Can my Commander....? Yes, very likely and other RP Questions Answered in One Place

Rally Pointers, I am taking a RP Sabbatical to focus on some personal and professional pursuits. Until I return…A great number of RallyPoint posts are seeking ‘quick turn around’ on what the ‘regs’ say about a certain topic due to an impending show down with Army unit leadership. These questions are challenging to provide advice to due to the lack of basic understanding of the issue, ignorance of the terminology, not retaining (in memory or in writing) what they were told (in its entirety), selective retelling of the story, and challenges posed by those officially involved in the process with only basal understanding themselves of what the processes are.
It is not expected that every Soldier is a regulation ninja, with instant recall of any and all regulatory information. This would be counter-productive. Those of us answering these have about two decades of commissioned and non-commissioned experience. Save that hard drive space for important things like Caddy Shack quotes; unmasking procedures with or without an M256 kit; call for fire; how to load COMSEC; clear stoppages on your assigned weapon, remembering to never play cards for money with someone named after a city, how to spot dodgy soju, assessing a prospective spouse that hands you allotment forms on the second date, and other key battle drills.
Common RP questions, comments, and pitfalls:
“My Chain of Command said”: Was it your Company Commander or your Team Leader or a random NCO in the orderly room? Most issues in the Army revolve around Company Commanders. The Army has structured most decisions to be made at Company Command Level. Company Commanders are responsible for everything their Company does or fails to do. As a consequence, Platoon Level leadership and the NCO Support Channel are the gate keepers. When asking for help, be specific. Did your Company Commander say it or write it? Did your Troop First Sergeant say it? Was it your Section Chief? It matters on how people respond to it. There is an Open Door Policy in AR 600-20.
“I went to Finance”: Every time you go to finance, bring your first line leader if possible, as an eye witness. As a Major I dragged the BDE Finance NCO to Post Finance once. Document, in writing, who you talked to and the date and time. Take physical notes on what they are telling you to do or not do. Never surrender an original document without making a copy. Download a document capture app on your phone and snap a copy before you hand it over. DFAS has a wealth of knowledge on their site. If nothing else, you learn the language of that area of expertise so you can ask better questions. The gateway to starting, stopping, or changing BAH is the BAH verification form, DA Form 5960, the Alpha and the Omega of BAH.
Spouse triggered, optically guided, Command Sponsorship Missile: Service members, you need to go find out and tell your spouse before they chew a hole through the internet. Example: Command Sponsorship (ie so they can go to Korea or Germany with you). While you will be content to let it all happen and figure it out as you go, you are likely married to a professional competitive worrier. Get the checklist for the right theater (Google, right terminology, three hits…Korea has a web site that is nice). Get your family EFMP cleared (single form) during the Preparation for Overseas Movement (POM) process. DRAG your spouse to the Levy brief so they can empty their 30 round question magazine. Ensure that you get the Army facilitated no fee passports with the SOFA stamp. Your tourist passports will get you on and off a cruise ship but will not work for living overseas. It’s an immigration and visa issue. No, MPD can not speed up the passports that is Department of State with an Army front counter. Ensure Rover gets their medical clearance from Vet Services in the window of travel (usually within 90 days). Schedule your HHG and port call for your vehicle in advance.
“Can my Commander make me….” : Yes, probably. The whole Army system works on Companies leading soldiers and Battalions leading Companies. Wide latitude is given to Commanders to enforce standards, good order, and discipline to accomplish missions and care for soldiers. If they don’t have the authority, the Battalion does. In rare circumstances the Brigade, Division, or maybe even DA are the approval authorities. Find and read the appropriate regulation and local SOP. Post specific items are either on the installation/Division website or on their share point. All behind the CAC curtain where the RP Graybeards cannot tread. Unless covered by a specific regulation, Commanders, Officers, and NCOs derive their authority from AR 600-20. Training requirements are in AR350-1. Training Army units is in FM 7.0. Local SOP and policy govern much of Army day to day life based on latitude given to commanders for first formation time, time to do personal hygiene, unit training schedules, formations, how many days you get to clear etc. As long as it is not immoral, illegal, or reasonably unsafe you will likely be doing it. Rolling without a license or dispatch is a hard-fast stop everything event unless you are in combat and there is no alternative.
