How should I proceed with switching out of 09R (SMP Cadet) into 38B (Civil Affairs) without a DD 785 (disenrollment from officer training)?

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 15:21:27 -0400

Good afternoon all!

I enlisted into the Army Reserve in February 2023 as a 09R (SMP Cadet) thanks to an LOA from the ROTC program at the university I was set to attend. Due to graduating basic late (was stuck in reception) I missed the tuition payment date and my school start date for the fall. After some personal things I've decided not to commission through ROTC (I currently am 40ish credits away from a bachelors) and am wanting to switch to a Civil Affairs unit in my state and class into 38B (civil affairs specialist).

I reached out to a career counselor, got sent back to my initial recruiter then eventually got in contact with the unit I want to transfer into, I received an LOA from that unit and the 1SG from the company I was accepted into was working with a MSG from USAREC to get me properly switched over. That MSG eventually came back and said he needs a form 785, Disenrollment from officer training, in order to process me. I reach out to the ROTC unit, they are unable to give me a disenrollment form because I was never enrolled/contracted with ROTC and I never attended a single class at the university. They did provide a memo for record stating I have no obligation to the ROTC program. I sent this and the email I received from the ROTC HR person to the MSG from USAREC. (The 1SG from the unit has stepped away since their is currently nothing he can do) I have not heard back from the MSG from USAREC, it's been 15 days since that email and I have heard nothing back. I've been attempting to transfer since February 2024.

My current unit is working on an ETP in case the reserves tries to discharge me out in February 2025 and I am being advised by some to file a Congressional complaint/grievance in order to sort this out.

I want to sort this out without going straight to my congressperson but I do not want to get discharged or have this affect my civilian education (I am currently set to attend a Vocational School required by my state to proceed further in my civilian employment)

How would you all recommend proceeding?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2024 8:47 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 20:47:28 -0400

You could request the ROTC Department annotate those comments/statements on the 785 signifying that you were never enrolled, attended nor obligated by contract. Looking at the form,

IN Section II: Box 10-12 would self-explanatory. Box 13 could state the date you were approved as an SMP. Box 14 could state the date you graduated Basic Training, or even the date you disenrolled from college. Box 15 can easily be the guesstimated date of commission had you decided to go thru ROTC.

Section III: SM, at no fault of their own, was held late at their Basic Training Reception. This caused SM to miss the deadline for tuition payment, which in turn caused the SM to not attend any courses at the University.

Section IV: After clicking #6, the Other Remarks, they can state "SM was enrolled for ROTC but had never attended a class nor contracted with ROTC; SM does not have any obligation to the ROTC program."

With this information, the 785 could still be done and meet the requirements for that USAREC MASG.