The Army has this little thing these days called a battle buddy system. It works by having every soldier accompanied by another one soldier of the same sex or another two soldiers of the opposite sex wherever they are. This rule is there for the protection of individual soldiers and cadre in AIT and BCT.

The battle buddy system is a procedure in which two people (the buddies) operate together as a single unit so that they are able to monitor and help each other. In dangerous activities the main purpose of the system is improved safety. Each soldier may prevent the other from becoming a casualty.

In AIT this system becomes more important due to the additional freedom and privileges after basic training. It also becomes a risk and puts soldiers at a disadvantage. While necessary in a high risk location or in combat, it is almost a hazard in AIT. Instead of looking out for each other like you would in combat, it is so unstable and unnecessary in AIT, that it becomes a tool to get gossip or an easier way to take advantage of a weaker person.

Because the system is used everywhere, a soldier must be accompanied by a battle buddy even to talk about personal issues with a chaplain. Even choosing someone that you trust puts you at risk in this sort of situation when sharing personal information. Because there are so many less females in the Army as oppose to males, many female soldiers end up with two male battle buddies instead of a single female simply because there are not enough around. If the two male soldiers are friends, how much easier would it be to take advantage of that female? This is an example of a very bad scenario, none the less, a possible and realistic one.

A more frequent situation is when a male or female has a personal issue to resolve with a person of the opposite sex and they must each bring a battle buddy. Fellow soldiers in AIT, no matter how much of a friend they might seem, just cannot always be trusted with your personal information. This is an example of how easy it is for gossip to spread around the company and depending on what information was shared, it may be harmful to someone who is involved. Another flaw in the system is that it sometimes serves as a crutch for the incompetent or psychologically insecure. The weaker soldier draining the stronger one in whatever way.

The policy on the battle buddy system says that it “helps to reduce stress, teaches teamwork, develops a sense of responsibility for fellow soldiers, and improves safety… It protects soldiers and cadre from sexual harassment and other discrimination.” However, in the same paragraph it is mentioned that “Battle buddy team integrity is desired but not required… They should pull CQ and Fireguard together. The only expectations are for sick call, individual appointments and religious activity attendance. At these times, other solders may team up together regardless of the platoon. AT NO TIME WILL AIT SOLDIERS TRAVEL ANYWHERE ON THE INSTALLATION WITHOUT A BATTLE BUDDY.”

First of all, it does not help to reduce stress most of the time but instead it adds stress to any situation because another person is involved. Instead of keeping personal affairs quiet, you now have to worry about another person aware of the situation. Not to mention the stress of finding a battle buddy (or two) to begin with.

Secondly, while the system can improve teamwork, it can also instigate hostile feelings, fights, and arguments. Supposing that your battle buddy (or two) and you don’t get along, it can make any situation uncomfortable, making the mission harder to accomplish, again, also adding stress.

Thirdly, “developing a sense of responsibility for fellow soldiers…” is quite stressful in itself, especially when your battle is irresponsible or immature.

Finally, let me quote again “improves safety” because it most certainly does not. I can remember a time when I was in the second grade and my elementary school implemented a buddy system. I was seven years old and I had to sit by my buddy at lunch, play with her at recess, and do assignments with her in class. Even though she wasn’t any older than me, she always screwed me over because she was dumb and I had to do most of the work for any project we had to do together. On top of that I would get points knocked off my grade for her lack of intelligence.

That was in second grade, I was seven. Ten years later, I never thought that I’d still have the same problem or have to take a “buddy” with me to the bathroom. I never thought that I’d be afraid to go to church because I would have to walk there with two males I don’t even know, both much bigger than me, and both equipped with huge sex drives since they just came from BCT.

Basically my point is that the battle buddy system is so abused in AIT, that I believe it is more harmful than effective.

There has been, however, plenty of times where I have requested a specific person to aid me in talking to a sergeant or going to the hospital for moral support. In these cases, I was very glad for the help and I appreciated the moral support. The thing of it all is that I can specifically ask to bring a witness or friend with me anyway so it wasn’t because of the system. I’ve had more bad experiences with this system than good.

My solution to this problem would be having the battle buddy system to be allowed butt not required. I would also suggest the use of permanent buddies, because this way you have time to at least build a relationship with the person who will spend so much time with you.

The flaw with this idea also being that every appointment you have you force the same person to miss class or and take the time from whatever they may need to be doing.

The battle buddy system may work in other environments, but it just isn’t necessary in AIT.

The U.S. Army slogan, “I am an Army of One,” was popular, but the Army Recruiting Command endured a barrage of questions about that slogan from Army personnel. The Army functions best by training its soldiers in many technical disciplines, then bringing the skills of many individuals together as a team. Teamwork is essential to Army function and ethos. So, the U.S. Army is one army of many (or some number that is necessary to get the job done right). The Recruiting Command got the message, and they changed the slogan.

