What criteria do you use to determine a Soldier is not retainable? When do you give up and choose to chapter / BAR them?

MSG Phil Herndon — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:43:50 -0400

Response by 1SG Shane Hansen made Mar 18 at 2014 10:47 AM

1SG Shane Hansen — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:47:41 -0400

Bar to reenlist is for those that are "rehabilitative" and is not a form of punishment.  Basically you and the commander feel they have potential still and have the ability to overcome adversity. Reasons, not all inclusive, that can be used to bar someone are listed in AR 601-280. I have used the bar to reenlistment many times and it is an effective tool for rehabilitating those that do not wish to be chaptered.  It serves as a real wake up call for them due to the fact a bar can lead to chapter after the 2nd 90 day review.<div><div>Chapter is they did something really bad or lots of mini bad things and they have no chance at rehabilitation and all means at trying fixing them are exhausted.  </div></div>

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2014 1:46 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 13:46:07 -0400

Fortunately, I have never had to recommend a BAR to reenlistment. I have built a few chapter packets though, and those mainly dealt with IET Soldiers with personality disorders that were interfering with their duties as a Soldier. The only exception was a Soldier I had in Afghanistan. He continuously messed up, and it didn't matter what we did to try to fix him, he kept making major mistakes. He was rehabilitative transferred to my team, but I couldn't fix him either. I tried everything I could think of, from on the spot corrections, to corrective training, to counseling, and everything in between. He ended up getting multiple Article 15s in Afghanistan for losing his weapon. It started with just leaving it unsecured, for which he got a counseling statement. Two more times later and after different corrective training attempts, he got his first Article 15. By this time we had him tie his weapon to his belt loops with 550 cord. Then he did it again and got another Article 15. He carried the SAW, so IDK how he could not notice it wasn't in his arms, especially when he was supposed to tie it to his belt loop. After his third Article 15 on the same deployment for the same thing, we finally chaptered him.

This Soldier screwed up everything he did. I have never seen someone so "ate-up." I honestly think that he may have been trying to screw up and get kicked out because he hated everything about being a Soldier.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Mar 18 at 2014 3:52 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:52:33 -0400

The Whole Soldier Concept

http://www.ArmyReenlistment.com/whole-soldier-concept.html