Hi I have some questions. I feel that my present recruiter is giving me the run around. As prior service member does it it really take 2 months just to simply to go MEPS? And is it really true that the recruiter can only check their E-mail on only one computer...lol. I have a daughter she and I started the process withing 2 weeks of eachother and she is leaving in a month for basic. In just a week she was in MEPS. I still haven't even been seen. I am starting to get annoyed. First they claim that it was just because shes a new recruit, then it was because her computer went out and she was not able to check her E-Mail, then MEPS is slow, and now they are warning me that I may have to go to another recruiting office because the MEPS station doesnt favor prior service people. I have turned in all of my documents, IE. DD214, medical records, personal doctors letter and a personal letter from me. I am starting to think that the Army doesn't want seasoned personell ( my age is 34). Whats funny is the recruiter was telling me that as a whole they are barely meeting the needs of the military. I don't understand this level of disrespect. I am not the only prior service having problems, I have been in contact with other people in the same situation.
There are things that I do not know; maybe they are waiting on waivers. I can tell you from my experience, I got out once; the process took about 3 days. I walked into the Recruiting Office with DD 214 in hand ready to go. However, the new recruit does have priority over the PS Soldier, I sat at the MEPS all day and I was the very last person to get contracted.
It is possible the recruiter can only check email on one computer. If you have your AKO email forwarding to your work email, then you will only get the email on the computer you have your inbox setup on – of course as long as they do not log in the email will sit on the server.
Posts: 16 | Location: Ft Hood | Registered: 22 June 2008
r inbox setup on – of course as long as they do not log in the
Thats true, if they log in and take the mail off server and their outlook/thunderbird is set up to take the mail off the server (I have mine set to leave it on as a backup) then technically they could only do it on one computer. Honestly though to me it sounds like they are just giving you the run around. You shouldve had your daughter wait and tell them she will enlist AFTER you reenlist. I bet they would've moved alot faster then.
Posts: 89 | Location: Ft.Myer, VA | Registered: 01 January 2006
I agree with the above statement should of had your daughter wait. However it did take me 6 months to get in and go to WTC. I assume you will magically get in the month where they are slowest and since Summer is there busiest month I wouldn't be shocked if you went in sometime after school starts again.
You should of had your daughter wait and play that game. I commend you on coming back in especially since your daughter is coming in. I don't think I could do that. I would think you'd more so look towards the reserve or guard.
The problem with having your daughter wait until you can come is that she may lose her option or a bonus, and I assume that is something you would not want. So, I would recommend a different route.
If you feel that you are not being taken care of, talk to the Station commander.
Posts: 16 | Location: Ft Hood | Registered: 22 June 2008
It's trully hard to imagine that a recruiting office would operate like that. I disn't imagine I would have to play games in order to serve my country. In any case I will wait and see what happens. I trully appreciate the help. Thank you.
I agree...not only on the recruiting side, but once you get in, too...
My MEPS experience was OK. I was treated as fair as the new recruits, and things went fairly fast and smooth. I had a couple of issues with being Prior Service that I had to argue about, but overall not too bad.
I did, however, have do to some research myself to "assist" the process, i.e. checking regs, job opportunities, regs regarding reenlistment, rank, etc. That is one important thing...do not go out of MEPS without fighting for your rank if they want to reduce you due to break in service.
Not to be discouraging, but things don't get any better once you get back in. WTC sucks, but is bearable. Make sure you check the updated AR 601-210 "Reserve and Active Enlistment Program" dated 07JUN07. It states in Section 3-9 if you are going USAR or ARNG, you do not have to attend WTC if you have graduated Army BCT during previous military service.
I literally just got back from the IG Office, as I have been fighting to get my DOR fixed for 6 months, and my recent orders to a service school show me as an IET soldier (yeah, an IET soldier with 4 years active duty and a combat deployment...). It has taken me almost a year to get my ERB and OMPF straightened out, and I am still not done. PS are careerists, but many people either don't know or don't care.