Your human body did not get that message. While there are exceptions, every cell in your body is an army of one because each cell contains the full suite of your DNA. Medical researchers are intrigued by that fact because it means that all of the equipage for human cellular re-engineering is in each cell. Think of that like all of the equipment and material needed to construct a building has been located on the job site. But, suppose an intruder enters the job site. Then, everything that the intruder needs to disrupt the job is conveniently available to the intruder.

Nature is the “energizer bunny,” if you will, tinkering with every form of life, both to improve healthy life and to destroy damaged life. By tinkering with the tiniest of organisms, viruses and bacteria are improved, and these types of life have been associated with cancer in humans. A more efficient virus or bacteria might trick human white blood cells into ignoring them when they enter the body and search for weak or damaged cells. Once they successfully enter a cell, the DNA of the entire body is there for them to attack, exploit, and they might combine with it to become an army of one, capable of attacking nearby healthy cells.

Think of this situation like a coin. Heads up is your body functioning normally, enabling you to pursue joy, pleasure, and purpose. Tails up is your body at war with itself, forcing you to endure pain, worry, and fear. A coin with either side up might be flipped to the other side. So, what can you do about this? Appreciate it for what it is, information. Medical researchers might make progress on cellular defense from cancer, but understand that working against nature will not lead to a solved problem, because nature, the “energizer bunny,” tinkers with every form of life. You will not live forever in human form.

Enjoy your life while you have it. Appreciate the gift of your life, and honor who gave it. Yes, I am talking about your biological parents, or surrogate parents for some of you. But, mostly, I am talking about the creator of all DNA. God is real, and he gave you life for a reason. Don’t you want to know the reason? He can flip the coin in your life at any time, because he created the natural world. Would you like to know why he would do that for you? Read the New Testament Books of Matthew, Mark, John, and Luke to get a glimpse of God who created you in his image. His image means all of the emotions that you have, and your free will to do what you want to do, not just your physical image. Your death was not his purpose. Mankind worked against his purpose and went out into the world alone. God looks on from afar. But, he still loves you and will welcome you home. Stop being an army of one. Find your way to return to his team. #TAG1writer.

There are two ways you can get the DA 1380. One way is through an Internet search. The other way is from your unit. Once you have your DA 1380, how do you get started?

Here’s a scenario.

You reported to Fort Eustis one morning, at their aviation medicine, to do your Phase 1 Airborne Physical. Phase 1 takes you all morning to complete. You’re finished in the middle of lunch.

You come back the following week for Phase 2. After Phase 2, you return to your unit and provide them copies of the results of your airborne physical. While doing this at your unit, you also prepare and submit a school request.

While you’re there, you decide to sign for missing field gear that you need for the upcoming field training exercise. You see your supply sergeant. Right after you sign for your needed items, he informs you that additional items came for you from battalion supply.

By the time you get done with all of this, you have 15 minutes left to catch lunch at the DFAC.

How would you record this scenario on a DA 1380?

If you have a fillable DA 1380 form, open it up. If you have a blank copy, make another copy of it, and fill it out with pencil. Use a black pen on the actual copy for the neat finish if you do this by hand.

Block 1 is “date.” Since this is related to pay, or something that could affect pay, you want to use DFAS’s date format. That’s the “YYYYMMDD” format.

Block 2 is “from:” Print or type your unit and your unit’s address.

Block 3 is “Retirement Year Ending Date.”

Your Retirement Year Ending Date (RYE) is based on when you originally started your Army Reserve contract. This is based on your continuous contract. For example, your reserve contract started on November 1. Your RYE will be October 31 the following year.

Let’s say that you were on active duty before that, from April 1, 2010, to October 31, 2014. Your reserve contract began on November 1, 2014, the day after the last day of your active contract. Your current RYE would still be October 31, 2015, not March 31, 2015, because your initial active reserve contract, in a continuous reserve run, determines your RYE.

Review AR 140-185 for Retirement Year End Date details.

Fill this block using the “YYYYMMDD” format.

Block 4 is the “to” block. This will be the address of the staff that updates your record. For soldiers in the Troop Program Unit (TPU), this usually is your full time support staff.

This staff, mainly one of the unit administrators, will process your DA 1380.

Type “commander” all capitalized in this block. Underneath that, type the address of your unit where the support staff is located.

Your support staff will process this for retirement points if you used an “N” code. They’ll process your DA 1380 for retirement points and payment if you used a “P” code. If your support staff is unable to process this at the reserve center, they’ll forward this to the Battalion S1.

If you are an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA), or a member of the Individual Ready Reserves (IRR), you’ll use the HRC address for the office that updates your records.

Block 5 is your name. Type your name in the block in the order the block label shows.

