Career Counselor
Career Counselor
Posted on Dec 1, 2024
Two Years Ago, I Failed a UA and Was Not Separated. Will I Receive the Rest of My Enlistment Bonus?
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As my question includes, a little over two years ago I failed my UA and went through the one year process of counseling and an unfavorable action flag. I was not separated and have full access to my guard benefits in addition to striving to be a better soldier as well as a better person overall. As of today, my enlistment incentives are in limbo. About 9 months before failing my UA, I received $10,000 of my $20,000 bonus with $5,000 to be paid half way through my contract and the last $5,000 to be paid at the end of my contract. My commander completed an Exception to Policy because they sought to have me to pay part of the $10,000 back for unsatisfactory performance.
1. Would that exception to policy restore my status back to satisfactory?;
2. Why did they only want me to pay back $4,444?;
3. Will I receive the rest of my bonus?
I understand these sort of questions should be pushed up my chain of command, however, it is very clear to me they do not have the time for this discussion and I may be routed to any number of other facilities at my national guard base who may or may not have the answers I need, a problem I’ve encountered multiple times already when I sought answers pertaining to my Student Loan Repayment incentive, which I have confirmed was not lost as a result of failing my UA.
1. Would that exception to policy restore my status back to satisfactory?;
2. Why did they only want me to pay back $4,444?;
3. Will I receive the rest of my bonus?
I understand these sort of questions should be pushed up my chain of command, however, it is very clear to me they do not have the time for this discussion and I may be routed to any number of other facilities at my national guard base who may or may not have the answers I need, a problem I’ve encountered multiple times already when I sought answers pertaining to my Student Loan Repayment incentive, which I have confirmed was not lost as a result of failing my UA.
Posted in these groups: 
12N: Horizontal Construction Engineer
Re-enlistment
Military Pay
Career Advice
Career Counselor
12N: Horizontal Construction Engineer Re-enlistment Military Pay Career Advice Career Counselor
Posted 24 d ago
Responses: 1
I'm 95% sure the BLUF for you is that your incentive was terminated and you won't receive any further bonus payments.
First and foremost, go back to the actual contract you signed for the bonus. It will lay out the terms and conditions of the bonus, how it is paid, repayment process, etc.
Almost universally, a Soldier's misconduct will result in a suspension of the bonus (ARNG SRIP Policy, Encl 5, para c). Once your flag is entered into the system, it's (now) automatic with an effective date of when the flag was initiated. If the flag is lifted FAVORABLY, then the incentive can be reinstated, but not if it was closed unfavorably (ARNG SRIP policy, Encl 8*, para 1b(13)). In all likelihood, your flag was removed unfavorably because of the UA failure (AR 600-8-2*, para 2-2p).
Why $4,444? Again, a guess, but the way incentives are recouped is based on a ratio of months remaining in the obligation to the total number of months multiplied by the incentive. Hypothetically, if you signed an incentive for 72 months (6 years) and completed 3 years 4 months (40 months) before becoming ineligible, then the recoupment would be for $20,000 * (72-40)/72 = $4,444.
To get the definitive answer, talk to your unit Career Counselor/Retention NCO. They should be able to look-up your status in GIMS (the Army National Guard's Incentive Management System).
I would also confirm your SLRP is still active in GIMS as the only difference for incentive termination for SLRP is regarding recoupment (ARNG SRIP Policy, Encl 8, para 1b).
-----------------------------------------
* ARNG SRIP Policy FY2024 - https://ok.ng.mil/Portals/56/Documents/ARNGRetention/NGB_FY25_ARNG-HRZ_SRIP%20% [login to see] .pdf
NGR 600-7 (Selected Reserve Incentive Programs) - https://www.ngbpmc.ng.mil/Portals/27/Publications/ngr/ngr%20600-7.pdf
* AR 600-8-2 (Suspension of Favorable Personnel Actions (Flag)) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30769-AR_600-8-2-000-WEB-1.pdf
First and foremost, go back to the actual contract you signed for the bonus. It will lay out the terms and conditions of the bonus, how it is paid, repayment process, etc.
Almost universally, a Soldier's misconduct will result in a suspension of the bonus (ARNG SRIP Policy, Encl 5, para c). Once your flag is entered into the system, it's (now) automatic with an effective date of when the flag was initiated. If the flag is lifted FAVORABLY, then the incentive can be reinstated, but not if it was closed unfavorably (ARNG SRIP policy, Encl 8*, para 1b(13)). In all likelihood, your flag was removed unfavorably because of the UA failure (AR 600-8-2*, para 2-2p).
Why $4,444? Again, a guess, but the way incentives are recouped is based on a ratio of months remaining in the obligation to the total number of months multiplied by the incentive. Hypothetically, if you signed an incentive for 72 months (6 years) and completed 3 years 4 months (40 months) before becoming ineligible, then the recoupment would be for $20,000 * (72-40)/72 = $4,444.
To get the definitive answer, talk to your unit Career Counselor/Retention NCO. They should be able to look-up your status in GIMS (the Army National Guard's Incentive Management System).
I would also confirm your SLRP is still active in GIMS as the only difference for incentive termination for SLRP is regarding recoupment (ARNG SRIP Policy, Encl 8, para 1b).
-----------------------------------------
* ARNG SRIP Policy FY2024 - https://ok.ng.mil/Portals/56/Documents/ARNGRetention/NGB_FY25_ARNG-HRZ_SRIP%20% [login to see] .pdf
NGR 600-7 (Selected Reserve Incentive Programs) - https://www.ngbpmc.ng.mil/Portals/27/Publications/ngr/ngr%20600-7.pdf
* AR 600-8-2 (Suspension of Favorable Personnel Actions (Flag)) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30769-AR_600-8-2-000-WEB-1.pdf
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