Question to a Branch Manager, how does an IET Soldier end up staying in the AIT schoolhouse after graduating from AIT?

SSG Dennis Mendoza — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 18:57:24 -0400

So how does an IET Soldier end up staying in the AIT schoolhouse after graduating from AIT for over two years and somehow dodge two PCS orders, and the schoolhouse doesn't have any 10 level slots. Over a year ago the MOS branch manager was informed about that situation and he moved 3 out of four and now that particular soldier is still at that AIT schoolhouse, how is this possible?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2020 8:38 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 20:38:39 -0400

Are you sure they did not have any allocated slots for 10 levels? I have seen numerous individuals who have graduated from AIT and remained at the schoolhouse in a support position.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2020 12:52 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 00:52:49 -0400

People sometimes fly under the radar or may have things stopping them from moving. The correct answer is that it’s not supposed to happen. The IET managers are managing thousands of Soldiers at a time, mostly those coming up to the end of their schools. Without actually searching for someone in a weird spot like that, the current branch manager won’t know that guy is there because they won’t appear on any availability reports. Or worse, they could be a MAVNI or a clearance holdover. Chances are that whatever manner they dodged the PCS orders is how they’re managing to stay. Now that they’ve been there that long they will basically have to reenlist to leave and the branch can’t move them.
Most likely what happened was the S1/MPD arrived him in eMilpo as a unit member while he was a holdover. A quick look at his ERB will tell you if that’s the case. Once he became a member of the unit, he essentially PCSed to the unit and the rest is history

Response by SGT Chris Padgett made Jun 7 at 2020 12:22 AM

SGT Chris Padgett — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 00:22:34 -0400

Ft. Sill!
Happened to me as well way back in 1989. My original contract called for 2years and 13 weeks. Somehow at reception I lost that 13 weeks off my contract. I, being 18 and new to the Army, had no clue what happened and went along with it.
I went thru basic and AIT and at the end I have 20 months left in the Army. I'm handed orders to Germany. OK, cool. My BC (battery commander) is walking around asking everyone to see their orders, he gets to me and tells me to stand fast. Next thing I know I discover for the 1st time in my Army career S1 and PAC.
Long story short, I'm to short to go to Germany.
So, I'm watching everyone I went thru basic and AIT with leave and I'm stuck. After a few days the SDS tells me to grab my stuff and takes me to the supply sgt. He gets me a room in the barracks and tells me to find him the next morning. I was lost! I was fresh out of IET and there were still D/S's all over the place. The next day I find the Supply Sgt, he hooks me up with a SP4 that was the KP pusher.
For the next 3 months I was either pushing KP or some detail with the Supply Sgt.
My promotion from E-1 to E-2 was when I saw my LES and said something to the SP4, he said something to the Supply Sgt who gave me a set of skeeter wings and told me to put them on.
I found out I had been assigned to the BN HBB. I went to PAC every other day, and finally one day I decided to walk into the retention office on post. Told them my situation and within a couple days they had a solution.
I had to extend 12 months and in return, I can pick where I want to go as long as there was a 13B slot. My dumb ass picked Ft. Knox. I had no clue what 194th Armored was at the time.
But that's my story about my 1st 3 months after AIT in a nutshell.
If I hadn't done something for myself, I'm certain I would have been able to ETS from 1/19 FA.
That SP4 was short and was marking time, so he was a real bad example for me. I had almost no structure and was just a bad place for me to be.