Separation appeal USMA

Looking for some advice/suggestions for a Firstie with no behavior issues on record, "A" for their military grade, 151 credit hours earned toward a mechanical engineering major and a GPA of 2.2 that was separated the week of graduation due to a course failure for an elective course. This cadet had a course failure Cow year, and retook the failed class the next semester (23 credit hr semester) and passed the course. The cadet has never even been given any walking hours the entire 4 yrs at the academy. Understanding a second course failure as serious the cadet worked very hard to bring up the course grade and performed fantastic on the TEE. The instructor wrote a recommendation to pass and allow graduation; however, the issue arises with a TAC officer that has been riding this cadet for 3 yrs. This TAC officer did not apply the regulations equally among the cadets under his command. TAC recommended separation to review board for this cadet but had another cadet fail a core course twice and allowed a third attempt without separation of this cadet. That two time failure cadet is now a 2nd LT today 23 May.

Can a cadet appeal separation and has one ever been overturned? The cadet attended graduation today in support of his friends and is enrolled in STAP for the failed course all the while receiving a separation packet. Can formal charges/complaint be brought against the TAC who zealously sought a separation of a great future officer?

If USMA works like Navy the Cadet will be allowed to go before the Supt. At Navy I believe it's the Dant who makes the separation then the Supt is he appeal. His entire chain of command will make a recommendation and his entire record will be looked at. His separation, if approved by the Supt, would then have to be approved by Sec of the Army. This can take a long time.

It's hard to compare cadet vs cadet because you are not seeing their entire body of work. No two cases are exactly the same and they need to stand on their own. I gotta say two failures is not good. I can't remember anyone having two failures and being retained. If the chain of command thinks the TAC is doing something wrong they can reprimand the TAC. A cadet can always file a complaint with the IG or request a Congressional Investigation via his MOC.

The TAC Team is technically the first-line supervisor for the cadet. They have a large say in issues like this because of their everyday encounter with cadets in company. With that said, they can determine subjectively whether a cadet is fit to lead America's sons and daughters. Therefore, a TAC does not have to apply regulations "equally," so to speak for the purpose of recommending separation. There are probably facts missing in the case of this cadet and the one who failed two courses. If the TAC has been "riding" this cadet for 3 years, it is probably reasonable that this cadet is not suit for the Regular Army, unless the TAC has been unreasonable in this "riding," in which a formal complaint to IG can be filed. There needs to be hard evidence for this though.

Sawndog said:

The TAC Team is technically the first-line supervisor for the cadet. They have a large say in issues like this because of their everyday encounter with cadets in company. With that said, they can determine subjectively whether a cadet is fit to lead America's sons and daughters. Therefore, a TAC does not have to apply regulations "equally," so to speak for the purpose of recommending separation. There are probably facts missing in the case of this cadet and the one who failed two courses. If the TAC has been "riding" this cadet for 3 years, it is probably reasonable that this cadet is not suit for the Regular Army, unless the TAC has been unreasonable in this "riding," in which a formal complaint to IG can be filed. There needs to be hard evidence for this though.

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The cadet has nothing else in file and has numerous instructors/officers willin to assist in an appeal. The cadet was the XO for summer detail in 2014 and was given an A+ for the detail by the Major in charge and this officer has states he has never given an A+ to a cadet detail before. Te officer has verbally told this cadet that he will make a damn good officer and will vouche for him to the superintendent.

Im so sorry for the road which is laid before you, but then not really because your character will be carved from adversity. So lets stop the whining to folks who really don't have any thing to do with the cadets separation. The cadet, knew what was expected of him, um, for 47 months and knew academics accounts for 60 percent of his total score. Military only accounts for 10 percent of his grade. Now you're faced with a big fork in the road: Enlist (with selected MOS available, if given the opportunity) or pay $425,000. You knew when you signed the Affirmation Letter what is expected of you. This is a great lesson to the readers here.

Not defending the TAC but they are there to help you. That is their responsibility and are not chosen at random but have been selected from the Army for their good character and Army experience.

Push Hard, Press Forward

I'm a bit confused. You are 'enrolled' in STAP while simultaneously being separated? Are they letting you attend STAP so that you can graduate and have the degree, but they will not allow you to commission? Kindly clarify.