Can you branch active then change?

D

Donkopolous

5-Year Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2018
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DS has a meeting with ROO early next week.

Looking at options to switch from AD to Reserves due to job offers.

Is this an option? Any information would be appreciated.

Could not find any clear answers on the forum.

Thank you in advance.
 
1) I assume this pertains to Army ROTC since it was not stated.

2) You didn't indicate what year DS is, but I gather an MS-IV since you mention job offers? (OTOH, if he's an MS-IV, why would he be meeting with the ROO?)

3) Assuming both 1 and 2, I suspect it's still early enough that DS could inform his PMS that he does not want AD. I believe AD/RC results are due for release in October. I think accessions packets just went in this past week, and even then, branch requests are subject to change into late October.

4) If he's not an MS-IV, then I think it's as simple as making that clear in his accessions packet when it's time to do so.
 
to build on the nice questions above - does your DS have prior service - is he green to gold? Is he on scholarship? If the Army paid his tuition/ fees/ books stipend in college via a scholarship, unless he is in the SMP / guard which is reserves focused, I would expect he'll serve in active duty to honor the service commitment he made.
  • Non-Scholarship graduates may serve three years on active duty and five years in the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR). Scholarship graduates may serve their commitment followed by four years in the ready reserve.
  • If you received a four-year ROTC scholarship, you must agree to serve four years full-time as an active duty Army Officer after you graduate and then either extend your contract for four more years or serve four more years with the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) where you'll return to civilian life but need to be ready to help in. If he trains to be an aviator, then the service commitment is longer.

wrt a job offer, hopefully he understood this when he signed up - he already has a job after graduation, that he's been training for, for years. full time job, great benefits, and can gain leadership experience and expertise that can be highly recruit-able when he ultimately leaves the service. Encourage him to understand the full package including BAH, meal allowance, base pay, and after 2 years a 5% match in as part of the blended benefits offered. He should also understand veteran benefits, life insurance, etc. They pay so little in taxes because the BAH, meal allowance are not taxed. Encourage him to understand the increasing payscale as they advance in rank and promotions that may make this very competitive vs a higher paying civilian job where you pay thousands for benefits, etc.

The knock on this graduating generation is that they are affected by FOMO or lack loyalty. Of course that's a generalization - but he's engaged to a nice fiance named US ARMY. so maybe he shouldn't be courting other people - he put a ring on it:) If he wants he can also speak to the unit about paying back the scholarship for recoupment and skip serving (but you didn't imply that in your post). Good luck and please let the board know what options the ROO outlines in their upcoming discussion.
 
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Herman_Snerd said:
to build on the nice questions above - does your DS have prior service - is he green to gold? Is he on scholarship? If the Army paid his tuition/ fees/ books stipend in college via a scholarship, unless he is in the SMP / guard which is reserves focused, I would expect he'll serve in active duty to honor the service commitment he made.
  • Non-Scholarship graduates may serve three years on active duty and five years in the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR). Scholarship graduates may serve their commitment followed by four years in the ready reserve.
  • If you received a four-year ROTC scholarship, you must agree to serve four years full-time as an active duty Army Officer after you graduate and then either extend your contract for four more years or serve four more years with the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) where you'll return to civilian life but need to be ready to help in. If he trains to be an aviator, then the service commitment is longer.

wrt a job offer, hopefully he understood this when he signed up - he already has a job after graduation, that he's been training for, for years. full time job, great benefits, and can gain leadership experience and expertise that can be highly recruit-able when he ultimately leaves the service. Encourage him to understand the full package including BAH, meal allowance, base pay, and after 2 years a 5% match in as part of the blended benefits offered. He should also understand veteran benefits, life insurance, etc. They pay so little in taxes because the BAH, meal allowance are not taxed. Encourage him to understand the increasing payscale as they advance in rank and promotions that may make this very competitive vs a higher paying civilian job where you pay thousands for benefits, etc.

The knock on this graduating generation is that they are affected by FOMO or lack loyalty. Of course that's a generalization - but he's engaged to a nice fiance named US ARMY. so maybe he shouldn't be courting other people - he put a ring on it:) If he wants he can also speak to the unit about paying back the scholarship for recoupment and skip serving (but you didn't imply that in your post). Good luck and please let the board know what options the ROO outlines in their upcoming discussion.
Click to expand...
I expect I may be missing something... but I always thought Reserves was possible for a newly commissioned officer. I pulled the quote below from the goarmy web site. I must admit it's a bit nebulous. Can you clarify?

Your Obligation

Eight years of Army service, with requirements for active duty in the Army, and/or serving in the Army Reserve or Army National Guard, depending on the scholarship

You may be eligible to serve part time in the Army Reserve or Army National Guard while pursuing a civilian career immediately after graduation
Click to expand...
 
