What all should I be aware of when I ETS directly from Cuba?

2021-03-30T15:38:40-04:00

I'll be going to Cuba in May 2021 and have a few questions regarding these orders. I'm assuming the tour is for 1 year since I ETS in September 2022 and am not taking my family so I'll come back in May 2022 with less than 180 days remaining in service. 95% of people said that since I have less than 180 days remaining, I won't PCS back to the USA, I'll just ETS directly from Cuba. Can someone who has legitimate knowledge about that process tell me how it will work? More specifically:

- Will I do my out-processing in GITMO or somewhere close state side?
- What's the maximum ETS leave by regulation that I'll be allowed to take?
- How will I be paid while on ETS leave?
- I'm assuming my Family Sep, Hazard Pay and COLA will stop once I'm on ETS leave, right?
- Off topic, will my wife be able to visit me in Cuba?

Regarding the third question, my wife is staying San Francisco near family while I'm gone so I'll be getting San Fran BAH. But when I come home, she's moving back to Kansas City, MO with me where she has more family. Will I still be getting San Fran BAH while on ETS leave since that's what I was being paid in Cuba or will they adjust the BAH to where I take my terminal leave?

I'd really appreciate the info and please throw in anything else that you feel is pertinent to my situation. Not really sure what to expect and just trying to get ahead of the curve a bit.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2021 4:43 PM

2021-03-30T16:43:22-04:00

One I do know is ETS leave is just like regular leave. You will get paid like you normally do when you are on leave. The only difference is that last check will come later than usual since the military will want to make sure you don’t owe them money. So don’t plan on relying on that last check for bills.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Mar 30 at 2021 4:56 PM

2021-03-30T16:56:06-04:00

I did it twice, many years ago, coming back from Korea and Vietnam. They ship you to a processing station and separate you there

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2021 7:39 PM

2021-03-30T19:39:18-04:00

You will not be sent back with less than six months left on your contract. Your report is is May 2021, your DEROS will be MAY 2022, your report month to CONUS will be June or July 2022. You have to have six months on your ETS from the report date you're given. Not 180 days, six months. That means if your report date is June 10 and your ETS is 9 November, one day short of six months, you will not PCS back to the states. By regulation SRRs are calculated out to the end of the month so your ETS should be December 2022.

If you choose not to meet the SRR your tour will be involuntarily extended. It's called an Involuntary Foreign Service Tour Extension. Your DEROS will be moved to two days prior to your ETS. Yours will probably be a week or two prior to allow you to return to your processing center to clear.

You can find all this in AR 614-30, 614-200, 600-8-11, and 601-280

You are authorized to extend now before you leave in order to give yourself enough time to meet the SRR so that you can PCS back to the states

You can take as much leave as you can accumulate and that your command will approve. In September you could be carrying up to 90 days. If you're on leave over 30 days your BAH will be reset to transitional BAH which is much lower than your current BAH.