Question - Delayed IBOLC

[SGTLee]

Greetings and on a positive note, wanted to share that my DS officially graduated from his SMC (Texas A&M) and received his commission (army, infantry). What a great end of one phase, and now onto the next. Well, once again...need the advice from fellow SA forum friends. Due to COVID, his IBOLC date has been pushed from July 2020 to January 2021. While I understand the time from commissioning to active duty can be delayed, this 8 month "window" is a bit longer than was expected (or planned). Aside from getting a job during the interim...any "military-related" opportunities others have found in lieu of starting their BOLC? No idea is too crazy... Thanks.

 

[AJC]

My son is yet to receive a date for FA BOLC.
And now with 20% unemployment for the next few months it might be hard to get any job at all.

 

[AROTC-dad]

It is possible that they might still have a slot open up early.

My May 2019 graduate was scheduled originally for January of 2020, but instead got moved up to November of 2019. Slots sometimes open up. Not sure if it will be different due to COVID, though.

 

[SGTLee]

My son is yet to receive a date for FA BOLC.
And now with 20% unemployment for the next few months it might be hard to get any job at all.

Right AJC....that is the other "challenge". It's one thing to have a delayed BOLC, but jobs are limited these days. I hear your AROTC-dad....keeping our fingers crossed.

 

[phil61526]

My son is yet to receive a date for FA BOLC.
And now with 20% unemployment for the next few months it might be hard to get any job at all.

It ought not be to hard to get a scut work job to kill a few months - grocery store or one of the big box stores or one of the shipping places - heck business are going to be looking for 'watch standers' to take temperatures as people go into buildings

if money's not an issue - maybe take an EMT/EMR course or something similar

 

[cb7893]

It is possible that they might still have a slot open up early.

My May 2019 graduate was scheduled originally for January of 2020, but instead got moved up to November of 2019. Slots sometimes open up. Not sure if it will be different due to COVID, though.

This /\ for starters.

@SGTLee ,

Here’s a crazy idea.

Your DS is about to start the most challenging and competitive of BOLC’s and he will be expected to go to ranger school. I’d bet dollars to donuts that he is qualified and fit for the job. Maybe he doesn’t need to prepare, but rather maintain and go in with a clear head.

If money is not an issue, maybe an epic road trip. Visit friends and family, observing proper precautions. There are National and State Parks open and opening as we speak with thousands of miles of hiking trails and 10’s of thousands of miles of US National Forrest in which one can camp most anywhere. He can make it as “Army” As he likes. If conditioning is his goal, there are rocks all over the place to put in his ruck. Colorado has 58 14ers.

My DS didn’t have as long a down town. He visited every friend and family member he knew he wouldn’t be seeing for a long time. He went to Las Vegas, which I didn’t support. He was going straight from BOLC to the ME for a year with three days of skiing In between.

Your DS is about to lose his freedom and this might be a good opportunity to check a few items off the punch list.

Congratulations to him and I wish him the best.

P.S. If memory serves, your son is receiving clip-b payments. Get babbel or rosetta Stone and keep the language fresh.

 

[glen]

So...some 50 years ago, I was commissioned in May of 1970, with a report date to basic course Sept 5, 1970. What did I do in the interim? Stayed in shape running every day - and got a night job as a short order fry cook at a small pancake restaurant to pay for my new Camaro. Now I did not earn very much money, but I did stay in shape during the day...bonus - I met my wife of 47 years at that pancake house - so one never knows what fate will bring. Best of luck to your son.

 

[AJC]

Here is an update.
Two days after my son's CAC card expired (can't get a new one until BOLC) he got his BOLC date, via Army email.
Of course he can no longer access this Army email because of the expired CAC card.
His ROTC HR person sent him a copy after many calls.
Go Army.

 

[sheriff3]

DS BOLC date changes 3 times..... January after graduation ( 8 months) ... then moved up to September ( 5 months) then to May... report to Ft. Knox as CAdre for summer camp in 48 hours. He is happy because his commitment and TIS started immediately. Be flexible.... Perhaps contact your branch manager to let them know you are available ASAP. Also, some government offices can make CAC cards, DS got his in Boulder, CO. call around.