Block 6 is your grade. Type in your pay grade. This is the alpha numeric code for your rank.

Block 7 is your branch. Enter your “Soldier’s Area of Concentration” (AOC) code/Primary Military Occupational Skill (MOS) in this block.

Block 8 is left blank unless block 4 is different from the unit of assignment.

Block 9 gives you an opportunity to mark the kind of training, duties, or instruction that you are involved with.

If you choose “other,” type the description in the box right next to “other.”

Block 9, Column A, is the date that you participated in the training. If the day, month, and year, are in separate columns, use the DD MM YYYY format respectively within the day, month, and year columns.

Block 9, Column B, list hours of training that you did.

Block 9, Column C, is the retirement points that you earned. There are two different coding to mark whether you get retirement points and pay or just get retirement points.

An “N” code marks non paid time. You only get retirement points. A “P” code marks paid time, you get both retirement point credit and pay.

A “1” right next to one of the lettering codes represents one training block of 4 hours; 2 hours if you participated in funeral honors as a member of the funeral detail. A “2” represents two training blocks. You could only get a maximum of “2” per day.

Using the above Airborne Physical scenario, you’d use “N1”. Phase I took the morning and part of lunch time to complete, approximately 4 hours. “N1” will give you one retirement point, but no pay.

In another scenario, where a Soldier does a full day RST, that day would be marked “P2”. A “P2” would give you two retirement points, and pay for two training blocks, or two training days.

Block 9, Column D, lists the nature of the duties that you performed, or training/instruction that you received. For the airborne physical scenario, you could put, “Airborne Physical, Phase I, at Fort Eustis, VA. Retirement points only.”

For the RST scenario, an example of the description could read, “Rescheduled Training (RST) to make up for battle assembly missed on October 25, 2014.” The second RST day would go in the next line, with the same information assuming that a full day of training was made up. The comment in this line could read, “Rescheduled Training (RST) to make up for battle assembly missed on October 26, 2014.

This scenario assumes that the Soldier did two RST days to make up for missing two days of drill.

Block 10 is a typed name, grade and position of the officer/NCO/official that observed you, or was aware of you performing the duties on the DA 1380. The names of the support staff members that observed you are common entries for block 10 and block 11.

Block 11 is the signature of the Soldier or qualified official listed in Block 10.

Some additional Notes:

1. If you’re assigned to a unit, submit this form to your unit. If you’re assigned to the IRR or IMA, submit this form to Human Resources Command (HRC). Submit it to the office that manages your pay, records, and points.

2. If you’re assigned to a unit, and you’re submitting this form straight to your Regional Personal Action Center (RPAC) or to HRC, you’re contributing to them being overwhelmed. This reduces their ability to do their own assigned mission.

3. Use one DA 1380 to cover one month. If your training event overlaps two months, submit two DA 1380s, one covering each month.

3. Don’t complete a DA 1380 for your Army correspondence courses/computer based courses if you complete them on your own.

If your commander authorized you, in writing, to enroll into a course, and to complete it, in order for you to get paid, then complete a DA 1380 for the course you just completed. Submit a certificate of completion, and the completed DA 1380, to those that manage your records. Check with your unit for specific policies covering this.

4. Depending on Army Reserve funding, and your unit, you can get paid to do your structured development courses on your own. Check your unit’s policy on this. If this is applicable to you, and you want to get paid, bring a certificate and a completed DA 1380 with you to your unit.

5. If your unit puts you on AT orders to come in to complete your structured development courses, then you only get paid for your AT orders. Use the certificate as documentation that you completed the course.

Additional References:

1. AR 140-185, Retirement Year and Retirement Points

2. Army Human Resources Command, “Earning Retirement Points.”

3. Office of the Chief, Army Reserve, Memorandum dated February 10, 2014, on using the DA 1380 to award retirement points.

During the Army selection process you will be required to sit a number of interviews both at the AFCO and at the ADSC. The information that I have provided within this article will assist you greatly during your preparation for both sets of interviews.

The Army will use a set marking sheet for your interviews and the questions will be based around a number of specific criteria. The questions will vary from interview to interview but the core elements are designed to assess whether you are suitable to join the service. The following is a list of areas you may be asked questions on during your Army interview and I would recommend that you use these as a basis for your preparation:

– The reasons why you want to join the Army.

– The reasons why you have chosen your particular job, trade and Regiment.

– What information you already know about the Army, your chosen Regiment and the lifestyle and training.

– Information bout your hobbies and interests including sporting activities.

– Any personal responsibilities that you currently have at home, at shool or at work.

– Information about your family and what they think about you joining the Army. Do they support you?

– Information based around your initial application form.

– Your experience of work and education and whether or not you have had any responsibility at home or work.

– Your emotional stability and your maturity.