“I talked to Battalion…”: Like all at once? All 1200 dudes and dudettes in a formation? or did you wander the Battalion Headquarters to the staff shops? It is very important to attribute which staff section you went to and what they said. Most junior soldiers must have a Company Leader with them to visit one. Battalions power down whatever they can to Companies, but sometimes you need to see a Battalion Staff Section. Examples: Security Clearances, Government Travel Card shenanigans.
“I have a RE Code of 3 or 4, can I get back in?”: General consensus is NO, but go run your case by a recruiter. You may have to go to more than one. Things in recruiting for enlistments, commissions, and appointments change often to meet accessions challenges. The waiver process is entirely in the hands of the recruiters to initiate, but they do not approve them. They are the gate keeper. Look at the resources on the RE Code topic page on Rally Point. Note that you may have to have your discharge recharacterized, again visit the RE Code topic page or Google NPRC appeal discharge.
“I looked at the Reg, FM 7-22 and it said…”: Only regulations are regulations. FM, ADP, ADRP, TM, TC, etc are not regulations. Regulations will often reference another administrative, technical, or doctrine publication but they are not regulations and do not hold the same power and effect. You will not see someone court martialed for not following ADP 5.0 and missing an MDMP step. Many Regulations are punitive, including AR670-1, meaning that legal action can be taken against you. Orders from General officers have the same effect as regulations and you may be held accountable for it whether you know about it or not.
All things APFT: Most look at FM 7-22. That is only a piece of it. AR 350-1 is actually the regulation that covers the APFT, its conduct, how often, etc. It’s pretty concise and to the point in Appendix F. AR 600-9 covers the Army Body Composition Program. The three fit together fairly well. As a consequence the Army is fielding a new physical readiness test. Most often cited portion of 350-1 is Commanders may administer the APFT as much as they wish.
“I looked in AR 670-1 and can’t find this award”: AR 600-8-22 covers Military Awards including criteria for decorations, service awards, and badges. AR 670-1 and associated DA PAM will cover how and when to wear it if so awarded. Selection and wear of a Soldier’s regimental affiliation is the only exception. That is in 670-1 and the DA PAM. HRC’s Award page is really good and consolidates Military Personnel (MILPER) Messages and All Army Activities (ALARACT) messages that have to do with awards and decorations. They live there until aggregated and corresponding guidance is put in the regulation. 670-1 operated this way for about a decade with over 20-30 MILPER messages and multiple ALARACTs that needed to be deconflicted. Google HRC Sister Service Awards if you have a sister service or prior service award question. HRC has a nice page that is not CAC protected.
“I can’t find the regulation on blankety blank”: I’m not Rain-man brilliant. I usually find it within three google hits. It boils down to terminology in the search box, the regulatory terms and expressions. A dead give-away is if you are struggling with an official Army Form, the regulation it goes to is listed on the top or in the instructions for the form. Sometimes you have to zoom out and identify the umbrella that it sits under. Once you have the regulation DO NOT read it cover to cover. Use the table of contents, then Control F through it to find the lone sentence you are likely looking for. Regulations are not haphazardly assigned numbers. If you go to APD and skim the range of regulations, you’ll find:
- 930 series Army use of USO, Red Cross, and AER
- 840 series plaques and colors (840-10 Flags, Guidons, Streamers, Tabards, And Automobile And Aircraft Plates)
- 700 series Materiel related (750-1 Army Materiel Maintenance Policy,750-43 TMDE, 735-5 Property Accountability Policies, 710-2 Supply Policy Below the National level, on occasional 710-2)
- 600 series Personnel (600-20 Army Command Policy, 635-200 Enlisted Separations, 600-9 ABCP, 600-8-10 Military Leave and Passes, 600-8-22 Military Awards, 670-1, 672-20 Incentives Awards, 601-210 Army Enlistment Program)
- 525 series Force Protection (525-28 Personnel Recovery)
- 405 series Real Estate and Land
- 385 series Safety (385-10 The Army Safety Program)
- 380 series Information Security
- 350 series Training (350-1 Army Training and Leader Development, the source of APFT regulation)
- 220 series Unit Operations (220-1 USR though most of the USR pain is unit specific SOP or how SORTS does the calculations, 220-45 Duty Rosters)
- 210 series Installation activities
- 190 series Provost Martial (190-45 Law Enforcement Reporting)
- 135 series personnel and components
- 75 series munitions and explosives
- 55 series Transportation (most transportation related soldier issues are associated with the multi-volume Joint Travel Regulation - JTR)
- 40 series Medical
- 37 series Funds (37-104-4 Military Pay And Allowances Policy, however most pay questions need to be answered via the DFAS website and the associated form. The BAH Verification form is an important form)
- 27 series Legal (27-10 Military Justice, 27-20 Claims. Most legal questions need to be answered with the MCM. Most TDS offices have great info papers on UCMJ and Separations….three google hits away at most. Be wary of civilian lawyers claiming assured victory for a price)
- 25 series Information (25-50 Preparing and Managing Correspondence, download and save so you can write a memo, which should be akin to using silverware)
- 15 series Boards (15-6 Procedures for Administrative Investigations and Boards of Officers aka the 15-6 investigation)
- 12 series Security
- 11 series Review
- 10 and 5 series if you figure out the linkage, you win the internet for the day.
