What should I do when I have asked my unit several times about my bonus and nothing happens?

2018-12-05T05:14:36-05:00

It has been around 6 months since I was promised it and around 4 months since I was told I would get it in 45 days. I want to be a respectful/professional as possible and not be pushy but I have submitted my paperwork many times and all I get back is a “let me get back to you on that”. What steps can I take to actually get it without pissing anyone off?

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Dec 5 at 2018 6:34 AM

2018-12-05T06:34:04-05:00

Don't give up. They can't deprive you of compensation without a good reason. Annoying them by trying to get your compensation is not a good reason.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2018 7:24 AM

2018-12-05T07:24:25-05:00

AC or USAR?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2018 7:26 AM

2018-12-05T07:26:57-05:00

You could do a ticket with DFAS. Check your iPERMS to ensure your bonus Addendum with bonus control number and DD4 are in there. If your paperwork is not iPERMED it will not be paid.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Dec 5 at 2018 7:54 AM

2018-12-05T07:54:48-05:00

During my first company command I had situation like this one. After working thru all channels I told my soldier to write to his congressman. Guess what? Fixed within a week!!!!!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2018 10:01 AM

2018-12-05T10:01:24-05:00

Unfortunately, when it comes to personal administrative issues, it can be tough to not piss someone off in the process. Nobody cares more about your issue than you do, so it's not always a high priority for others. Plus, it sounds like you haven't received an adequate amount of feedback to remove your concern of it being properly handled. There is no easy way to get a faster response without ruffling a few feathers.

I would recommend you compile all of the dates of actions and documents (paperwork, emails, conversations) pertaining to your issue (see example at bottom). Then I would recommend you take a copy of the compiled information to your First Sergeant/Commander (let your 1st Line Supervisor know); explain the timeline of events and how you feel you have been mislead multiple times and have not received an adequate status update. Then inform them you would like submit your issue to the National Guard Inspector General's (IG) office (https://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/Joint-Staff/Personal-Staff/Inspector-General/). On the Active Duty side, the IG can help Soldiers get an update of at least where their paperwork is at, by examining the if the unit's processes failed. They can't force a commander to do anything (remember this). However, the presence of an IG inquiry might cause commanders to place more emphasis on the issue. There are lots of times where Commanders up the chain of command aren't even aware, because the process failed somewhere below them. Sometimes NCO's are too scared to bring up the issues to leadership, so they lie to their junior Soldiers and hope everything works out in due time.

Your leadership may talk you out of going to the IG and ask to allow them to put more emphasis on getting you an answer. That is your choice if you want to do that, but I would also recommend you set a reasonable timeline with them of when you would like to here a response (1 or 2 weeks maybe). If that date passes, you and your leadership have an agreed upon deadline of follow-on action, so that you aren't waiting more months hoping that they didn't forget. It is vital that you don't use this method in a threatening way toward your 1st Line Supervisor and/or commander. It should sound more like you are concerned about the process

Side note: One of my junior NCO's had an issue with her reclassification bonus. She went through EXACTLY what you are going through, until she finally came to me about her issue after PCSing to my unit. We did the above methods, and our First Sergeant got us a response within a few days. Come to find out, her bonus was delayed because in the Reenlistment system, it doesn't allow the bonus to pay out until the expected date of graduation that is pre-set in the system. Well, she had attended an earlier class than what she was slotted for, which graduated 2-3 months sooner than the expected date in the reenlistment system. So all she had to do was wait until that date passed. Up until that point, she had been trying to get an answer 6-months.

Compilation Example:

"On X Date at X Time, I submitted X Document to X Person. X Person told me they would submit to Y Person for processing and it should take X amount of months."

"On X Date at X Time, I inquired with X Person about my paperwork. They told me, 'Let me get back to you on that.'"

"On X Date at X Time, X Person told me to make corrections to my paperwork and re-submit."

"On X Date at X Time, I re-submitted my corrected paperwork to X Person."

etc, etc.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2018 12:08 PM

2018-12-05T12:08:24-05:00

Squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Speak with finance, also

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2018 12:47 PM

2018-12-05T12:47:34-05:00

Whenever you turn in paperwork use a da 200, called a transmittal slip. It get signed showing they have received the paperwork. When you go back and they claim they dont have it, you wave the 200 in their face and they realize the screw up is on them. I would resubmit the packet, with a pay inquiry form and a 200 and give them a month and see what happens.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2018 4:59 PM

2018-12-05T16:59:58-05:00

If you're national guard, I heard there's some nation wide issue adls far as bonuses go. Well, that's what out admin NCO had told us and that until they fix that, we won't get it.

Response by SSG K Johnson made Dec 5 at 2018 6:55 PM

2018-12-05T18:55:49-05:00

Honestly as a private first class just asking is going to piss somebody off. Just keep with it soldier and you'll be fine.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2018 9:20 PM

2018-12-05T21:20:34-05:00

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/i-m-trying-to-find-out-where-the-first-half-of-my-reenlistment-bonus-is-i-need-some-advise-please-read-the-details-what-is-my-next-move?urlhash=4153354

There are two issues here:
1. Bonus payments in the Guard are never on time according to contract, because each one has to go through unit level verification, State level verification, intermediate level verification (at Little Rock) and NGB level verification. Once it gets to intermediate level and NGB, it is in a buffer with about 30,000 bonuses at both levels, with only a handful of people to get through them all. That is the main reason bonuses were always late.
2. The Strength Maintenance Management System (SMMS) server farm just experienced a "catastrophic failure" last month. (the backup servers were in the same room as the primaries, and the climate control failed).
The news release didn't go into much detail, but it did warn that bonuses are not moving until it's fixed. That also means that if your Readiness NCO has access to RMS and GIMS (like he is supposed to) he wouldn't be able to look up your bonus right now.

I’m trying to find out where the first half of my reenlistment bonus is. I need some advise....

Earlier this year, I re-enlisted with the Army National Guard in Louisiana for six more years. Within the contract and all of the paper work, it stated that I would receive 50% of my bonus, 30 days after my ETS. December is approaching and that’ll make month number five. So far, I’ve done everything that I could think of. I’ve asked my readiness NCO, went up the chain of command to reach the 1st. Sgt and even went up to the officer side of...

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Dec 6 at 2018 1:17 PM

2018-12-06T13:17:56-05:00

What do you mean promised? Did you sign a contract, with a bonus specified in it? If so, then contact the Retention office and post Finance. Thats the only way to get a bonus/track it.

Response by SGT Mathew Husen made Dec 7 at 2018 11:12 AM

2018-12-07T11:12:19-05:00

Not your unit who is responsible for your bonus, bu4 DFAS

Response by SGT Michael Tallman made Dec 7 at 2018 3:15 PM

2018-12-07T15:15:17-05:00

If no one with your unit will comply with your requests then go to your recruiter who got you the bonus and enlisted you. Ask your recruiter if they still have your original paperwork that would contain your bonus information on it. If they don't have this and you don't either then approach your chain of command one last time. If your chain of command will not help you and all other sources have failed then request an inquiry into your bonus situation with the office of the Inspector General. This is better known as a I.G. complaint. You may start getting somewhere at that point. If you originally used your chain of command, went to finance, tried a ticket with DFAS and lastly went to your recruiter, you won't get in trouble if you go to the Inspector General. They can help you figure things out and they are in place to help you.