– Your drive and determination to succeed.

– Any experience you have of working as part of a team.

– Your attitude towards physical exercise and team sports.

– Having a positive reaction to the disciplined environment.

– Your knowledge of life within the Army.

I have now provided you with a sample interview question and response. This will act as a good basis for your preparation. However, it is important to point out at this stage the responses you provide during the interview should be based solely on your own experiences and opinions.

SAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTION NUMBER 1 Why do you want to join the Army?

This is an almost guaranteed question during your Army interview so there should be no reason why you can’t answer it in a positive manner. Try to display motivation when answering questions of this nature. The Army are looking for people who want to become a professional member of their team and who understand the Army way of life. By studying your Army recruitment literature and the Army website you will understand what service life is all about. You want to be a member of the British Army and you are attracted to what it has to offer. If you have been pushed into joining by your family then you shouldn’t be applying.

SAMPLE RESPONSE TO QUESTION NUMBER 1 Why do you want to join the Army?

“I have wanted to join the Army for a number of years now and feel that I have now reached a part of my life where I am ready to commit to the service. Having studied the Army recruitment literature and visited the Army website, I am impressed by the professionalism and standards the service sets itself.

I would like a career that is fulfilling, challenging and rewarding and I believe that the Army would provide all of these. I enjoy keeping physically fit and active and believe that given the right training I would make a great team member. I am also very much attracted to the fact that the Army offers a wide choice of careers.

The fact that I would be improving my education and ending up with a trade is just another example of why I want to join the service. I have seriously considered the implications that joining a service such as the Army would have on both my personal life and social life and discussed these with my family. They have given me their full support and commitment in helping me to achieve my goal of joining the Army.”

You should really take the time to prepare your responses to each army interview question before you attend the interview as the higher scores you achieve, the more job opportunities you will have.

Author, Peter B. Kyne makes mention in his book, Soldiers, Sailors and Dogs, New York: H.C. Kinsey & Co., 1936 of what appears to be a number of expressions that probably originated during the Spanish/American War and which might have survived until the early part of American involvement in World War I. Kyne evidently had some military experience or knowledge thereof. In his book, some of the fictional stories occur in America and in France during the World War. Kyne uses such expressions as:

“Bluebird”-evidently a reference to someone who left the service for a period of time and then re-enlisted in the army. The connotation could be made here with the homing instinct of a bluebird, which returns to the same nest year after year. Lighter makes no mention of this term.

“Bob” -a dishonorable discharge from the service. To receive a “bob” or to be “bobbed” was to get a dishonorable discharge. “Bobtail” is the Indian Wars slang for a dishonorable discharge. “His bobtail’s coming back by mail, O’Reilly’s gone to hell.”

In Paul Dickson’s book, War Slang…we read: “bobtailed. Dishonorably discharged; from the practice of removing (“bobbing”) the portion of discharge papers that confers honor. Dickson, Paul. War Slang…Pocket Books, 1994, page 44. Also the act of cutting off the discharge below the character section denoted “no character.” Rickey, Forty Miles a Day on Beans and Hay.

Elting’s “A Dictionary of Soldier Talk” features the definition “bobtailed discharge-bobtail (Old, Old Army). A discharge from the service under less than honorable conditions. Not a dishonorable discharge, but the next thing to it. The term came from the practice of clipping off the final section of the discharge form, which covered the dischargee’s character. In World War II called a ‘discharge without honor.’

In his article “Slang of the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe, 1917-1919 (American Speech, 1972) Joathan Lighter identifies:

–bobtail as dishonorable discharge, an expression dating back to the U.S. Army of the late 19th century.

Paul Dickson’s “War Slang” has “bobtail hotel-an army disciplinary barracks.”

“Soldier up to the handle” was to be an exemplary soldier. To “the handle” of what?

“Fogie”-a service stripe. Lighter makes no mention of this term.

Elting also has “fogy, fogey, fogie (All Services). A word whose origin and history would probably be very interesting, if precisely known. The earliest form, which is civilian and from the middle of the 18th century, is “fogram,” meaning a superannuated person, an old fuddyduddy. 1. (Late 18th and early 19th Centuries, British and American). An old or invalided soldier; hence, a garrison soldier. 2. (19th Century, with some survivals; USA) Longevity pay, increase of pay for length of service. “I get another fogy next month, but my wife’s already spending it.” Also called fogey pay, fogy pa. Both fogy and fogy pay (with variants) are now becoming obsolete.

Dickson’s “War Slang” offers a similar, much shorter, definition without reference to date or the background. Lighter says that Fogy or fogey was a longevity bonus paid to officers and NCO’s dating back to the Civil War; from “old fogey.”

In the late 1960’s a “fogie” was an incremental step in your pay due to longevity. It may be that it is the outgrowth of the service stripe since service stripes were awarded for longevity.