- 1 series Department Level items (1-201 Army Inspection Program)
- The Manual of Courts Martial (MCM) covers the articles including non-judicial and judicial punishment.
“I am being told no on something I want to do, but want to do it anyway, what is the reg?” There is the regulation, and then there is the latitude it gives commanders and local posts, camps, and stations to handle nitty gritty administration through standard operating procedure. There may not be regulatory comeuppance for you to spring after the second commercial break of the made for TV drama.
“<insert convoluted set of personal circumstances>, How long do I have to clear?” This is governed by local policy. There is not a regulation that will have “If you are a redheaded male soldier in a ‘Its complicated’ relationship between the ages of 22 and 36 and ¾ years old that self-identifies as a Thundercat flagged for PT failure, webbed feet, and low grade narcolepsy with 100 days of accrued leave you will have 11.7 days to clear the installation.” Source is AR600-8-10 but it leaves clearing details to installation commanders to decide, including how long you get. Clearing is usually a one size fits most tee-shirt.
“I want to be stationed with my dual military spouse, how do I do that?” Married. Army. Couples. Program. Which ironically shares an acronym with the Mortuary Affairs Collection Point, MACP. Google HRC MACP and there is a wonderful HRC written article that tells you what to do. Even if your are in different services, which they’ll ‘try’ and accommodate. Do the paper work and talk to your branch. Sniff around in advance to try and establish win wins for you and your spouse. Accept when you can’t. Be prepared to make some trades so you both can succeed.
JAG is not the Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Go see JAG…No. Understand JAG is the Branch. TJAG is the two star head of JAG (The Judge Advocate General) at DA level. If you are in trouble for UCMJ, Separation, the subject of an investigation etc the JAG guys you want is Trial Defense Services TDS. Commanders are advised by the Command Judge Advocate CJA who prosecute offenses, serve as ethics advisors, and provide operational law counsel for things such as targeting during combat operations. Legal Assistance aka Admin Law is where you go to get a Power of Attorney, a will, business law help like contracts, and file financial claims against the government. Some installations have consolidated legal offices and lawyers are pulling double duty. If you are in the wrong legal department they will usually cut you off so you don’t spill your guts to the CJA.
Regulations are not always the end all of research. Many emergent policies have not made it to a regulation yet. Check ALARACTS and MILPER messages which you can get to through the ADP website. Don’t forget Local policy issued by the Senior Commander and the Garrison. Most often this is where your issue/solution lays.
I’ve hit the wave tops of Rally Point conundrums. Use what is already in Rally Point to scope your problem and narrow the question. This will get you a targeted answer vice the meandering narrative about this one time, at band camp from the cast of thousands. Most of the friction being encountered can be abated by an honest one on one conversation with Company leadership. There is an art to self advocacy delivered with respect. I notice the younger generations of soldiers would rather gnaw off a limb than talk to someone. The Army as a system is designed to operate with the Company as the center of the universe. Don’t fight it. If you can’t get out of it, you may as well get into it.