I have signed up for the BEAR program and am currently attending school. Is it true that I will be able to reenlist under a different option other than needs of the Army. I am looking to change my next duty location by reenlisting under CONUS choice of duty station. My reenlistment NCO, at my former duty station says that I can. The reenlistment NCO here says that I cannot. Please clarify and possibly send me Regulation reference.

Are you TDY enroute or return? How long is your AIT? Are you an initial term Soldier? (Have you ever reenlisted?)

I am TDY enroute. I was active for three years then got out and went guard for two years ten months. Then back to active Army. My school is 18 weeks. I am not an initial term soldier, at least I think Im not. Im a SSG with 7 years time in service. I have never reenlisted while on Active Duty.

You are considered a mid-career Soldier.

Are you already on assignment instructions?

Ok. I am on assignment to Ft Richardson, AK. My wife doesnt want to go there. I was told that I could reenlist for another option, like duty station of choice and all that would happen would be that I would not be forgiven the 24 months I had to extend and I would get a lower bonus. Is this true or am I going to have to suck this up?

quote:

Originally posted by Dooley:
I am on assignment to Ft Richardson, AK.

Because you are on assignment already, you can only reenlist for Option 1, Regular Army.

I'm not sure how the Career Counselor you're talking too thinks they can get around this, but please keep us posted.

AR 601-280 Chapter 6 Section 6-10b says that soldiers in the bear program will recieve an SRB minus the already extended obligated service unless they reenlist for option 1, then that service will not count against them for the SRB. I assume that that says that if I dont reenlist for option 1 I would get to reenlist for another option like say four or five, as long as its not for retraining because I have already been retrained in anther MOS.

That is how I would be able to reenlist for another option, reguardless of me being on assignment or not.

What do you think?

No, what you referenced talks about bonuses and being able to have previously obliagted service forgiven ... don't assume this means something else.

AR 601-280, paragraph 6-9:
(3) Soldiers completing retraining under this program are eligible to reenlist at the training site under the provisions of table E-1.
(4) Soldiers who elect not to reenlist at the training site and who proceed to their ultimate assignment will be authorized discharge for the purpose of immediate reenlistment under the provisions of tables E-1 or wait until they fall within the “reenlistment window” for other options.
(5) Soldiers selected for TDY and return (funded by HRC) will be authorized discharge and immediate reenlistment after TDY and return to parent installation per table E-1 only.

Because you are already on assignment instuctions, you'll proceed there. If you were going CONUS (or OCONUS short tour), you could reenlist for Options 4 or 5 when you arrived at that location because you'd only need 12-months time on station in order to PCS when going through retention. Because you have a 36-month service remaining requirement for Alaska, you are not eligible for any other reenlistment options besides Option 1.

So there is no way to reenlist for choice of duty station?

I guess my other question is why would this be interpeted this way by a career counselor and used to get me to sign this contract? Can you explain how I wouldnt get the full SRB then? Why would there even be a way that I wouldnt get it?

Not in your situation.