One correspondent sent in that fact that his father was in the U.S. Army from 1910 to 1940 and that during that period of time the army slang for a “loose woman” was “biscuit shooter.” Nothing is known of the origin of this expression.

Are these all Spanish-American war army expressions and did any of them survive until World War I? Although author Kyne uses these expressions in the context of Spanish-American War veterans serving in the U.S. Army during World War I, I have never seen these terms used in any other American World War I writings.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Dickson, Paul. War Slang. NY: Pocket Books, 1994

Elting, A Dictionary of Soldier Talk.

Kyne, Peter B. SOLDIERS, SAILORS and DOGS. NY: H. C. Kinsey & Co., 1936.

Lighter, Jonathan. “Slang of the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe, 1917-1919. American Speech, 1972.

If you own a keychain size mini light swiss army knife by Victorinox, at some point your battery for the mini light feature will eventually run out. By “mini light”, I mean a pocketknife that is 58 mm (about 2 1/4 inches) long when closed. It is simple to change and will allow you to enjoy your lighted swiss army knife and all its functions for years to come.

Battery changing steps:

1. Hold the mini light knife in your left hand with the red/white cross and shield logo facing up.
2. On the right side of the top scale you should see a small hole – it is on the side so you’ll have to slightly rotate the knife in your hand to see it. It is towards the lower end of the scale on the right.
3. Take a paperclip and bend it so you can use it to poke into this hole.
4. Carefully poke into this hole and push out the old battery.
5. The old battery and a little plastic piece the same color as the knife scale will drop into your hand. Be careful not to lose that little plastic piece!
6. Insert a new battery with the positive side facing up.
7. Put the little plastic piece back into the side of the knife to hide/cover the battery you just put in.

The Victorinox Swiss Army Brands part number for the battery you need is 22068. The battery is a Panasonic CR 1025, 3V. Your new battery should be good for approximately 2 to 2 1/2 years under normal operation of your swiss lite knife. Your handy little swisslite should be as good as new.

Figure B-41, Request for Reserve Component Assignment or Attachment (Request for Assignment to the Retired Reserve), in USAR PAM 600-5, provides you a checklist of what’s needed in your retirement request packet.

This checklist starts with a header asking for your name, rank, Army email, your unit, unit UIC, unit POC contact information, and other basic administrative data. A checklist follows the administrative data.

This checklist is the first part of the packet. The next forms in the packet follow:

DA Form 4561:

This is the request for reserve component assignment or attachment. Both your commander and you have to sign this.

It requests basic administrative information like your name and address, social security number, telephone numbers, etc. If you’re voluntarily requesting to retire, you could select “Voluntary Assignment” in the form.

In another part of the form, you’re going to request transfer to the retired reserve. Depending on the unit you’re with, you may have to just complete your personal information. Your unit would end up completing the remainder. Other units may have you complete the whole form.

Some units will do the whole thing for you; check with your unit administrators for which one is applicable.

DA Form 4856:

The next two forms are counseling statements. One will be from your commander; the other will be from your servicing career counselor.

When you leave the ready reserves (TPU/SELRES/IMA/IRR), you’re going to be losing some benefits. For example, as a member of the TPU, you’re eligible for Tricare Reserve Select.

When you transfer to the Retired Reserves, you’ll be eligible for Tricare Retired Reserve. The premiums for this program are very expensive when compared to the premiums for Tricare Reserve Select. Your commander might inform you of this.

As a member of the TPU/SELRES, you’re eligible for SGLI. If you transfer out of this program, you’ll no longer be eligible for SGLI. You’ll be able to register for VGLI if you’ve served on an active duty contract, or deployment.

The commander could brief you on what could happen to your packet. He/she could also get a feel of why you’re retiring, with the hope of getting information that could benefit those that remain in the unit.

The servicing career counselor could brief you on your chances of coming back into the TPU/SELRES, IMA, or IRR. He/she could also brief you on recall from retirement active duty opportunities.

What you get briefed on will vary depending on your unit.

Chain of Command recommendations:

Your retirement isn’t a guaranteed affair. If you have time on your contract, and if you’re critical to your unit, and it’s ability to accomplish its mission, your retirement request could be denied. Your chain of command’s support for your retirement is also needed.

Army Reserve Points Capture or Twenty year Letter:

You’ll need one or both of these in your packet to document the fact that you’re eligible to retire with pay at 60.

Request for Retirement Recognition:

Service Members retiring from the service are eligible for recognition. Examples include a certificate from the President, award medal, retired Soldier lapel, US flag, etc. The unit could throw in some additional recognition items.

Orders uploaded into your electronic records:

This is an action that’ll happen after your packet gets approved. If you’re in the TPU/SELRES, you have to keep drilling until you receive this order. If you’re in the IMA or IRR, you have to maintain your obligations until you receive your retirement order.