Herman Snerd is correct according to the current Army ROTC contract (DA Form 597-3). However, it also at least implies that a cadet with an active duty obligation can apply for reserve component service, which would then be determined based on the needs of the Army. At least that's how I read it, and that would be consistent with the reality that some scholarship cadets are not selected for active duty.:

3c. CADET OBLIGATION.
(1) CADETS. I understand and agree that I will incur an active duty and/or reimbursement obligation after the first day of my MS II year (sophomore year) if I am a three-, four- or five-year scholarship recipient; after the first day of my MS III year (junior year) if I am a two-year scholarship recipient; or after the first day of my MS IV year (senior year) if I am a one-year or less scholarship recipient.
(2) GREEN-TO-GOLD CADETS. If I was conditionally discharged from the active Army to become a scholarship recipient, I am obligated and may not voluntarily withdraw from the ROTC program from the date of discharge without incurring an active duty or reimbursement obligation.
(a) If I am an MS I/freshman and I am disenrolled from the ROTC Program for any reason, I may be returned to active duty for the time not served on my original active duty enlistment when I was separated to accept the ROTC scholarship. If I have less than one year remaining on my original active duty enlistment and am not returned to active duty, I may be required to repay scholarship funds expended on my behalf.
(b) If I am in the ROTC program beyond the MSI/freshman year and am disenrolled, I may be returned to active duty or I may be involuntarily ordered to active duty as stipulated in paragraph 6 of this contract. In case of personal hardship, I may request return to active duty in my enlisted status to serve out the time remaining on my original active duty enlistment contract instead of the active duty obligation stipulated in paragraph 6 of this contract.
NOTE: If I am a cadet with prior service, I understand that I will be required to serve any unexpired portion of my previous statutory enlistment obligation. The unexpired portion of my previous statutory enlistment obligation runs concurrently with my contractual military service obligation under this contract.
4. CADET AGREEMENTS UPON PROGRAM COMPLETION. Upon completion of all requirements for appointment, to include medical qualification, all prescribed military science courses, CST and any other training that may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Army or his or her designee, I agree to, as prescribed by the Secretary of the Army, complete the following requirements:
a. ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT. I agree to accept an appointment, if offered, as a commissioned officer in the USAR or ARNGUS, in accordance with governing Army regulations. I understand that upon appointment, I will incur a total military service obligation not to exceed eight (8) years and cannot resign such appointment before completion; however, this obligation may be met in a variety of ways as outlined below. I further understand that active duty service may include worldwide assignment and assignment that involves combat or exposure to nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons.
(1) ACTIVE DUTY ASSIGNMENT. Serve up to 4 years on active duty as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army or for a period as prescribed by relevant Army regulations based on the needs of the Army, followed by service in the Reserve Component as set forth in relevant Army regulations, until the remainder of my eight-year contractual military service obligation has been served.
(2) RESERVE COMPONENT DUTY ASSIGNMENT. Serve a short period of active duty or active duty training if appointed for duty in a Reserve Component. If I am not selected for extended active duty, I will complete an officer's basic course for branch qualification. This will be followed by service in a Reserve Component Unit (ARNGUS or USAR),which has Monthly Unit Training Assemblies and an annual training period of approximately two weeks until the remainder of my contractual military service obligation has been served.
(3) UNAVAILABILITY OF TROOP PROGRAM UNIT ASSIGNMENT. If I am fulfilling my obligation through Reserve Component duty and an appropriate troop program unit assignment is not available or becomes unavailable in either the U.S. Army Reserve or the Army National Guard of the United States, I agree to participate as a member of the Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) program by serving at least twelve (12) days, excluding travel time, on annual training each fiscal year as directed by the Human Resources Command. If it is determined that neither an appropriate unit nor an IMA assignment is available, I agree to participate as a member of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) by serving up to twelve (12) days of training each fiscal year until such time as an appropriate unit or IMA assignment becomes available or until the expiration of my contractual military service obligation. I may be required to travel the distance specified in Army regulations to fulfill my contractual military service obligation.
b. APPLICATION FOR RESERVE COMPONENT DUTY ASSIGNMENT. I understand that I may apply for a Reserve Component appointment and request service on active duty or service with a Reserve Component Unit (ARNGUS or USAR) at my discretion. However, my selection for the appointment and service shall be determined according to the needs of the Army at the time that my requested appointment is considered. Further, specific career field choices and branch assignments cannot be guaranteed but will be made according to the needs of the Army no earlier than 12 months before commissioning.
c. If granted scholarship benefits beyond four years, I am obligated to serve an additional period of active duty equivalent to any scholarship entitlements extended beyond four years, e.g., six months for each additional semester of financial assistance granted (or four months for each additional quarter of financial assistance granted).
 
kinnem said:
I expect I may be missing something... but I always thought Reserves was possible for a newly commissioned officer. I pulled the quote below from the goarmy web site. I must admit it's a bit nebulous. Can you clarify?
Click to expand...
Very informative posts @kinnem , @franknd and @Aglahad. Thank you. Reading all posts it presents that one when signing up must commit / be willing to serve on active duty but based on the needs of the service may take a reserve spot if it’s granted to satisfy their service obligation. @Donkopolous please let us know how your son’s meeting goes with the ROO.
 
DS had a very good meeting with the Cadre - all the leadership. Some outstanding advice and at the end of the day 'Yes' he can change AD to another component. This summer has been a great time to just hear him out and listen to his thoughts and understand his motivations. Taking in a lot of information from people he respects in AD, reserves, some active enlisted that were in high school with him, etc. Of course he also has the parents to contend with. I think one of the things he has going for him is that his old man served 8 years in the USN. Lay it all out, cast a wide net, weigh all of your options and take some time to think on it. Then make an informed decision. His motivation isn't money but serving his country and being a good leader in the infantry. He has his goals set and he's been an outstanding cadet and has built the last three years in AROTC around AD. Listening to him, and offering parental support, he feels that if he didn't go AD he would regret it later in life and doesn't want that nagging him. I completely understand that and can relate. No one knows where you will be and what is going to happen tomorrow let alone 4-8 years from now. I'm pretty sure, 99% sure, that he will stay the AD route but knows if he decides differently his Cadre will support him. Thank you for all the information and feedback. Happy the decision is coming to closure 'soon' and we can all move forward on the next steps.
 
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