive U's for unsatisfactory participation. Once you get to this point, any bonus will be in jeopardy, if you are using or want to use the education benefits those will stop etc.

Response by 1SG Alan Boggs made Feb 20 at 2020 8:55 AM

2020-02-20T08:55:01-05:00

Not being in good standing can affect your bonus