I enlisted in 2002 with a $6000 bonus and a 30/20/20/30 payment plan. I contracted with ROTC in August of 2006 with two payments left on said bonus. Jan 07 I received a payment on my bonus. I went to a full timer at my unit (NG by the way) and they said sometimes they overlook stuff so don't worry about it and I would probably get the rest the next time too. So my next payment was due on 27 nov 07 and it didn't come on time so (like an idiot) I called my unit and asked if they could look into it. They (like the good NCOs they are) emailed higher, who emailed their higher, who emailed them back saying that I wouldn't be getting my last payment and that the previous payment (that I did receive after I contracted) would be recoup). Then me (freaking out like any poor college student would at the prospect of loosing hunderds of dollars) looked into it and found that in my contract under the termination section it says that I don't recoup anything for becoming an ROTC cadidiot... I mean cadet. In my SMP contract it says that becoming a cadet is "not a condition for recoupment." So do AR 601-210 and AR 601-280. AR 135-7 says it does, but the last issue date I can find is APR 1996. Also, since I talked to the AGR guys at my unit, the last payment of my bonus posted on MyPay and I should get it tomorrow. I called the incentive people at my state's NG HQ and they haven't gotten back to me yet but told me not to spend the money if I do receive it. So, if there are any high speed, low drag battle buddies that can square me away and let me know if they can recoup anything from me, it would be greatly appreciated. Sources (ARs, FMs, whatever) for your statements would be nice too, just in case I have to convince people miles above my pay grade to not take my money. Thanks again and Merry Christmas.
Nothing has been recouped that's the thing. The one in jan 07 had not been recouped. Also, on my enlistment contract it said "I understand that I will not receive any payments until all requirements have been met and payment has been verified and certified by proper authority." So if I'm receiving, it has been (or should have been) certified and verified by someone with proper authority. If the guys at higher aren't doing their job that's not my fault... or is it? All the same my payments were not suspended (again, not trying to brush it off, but not my vault). I submitted all paper work to state and let them know I became a cadet. Plz post again now that I've (hopefully) cleared things up a bit. Thanks again.
Better start learning now, as it seems you are doing, that sometimes even if its not your fault you still get "punished." As it is your case now, someone let that payment go through that wasnt supposed to and now you are stuck paying it back or wondering if you have to. Welcome to the Army.
I didnt receive part of my PCS entitlements until just last month and I had been here since June!! Oh but they took that extra BAH, COLA, Save pay, etc quickly. I got a letter in the mail that if I didnt respond in two months they would start taking it off, guess what? THEY ALREADY WERE TAKING IT OFF that following paycheck, not my fault, but I ended up being the one on a tight budget for two months while they took their money.
Lead by Example!!!
Posts: 1205 | Location: Somewhere in the US | Registered: 13 September 2007
I'm not worried about keeping this payment coming in. I mean I'd like to, but I'm not holding out any real hope for that. I even talked to my bank to try to stop it from coming in and they couldn't do that. The thing I'm trying to stop is them recouping the payment from last year. I know I will probably get screwed here (I've been in 5 years, not a heck of a long time but long enough to learn a little) but considering the fact I am in college, I'm in ROTC (which means I really don't have time to take on another job and keep my grades up), and I am financially independent, I can't afford to let this thing go. If you do have any advice on stopping the recoupment, it would be greatly appreciated.
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