Just be prepared to keep a close eye on everything, especially your paperwork, and be prepared to have to argue again and again to get everything you deserve as a PS soldier...
I came back on active duty while in Germany. The recruiter there had a different excuse every time I saw him, lost paperwork, someone was on leave, needed to redo form blah, blah blah, etc... After almost 6 months of wasting my time I went to the IG open meeting they have for dependents. Guess what? less than three weeks later I had a signed contract, and of course my recruiter was wondering why I had gone to the IG, go figure.
Posts: 99 | Location: Ft Bragg | Registered: 27 July 2007
Originally posted by jebobak: PS are careerists, but many people either don't know or don't care.
I disagree with your assertion that Prior Service Soldiers are careerist. According to AR 601-280 a careerist is, "b. A category of reenlistment objective composed of Soldiers on their second or subsequent enlistment who will have more than 10 years of active Federal service at ETS or on their separation date."
Posts: 16 | Location: Ft Hood | Registered: 22 June 2008
CC Ray, you are right...but that is the second possible definition or as they put it "category of reenlistment objective" in that reg (and there are many other defititions as well) - the entire reg reads:
Careerist a. A soldier who has more than 36 months of active Federal service. This definition is used only within HQDA and the Department of Defense (DOD) for statistical purposes. A careerist should not be confused with a “second or subsequent termer” as used in assignment of reenlistment objectives. b. A category of reenlistment objective composed of soldiers on their second or subsequent enlistment who will have more than 10 years of active Federal service at ETS or on their separation date.
They almost contradict each other...a. says not a "second or subsequent termer", yet b. says soldiers on their second or subsequent enlistment...
Either way, the word "Careerist" is defined according to the reg it is dealing with, and it is often used (correctly or not) interchangably with Prior Service. The term actually does not come up much in regulation. I would have to agree, the most strict definition would probably be someone with 10+ years, or at least on a second enlistment (or more). However, most often it is used in a more general meaning as someone not in IET status.
It is a similar situation with the term "Prior Service"...
Per AR 601-280:
Prior service personnel In-service personnel with service before their current period of active duty.
Per TRADOC REG 350-6
a. MOS trained and prior service Soldiers are those individuals, in any rank, who have previously completed IET and are attending Skill Level 1 training in IET units as a result of reclassification or enlistment actions.
Per AR 601-270
Prior Service
a. ARMY. All personnel applying for enlistment in the Regular Army and Army Reserve who have 180 days or more of continuous AD.
It is all so confusing...but the point is that if you have been granted an MOS in a prior enlistment and 180 days AD, then you are NOT an IET soldier by any definition, regardless of a break in service.
It has now been more then two months and I still haven't been up to MEPS. Yesterday I recieved a call from the office SGT. This was because I went on my lunch break to notify them that they had won. I was requestion all of my documents I turned in, and I planned on finding another office to help me. At this point the Sgt responded with "well maybe its for the best." I feelling now like maybe my daughter got an unfair deal as well. He acted as if he had no idea that I ever turned in any documents. It wasn't until I mentioned that I may have to contact my local Senator that I noticed a spark. A slight glimmer of "oh my god, I may lose my safe and sound job." Please dont get me wrong I understand that with 6 or more other recruiters in your office it might hard to keep track of one prior service person. Except that this particular person calls regularly. I did however find out after talking with him that my daughter was lied too. And he verified that she was instructed improperly. At the time I had a bad feeling but she seemed like it was alright with her. I am at a cross roads. Do I raise hell, or let my duaghter start her new life with no problems from me. I still feel wierd about her situation and mine. In anycase the Sgt. promised to call me today and now the office is closed with no response from anyone....lol. What a joke. Oh did I mention that my original recruiter is also on vacation. I am frustrated and tired of the BS. Its sad that I am dealing with car salesman.
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