I haven’t abandoned you guys

[MSG Hall]

Thanks guys. She is doing much better. Mandy, what you described is just what we go through. Mandy in my daughters name too.

I don’t know much about it, I’ve just always kinda dealt with it.

I do appreciate ya’all concern though. Thanks you

[mandy]

SFC Hall: On this Veterans Day, Thank You for Your Service and tell all your men there Thank You too for me.

[Alphacarina]

Hey man, can't you turn down the promotion and retire? I know that it was possible about 12 years ago when I retired from the Air Force.

Yes, he should be able to do that. I turned down both a promotion and a remote assignment to retire from the Air Force right at my 20 year mark. I had enough left on my enlistment at the time to carry me beyond 20 years by only 3 or 4 months and they needed me to extend about 8 months to accept either the promotion or the assignment . . . . and I declined to extend my enlistment. They 'threatened' to send me to the remote anyway, but it would have been for only about 3 months instead of the year they wanted to send me for and we both knew they weren't going to waste either my time or theirs for 90 days

If SFC Hall is already beyond his 20 year point, they can't force him to either extend or re-enlist . . . . unless he accepts the promotion, so the decision should be 100% his - don't wanna go back to Iraq . . . . don't accept the promotion - Retire at the end of your current enlistment

Don

[MSG Hall]

Don, things have changed, or maybe it’s just different between the services. We (Army senior enlisted) are all on an “Indefinite Status”. When an E-6 or above with more than 10 years in reenlists, they must reenlist for an indefinite contract. After that there is no more reenlisting or extending. The Army rules are…No Soldier can turn down a promotion, however, I could submit retirement in lieu of the promotion and I would have to retire one year from the day I submitted…. But, retirement is a request and can be denied. I am in a shortage job and my retirement will not be approved until I fulfill my two year requirement for promotion.

Trust, me I have been over this with my career field managers. I am in a catch 22 situation. They have me and if I fuss about it to much I will be labeled a malcontent and not a team player. There are only 42 Sergeants Major (E-9) in my field. On Fort Drum, I will be one of only six MSGs in my MOS.

[toypusher]

I guess you need to look on the bright side and think about your larger retirement check.

[MSG Hall]

I guess you need to look on the bright side and think about your larger retirement check.

now that's the truth!!!

I will be recieveing about a $900. per month pay raise and retiring now would be at 58.5% of my base pay... if I do 4 more years (which is likely now) I will recive 75% of my base pay, which will be higher because I'll be an 8... and this will give me time to finish my degree so when I do retire I can become a highschool teacher and get the summers off for camping! how's that for a plan?

[Miriam C.]

Sounds like you have a great plan. A suggestion, sounds like you have a counsellings interest or you are good at it. We have a big need in that area both in schools and in the growing trend to "treatment" type schools. Bunch of kids out here who could really use your input and experience...

[SouthernGirl]

I watched out little town's Veteran's day parade yesterday. All of the Jr. ROTC units marched. Some looked great. One could have used a good Sgt.

[Alphacarina]

Don, things have changed, or maybe it’s just different between the services

One or both - We never had anything like that in the Air Force . . . . though it's been quite a while since I retired

Forcing senior enlisted personnel to stay and accept a promotion is really unfair to the lower enlisted grades, as they are the ones hurt by that 'rule' . . . . there are fewer opportunities for them to move up

I suspect it's just an Army thing and probably a result of the shortage of senior people the Iraqi mess has created . . . . they're probably doing everything they can not to wind up with NO senior enlisted people at all

Don