Retaining phase 5 or phase 5+ status when PCSing to 2nd half of your Army AIT?

PFC (Join to see) ,
SFC Kelly Fuerhoff is spot on here. These are all privileges that do not have to be offered.

I will caveat, however, that most Commanders DO try to use common sense (or have a crusty 1SG kicking them in the shins underneath the table to help them out). They also DO take individual situations, or compassionate exceptions to policy into consideration.

As SFC Fuerhoff advised, take it up your leadership, but before you do, set yourself up for success. Before you approach your DS/PSG, do some research on the exact rules for phasing, as laid out within your unit. If there is justification or reasoning provided, check to see if it applies to your situation.

Look at what from Phase 1 can logically be carried forward, including timelines. Many things in the Army, (to include annual training, weapons qual, and PT Tests) have built-in expiration dates. If each phase is 6 months, and PT Tests are only good for 6 months, the requirement to take (and pass one) in each phase is completely logical.

You will be asking the Commander to grant an exception to existing policy. So you need to look at how the SPECIFIC circumstances you are encountering warrant special consideration (i.e. why you and your situation is different from a "normal" Soldier going through your course). The lack of availability of an ACFT MAY qualify as a special circumstance. Or, it may be there by design, and it is NORMALLY not offered until the third month of Phase 2. Maybe what is Phase 2 for you is Phase 1 for most Soldiers, and it is not normal for Soldiers to move in to this Phase with existing qualifications. I don't know, it is your situation. You need to be able to make a compelling case for your DS/PSG (who will then either accompany you to the CDR or - more likely - make your case to the CDR him/herself) as to why your specific circumstances are either different from the rest of the students in your cycle or your cycle is different from the rest of the cycles, and why that difference merits special consideration. Referencing Regulation, SOP, or other published guidance will definitely help you out, especially if you can identify a stated procedure for requesting exceptions, and/or who the approving authority for exceptions is.

Once you have identified WHY the exception should be granted, next you have to be able to state WHAT exception you want. Keep in mind what the existing rules state and WHY they state it. If the purpose of the ACFT for phasing is so that you have a passing test on record (and not expired) before going to your first assignment, then acknowledge this and ask that you be allowed privileges contingent on passing ACFT the first time it is offered, and that you will immediately revert if you fail to attend and/or fail to pass. Etc. Again, you know your situation better than I do.

Now that you know what you are asking for and why, before you talk to your DS/PSG actually rehearse (or even put in writing!) what you are going to say. They are usually VERY busy, and you can only help yourself out by respecting their time and making your case clearly, articulately, and briefly. Again, make sure you can explain what you are asking for, and why you feel it is justified.


I know that this is a LOT to ask for from an AIT Soldier. Your access to resources (such as computers, publications, and databases to conduct research) is more limited than Soldiers in the regular Army. Your knowledge base is also a lot more limited. But.... Do your best. Regardless of whether you are a PVT in AIT or a MG Commanding a Division, you ALWAYS have a better chance at a favorable outcome if you can properly frame the problem AND identify a potential solution. Your DS/PSG understands that you are still learning how the Army works and, if they feel that your issue has any merit at all, should be willing to work with you to develop a solution, even if that is only pointing you in the right direction for more research (at first).

And if your DS/PSG feels it does NOT have merit, listen to what they are saying. They know your Commander and what they are likely to approve far better than you do. While it may seem like the DS/PSG is only there to babysit you and keep you in line, or maybe even to make your life miserable, they are actually there to help you. They have your best interest, long term, at heart, even when it doesn't seem like it.

I hope this helps - and even if it doesn't help you out now, remember this as a basic template as you move through your career. Identify problem, research rules, articulate solution, ask for remedy.

I would also look into why they have that in place. Usually there are these rules and guidelines in units that may not be elsewhere because someone at some point screwed it up for everyone else. There could have been a time they let the PT test carry over but then people were showing up failing when they'd take one so they put that in place you had to take another one to get your phase back.

They pretty much said deal with it when some of the students complained, I did talk to the commander today though, and it is something he put in place to stop people from going on leave in between phases and getting fat and sh*t-bagging. So I doubt there would be TRADOC reg against doing it if he is mandating it for the company. Thanks for the response.

In my case, my spouse was not with me at my first station but will be moving with me to the next. Many of us though had spouses with us previously and will be moving them to the new duty station when we PCS, but have to wait before we can live with them again. They will be in housing while we are at the barracks until we can 'earn' our phase back.