Effective the date this order lists you as a retired reserve, you’ll no longer be required to fulfill your TPU/IMA/IRR obligations. You’ll be required to turn in any unit items that are signed out to you.

Reference:

USAR PAM 600-5

A common question that future soldiers ask is “What should I take with me to basic training”? It’s a topic that worries those who are shipping out to basic training and fear they will be in trouble for bringing contraband to base. To ease your doubts and frustration, I’ll explain what items you can take with you to boot camp.

Clothing

If you have read the official packing list on goarmy.com site, you would see that they require you to bring an extra set of clothes. To be honest, you will be issued new uniforms upon arriving to reception on the very first day and wear it till graduation day. However, it is advised that you take the clothes on your back and a comfortable pair of tennis shoes.

Documents

All you need is the certified original documents that you have given your recruiter. Those documents would be your birth certificate, social security card, certificates, identification card, marriage license, divorce decree, spouse and children documents and also have your direct deposit form. Either you or your recruiter will prepare your personal information into a manila folder so that you can give it to the reception battalion at BCT.

Technology

You can bring your electronic devices to boot camp such as an iPod, iPad, laptop, mp3 player and digital camera but expect those items to be locked away in storage. Only your cell phone is the authorized item to have and your drill sergeants will give them back from time to time when you earn privileges.

Miscellaneous

• Small backpack that has neutral colors.
• An inexpensive black wristwatch
• A calling card to place calls using the phone booth. Only if you decide to not bring you cell phone.
• An address book.
• Stationary supplies such as a notebook, pen, envelopes and also postal stamps.

Personal Hygiene

If you believe that you can easily get dirty or smelly during your trip. It is advised that you carry a miniature hygiene kit that is acceptable within airline policies. You’ll find that it would have the most basic commodities such as a deodorant, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a comb, a razor and also shaving cream.

Cash

Nothing is free in basic training except the food, uniforms, and laundry and also housing. Otherwise, you have to pay for hygiene supplies and also haircuts which cost $7 dollars. To access your funds, you will need to take your debit card to withdraw money from your account. They have ATM machines located near the Post Exchange (PX) store so that you can be able to withdraw bills of twenties.

The Salvation Army comes into possession of vehicles through donations. Sometimes these are vehicle that the owners no longer have any need, for any number of reasons and are in reasonably good condition. Sometimes they are vehicles that are damaged or mechanically unsound and the previous owners have elected not to repair them, sell or trade them. They have decided to donate the vehicle to get a tax deduction for charitable contribution.

In the state in which I live a vehicle cannot be sold to the public if that vehicle does not pass smog and safety standards. When the Salvation Army gets a vehicle that does not pass smog, they sell that vehicle to a dealer who will either repair the vehicle to meet smog and safety standards or will resell the car to a wholesaler.

Tip#1 Most used car buyers are aware that when buying a used vehicle they are going to have to make an investment into the car to get it into excellent operating condition. Before buying a used car you should first drive the vehicle, both on the street and on the freeway. Make sure that you like the way the car drives, that it accelerates well and stops well. Check the car for any visible damage. Check both under the hood and inside the trunk. If the car has been in an accident, telltale signs sometimes show up in those places. Look for mismatched paint on the exterior of the vehicle. If a car has been repaired with Bondo, leave it on the lot.

If you have a mechanic that you trust, have them inspect the vehicle before your purchase. They will usually charge you a small fee to do this, but it will be worth it. You will know what needs to be done to the vehicle to get it into excellent running condition and the approximate cost of the repairs. He can also put the car on a rack and check it for frame damage.

Tip#2 When you visit the lot for the first time take a pad and pen with you. Make a note of the mileage and the VIN number (Vehicle Identification Number). You will need the VIN number to run a Carfax report. There is a small charge for these, but it is worth the small fee to make sure the vehicle has not been in a flood and water damaged.

High mileage cars are worthless to a dealer because they cannot get the car financed. These are the cars that you see advertised “As Is, All Cash, No Warranty” If you are looking at a car that has a lot of miles,subtract the model year from the current year and divide that number into the miles, IE. 2011-1998= 13 years 13/100,000=7693 miles per year. The average mileage is between 10,000 and 15,000 miles so,this vehicle should show less wear and tear mechanically and in the interior. Keep in mind that vehicles have been known to remain useful with good maintenance for 300,000 to 400,000 miles, but this is not usual.

Tip#3 The cars sold by the Salvation Army will have an asking price. These prices are negotiable within reason. Many times the vehicle age will be older than what you will find in Kelly Blue Book. Pricing for cars older than 20 years can be found online at NADAguides.com priced as classic cars. If you’ve followed my suggestions and feel comfortable that the car will serve you well, negotiate in good faith for a price that is worth it to you. Remember this will not have any commercially marketable value, so its price is your best offer.