 

[txfwindian]

Question from a newbie here on reporting after commissioning:

- Is this delay common when graduating from one of the SAs?

 

[cb7893]

Question from a newbie here on reporting after commissioning:

- Is this delay common when graduating from one of the SAs?

In the Army, at least, the time between commissioning and beginning of xBOLC will vary. For starters, there are so many 2LT's commissioning at once the staffing and facilities could not accommodate all of them at once. There may also be delays based on circumstances--like the ones we're in currently--which require a retooling of the curriculum and reallocation of resources.

It was explained to me that WPers are always first in, because they are already on the payroll, health care, etc.

 

[kinnem]

The Marine Corps is similar. Many of DS's friends weren't supposed to report to TBS until Oct. His orders were to report in Sept. In early August he was told to report mid-August. Fortunately he landed a great part-time job between graduation and reporting.... serving beer at a local craft brewery and giving tours for 20 hours a week. As a craft brewer himself, he loved it. Pocket change plus plenty of time off.

 

[txfwindian]

So if someone commissions thru any ROTC and as noted above OP there is a delay in reporting,

1. The 2nd LT is not on govt payroll at that time?
2. What if the new 2nd LT gets a nice paying job ( ex in IT field doing programming ) and when the marching orders come, will the company he/she working for hold that position for him or her by law?

 

[cb7893]

1. The 2nd LT is not on govt payroll at that time?

Correct. When the 2LT, who commissioned through AROTC, reports for active duty (xBOLC), is when they go on the payroll, be that 2 weeks, 2 months or 8 mos. post commissioning. At that point, their TIS (Time in Service) begins

2. What if the new 2nd LT gets a nice paying job ( ex in IT field doing programming ) and when the marching orders come, will the company he/she working for hold that position for him or her by law?

This would not apply to Active Duty soldiers, since once they are active, they then have permanent positions. The jobs being discussed above are all temporary positions to fill the gap between commissioning and reporting for active duty.

How it applies to those who commission into the National Guard or Reserve, I cannot tell you about the about the legal obligations of employers.

 

[AROTC-dad]

How it applies to those who commission into the National Guard or Reserve, I cannot tell you about the about the legal obligations of employers.

Regarding reservists, this may vary from state to state dependent on the size company and local laws as well.

An important federal law is the Uniformed Services Employment And Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) which is a federal statute that protects servicemembers’ and veterans’ civilian employment rights. Among other things, under certain conditions, USERRA requires employers to put individuals back to work in their civilian jobs after military service. USERRA also protects servicemembers from discrimination in the workplace based on their military service or affiliation.

 

[SGTLee]

Good morning and an update from Camp Lee. Small reminder (I had to give myself)....always look to the sage advice given here on the forum, especially from AROTC-dad. My original post indicated a start-date from my DS of mid-January 2021 (Infantry-Army). Well, as we all know by now (and I somehow forgot), the path of a cadet is ever-changing; not to mention the needs of the military. Yesterday my DS received a refreshing call from the army that a slot opened for 7/8/20 and he accepted! My DS is nervous, thrilled, relieved, and energized that his active duty will begin in 5 weeks vs 8 months. Thank you again for keeping my head "level" and if anyone else has a DS that might be attending IBOLC, Ft. Benning, around that time...let's connect!

 

[cb7893]

That's welcome news!

Ah! Summer in Georgia. He's gonna do some sweating, but he can take the thermal underwear off his packing list.

 

[SGTLee]

That's welcome news!

Ah! Summer in Georgia. He's gonna do some sweating, but he can take the thermal underwear off his packing list.

I hear you and appreciate that...he's actually prior service, Infantry enlisted (11B), and had his OSUT at Ft. Benning over the entire summer. He's used to it (also having the similar weather in central Texas). Lots of hydration and Cera Sport!