I have less than a year ETS and DEROS and are stationed in AK.I think Im going with the BEAR option as a 15J( critical skill job). my unit is scheduled to deploy later this year and my retention NCO says if my school date isnt before there SL/SM date I will deploy and reclass upon re-deployment. I thought a soldier awaiting a "critical skill MOS" BEAR school option is SL/SM exempt. Who is right or wrong? I mean it would be stupid to re-enlist for something I couldnt do for a year.

When you EXTEND under the BEAR Program, you select the first available school seat which you are qualifed for (in your case AFTER your DEROS.

Although Soldiers participating in the BEAR Program are exempt from SL/SM, this is for Soldiers that have a school seat during the deployment.

My DEROS is like 9 months out deployment is scheduled in like 6 months. So I would just sit in rear-D and wait until my class date?

You would most likely be apart of the rear-detachment until you leave for your school; that is if you have a class date within the deployment dates.

Just some FYI ... we had a Soldier that deployed with us that was returned early to attend training.