Following these tips will take some of the uncertainty out of buying a used vehicle from the Salvation Army. Good Luck.

Packet requirements, what you need to include in your IRR packet:

1. IRR packet checklist, based on Figure B-59 of USAR Pamphlet 600-5.

2. DA Form 4561, Request for Reserve Component Assignment or Attachment. Completely filled and signed by the Soldier and the Commander.

3. Your statement/justification letter and backing documentation. This is based on the reasons listed in AR 140-10.

4. Chain of Command Recommendation.

5. Cogent Personal Reason. If the specific reason isn’t listed in AR 140-10, it requires an exception to policy by your OFTS.

6. Counseling Statement (DA Form 4856). This is from the commander to the Soldier and is face to face. Are you in receipt of a bonus? This counseling statement must warn you about bonus termination or recoupment.

7. Counseling Statement (DA Form 4856). From the Soldier’s servicing career counselor to the Soldier; it’s also face to face.

Valid reasons for transferring from the Troop Program Unit (TPU) to the Individual Ready Reserves (IRR):

As a TPU Soldier, you can forward an IRR transfer packet up the chain of command. There’s no guarantee for that packet’s approval, or for your transfer to the IRR.

If you want to improve your TPU to IRR transfer chances, refer to the valid reasons listed in AR 140 -10, Chapter 4, Paragraph 9. If you have enough documentations, and facts, to support one or more of these reasons, include them in your IRR packet. This’ll help you make your case for transferring to the IRR.

Employment Conflict:

Let’s say that your employer all of a sudden can’t release you from the work schedule so that you can drill… as your absence would cause an adverse impact on your employer’s operation. Before, this wasn’t an issue. Your employer released you for a weekend, and was able to continue his operation. When they couldn’t release you, you were able to reschedule.

Now? Your employer needs you, on the days you need to drill, in order for the company to continue on with its mission. Conditions had changed since you started working with this employer.

Or, you’re in a company that restructures and eliminates your job. They move you to another part of the company. In this new job, you’re on call to go to different parts of the country, and your schedule is random. You’re not able to do rescheduled training. Your employer can’t spare you for any reserve drill without negatively impacting company operations.

These are just two examples, of which there are many, on how your employment could evolve into something that makes it hard for you to meet TPU requirements.

In your Soldier’s Statement of Justification letter, provide an objective picture of how your employment schedule makes it impractical for you to continue with the TPU. Include statements from your employer to back this justification.

Change of address:

You accept a new job within your company. It’ll pay you more, it’s something that you love doing, and it represents a move up in your civilian career. The catch? You have to go somewhere that’s two days away from the nearest Army Reserve center. Your employer isn’t able to spare you enough time to get to, and return from, the nearest Army Reserve unit.

In this scenario, you’re a TPU Soldier that can’t drill with any Army Reserve unit.

Or, you get a promotion that sends you overseas. Your job location is a long flight away from the nearest Army Reserve Center.

For something like this, you’d be able to submit a packet to transfer to the IRR. In your statement of soldier justification, include employment orders, employment promotion documentations, new job description, an objective picture that details your new job location, your new residence, etc.

Cogent personal reasons:

This is sort of a “catch all” to cover other reasons not specifically covered in AR 140-10.

What you think is a very good reason to transfer may not be what the Army thinks it is. You also have to see this from your unit’s perspective.

You’re asking them to release you, when they need you at the unit during drills and summer training. They don’t have a guarantee that they’ll get a replacement Soldier. You have to convince them to “sign off” on your IRR packet.

Let’s say that you’re “burned out” from doing drills. You just want to “sit around” in the IRR until the “burnt out” phase ends. In your unit’s eyes, this is a subjective reason. They could work with you to where you wouldn’t need to submit an IRR transfer packet.

In this example, your soldier justification letter needs to provide an accurate, objective, picture of how your Army reserve duties contribute to you being burned out. You’ll need letters from your medical professionals to help bolster your justifications.

Whatever the personal reason that you choose, make sure that you could provide an objective picture. Make sure that you could provide factual information from subject matter experts involved with your situation.

You also want to prove that there’s no other way to “solve” your current issue other than to transfer to the IRR. Before you do this, you have to exhaust the means to resolve this with resources that your unit could reference you to.

You completed the TPU portion of your contract, now you’re ready to transfer to the IRR:

As of this writing, everybody that joins the military, for the first time, signed an eight year contract. When a first time enlister signs a 6 year Army Reserve contract, they’re not just signing up for 6 years. When those 6 years are over, that Soldier has an additional 2 years of commitment. They can request transfer to the IRR after their TPU commitment.

This concept applies even if the TPU part of the contract was 3, 4, or 5 years.

