Bonus Rage

[racerx3169]

I was deployed to Afghanistan, while in Afghanistan, I re-enlisted or extended for the 3 year / 7500.00 bonus as i was within my 1 yr window of my ETS. My bonus is set for Oct. 16th, 2006.

Upon returning to the states I had no job, so i applied for a technician position and got that postion in June of 2006. HRO did not tell me that upon accepting this postion that I would lose my bonus. Had they told me about it, the Col. could have put me on ADSW order in order for me to recieve my bonus. I know alot of technicians that did the same re-enlistment and got to keep their bonuses.

My question is this: How come the MDAY soldier gets screwed when accepting a technician position doesn't change our military status, yet we don't get the same rights as the current technicians that re enlisted under title 10 orders.

I was told because I wasn't already a technician and in MDAY status, title 10 or not I will lose my bonus.

I was under the impression that while at war under title 10 orders, i was NOT in MDAY status when I re enlisted, but basically mirroring active duty in regards to bonuses.

Can someone please help me to shed some light?

775-887-7335 is my direct line.

SGT Ron Seagraves
Nevada Army National Guard

[AbnMtn]

It's a shame no one explained to you the conditions for termination.

We all have a tendency to sign documents without really reading them. I've been burnt a couple of times because I signed without knowing what I was signing for. This is why I insist, when enlisting someone, that they fully read and understand the terms of the enlistment as stated on the DD Form 4 (Enlistment/Reenlistment Document) and that they pay particular attention to the different Annexes to DD Form 4 (which covers Enlistment Bonus, Prior Service Enlistment Bonus, Reenlistment/Extension Bonus, CASP Bonus, Affiliation Bonus, and Student Loan Repayment Plan as addendums to the DD Form 4).

All of these addendums are organized into sections that explain the obligations, conditions and participation requirements that must be met for entitlement of any Selected Reserve Incentive Program (SRIP) feature. The main sections are:

General - Gives instructions to the enlisting official regarding explanation of SRIP entitlements.

Eligibility - Outlines the particular criteria that enlistee meets to receive the entitlement (which by the way must be initialed by the person receiving the entitlement).

Payment - Based on the NGB Policy in effect at the time of enlistment, it provides the terms for payment of bonus for the time period of the enlistment.

Suspension - Explains adjustments and suspensions of bonus if participation with the ARNG is interrupted by period of non-availability

Termination - Establishes conditions that will cause termination of entitlements (it covers terminations with recoupment and without recoupment)

Recoupment - Defines the terms of proportional recoupment based on time served.

Statement of Understanding - Signatures certifying understanding of the addendum in its entirety.

It pays to read what you sign before you do. It also helps when a full explanation of terms is provided to you prior to placing a signature on the line.