Will I have to pay back my bonus if I ETS because of my RCP? Also, can I join the NG before I'm fully out?

2020-04-08T10:04:23-04:00

how you guys doing my question I got demoted recently and I'm ETS cause of RCP (retention control point) and I'm scared of having to pay my bonus and I'm trying to join the coast guard will I have to pay back the bonus and can I join the national guard before I'm fully out?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2020 10:16 AM

2020-04-08T10:16:26-04:00

Retention NCOs will be the SMEs for these questions

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2020 10:47 AM

2020-04-08T10:47:52-04:00

I've heard the Coasties are crazy strict about enlistment qualifications, talk to a recruiter ASAP to check if you're even eligible.
Your question is a little weird as well (no punctuation), are you trying to do Guard and Coast Guard?
Be prepared to receive bad news, as it looks like you'll be paying it back. You didn't complete your contract for which a bonus was awarded.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2020 12:40 PM

2020-04-08T12:40:24-04:00

You will pay back the prorated amount of your unearned portion of your bonus. Take your old ETS date at time of the last re-enlistment, the number of months you added do your new ETS date at time of re-enlistment is the amount of months. Take your bonus amount prior to taxes, divide that by the number of months. Multiply that by the number of months you will ETS early. That is the amount you will owe. You will pay the pre-tax amount, in order to get back the money you were taxed you would have to go file an amendment to that years return that you filed your taxes on.

You are eligible to join the National Guard six months prior to ETS as long as you are not flagged at that time. The National Guard does not have an RCP. I don't know how you would join the Coast Guard if you were already in the National Guard, but okay. Good luck joining the Coast Guard with any history of misconduct.

If you are able make your rank back prior to your ETS, your old ETS date will be reinstated

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2020 7:58 AM

2020-04-09T07:58:38-04:00

This is why you need to have your priorities straight. Shouldn’t of went in the ARNG if you wanted to join the CG

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2020 11:22 PM

2020-04-09T23:22:19-04:00

They will withhold the money you retroactively owe from your time that you didn’t serve from your income tax refund in most cases. Depends on what type of discharge you receive to join the NG. You may have to apply for an honorable discharge after 6 months of being discharged or get a waiver.