Once the TPU portion of the contract is over, they can request transfer to the IRR. They have to continue drilling with the unit until they receive their IRR orders.

Surviving son or daughter:

You’re in the reserves, and pursuing your civilian career. Two years later, your last remaining sibling passes on. You’re now your parents’ only surviving child. This is an unfortunate event, but one that gives you an opportunity to transfer from the TPU to the IRR.

When you write your Soldier justification letter, include documentation proving that you’re now the last/sole surviving child for your parents.

Dependency or hardship makes it impractical to participate in TPU:

Let’s say your family situation changes, and you have to provide extra care and supports to one of your family members. This family member is someone on your dependents list. You don’t have an alternative care plan… nobody else could afford to give up a lot of their time, and sacrifice their employment, to help you out.

This dependent family member needs your presence. Without you, this family member’s welfare is negatively impacted.

Two examples of this category is an “assisted living” situation and a “direct support provider” situation. In these scenarios, a family member is unable to care for him or herself. The family member requires a soldier’s attention, supervision, and direct support to do basic functions.

Statements from doctors, social workers, case managers, and other related people should be included in this packet. Their statement should focus on the nature of the dependency hardship, and on the need for you to be consistently available.

Pregnancy:

If you’re pregnant, you may be able to transfer to the IRR. You have to be MOS qualified, and you can’t be within 3 months of your ETS.

Non selection for retention:

This impacts TPU Soldiers that have received their “official notification of eligibility to retire with pay at 60” letter. This is the “20 year letter.” By regulation, these Soldiers are subjected to a Qualitative Retention Board.

Prior to this board’s convening, the impacted Soldier receives a “pre board” packet. The Soldier is given a couple of options. If the board removes the Soldier from the TPU, which control group would the Soldier like to transfer to?

The Soldier could elect to be transferred to the retired reserves, or to the IRR. Should the qualitative review board decide to remove the Soldier from the TPU, orders will be generated transferring the Soldier to the control group that the Soldier selected.

This is also applicable to TPU Soldiers subjected to the actions of other types of retention boards. In this situation, a Soldier may have the option to transfer to the IRR.

Enrollment into a non-scholarship ROTC:

A “non-scholarship” ROTC program is one that offers the student a chance to participate in an ROTC program without financial benefits. These students don’t get a monthly stipend. These students pay for their own tuition, fees, and other expenses.

Soldiers that get accepted into this type of ROTC program can submit an IRR packet.

Merchant Marine Academy:

If you get accepted into the Merchant Marine Academy, you can submit an IRR transfer packet.

Army Regulation 140-10:

For details on each of these categories, and how to apply under them, read Army regulation 140 -10, Assignments, Attachments, Details, and Transfers.

Counseling statements from the commanding officer and servicing career counselor:

Did you get a bonus for enlisting into your current TPU contract? If your IRR transfer gets approved, you could lose the remainder of your bonus. Depending on your bonus stipulation, you could end up having to pay back the part of your bonus that you received.

If you’re receiving a bonus, you need to be informed of this fact when you submit your IRR packet.

This counseling statement should also inform you of your IRR responsibilities. The commanding officer will include any information that’s important to you. This includes the fact that you must continue to drill with the unit until you receive transfer orders to the IRR.

The career counselor will inform you of opportunities that are available to you in the IRR, including opportunities to reclassify and transfer back to the TPU when personal conditions favor such a move.

IRR transfer packet tips:

1. Are you on your initial contract, with IRR time following your TPU time? By regulation, you’re not supposed to submit your IRR packet until your TPU obligation is complete. You can submit your IRR transfer packet the day after your “TPU ETS” date.

2. After you submit your IRR packet, you have to drill with your unit until you receive orders transferring you to the IRR.

Don’t simply go by what somebody at your unit says. Some Soldiers have stopped drilling after they “completed” their “TPU years,” because they thought they were automatically in the IRR. This wasn’t true, they had to report back to drill.

3. Follow up on your packet. If HRC doesn’t get your packet, they might extend your TPU status to the end of your military service obligation. In this case, you’ll have to drill until your 8 years is up.

4. If you have unresolved medical issues, you have to have these issues resolved before you can transfer to the IRR.

5. IRR Soldiers still have obligations and point requirements to make. However, you could consider the active standby reserves instead of the IRR if you want to “get away” from the TPU temporarily.

In the IRR, you have to get at least 50 points a retirement year.

In the active standby reserves, there’s no requirement for you to get at least 50 points. You maintain your military affiliation, but you’re generally not required to maintain a good year. The active standby reserves is what most people assume the IRR is.

Additional References:

1. AR 140-10; provides details on the above categories as justification for IRR transfer.

2. AR G1 Policy Letters.

3. USAR Pamphlet 600-5.