Prior Service Enlistments

Questions and Answers about obtaining an Option 40 Contract and other routes to serving as a Ranger in the US Army.
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goon175
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Re: Prior Service Enlistments

Post by goon175 »

I think your recruiter may have some very false confidence. But, good luck all the same!
"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt

1/75 2006 - 2010
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twitch
USAF
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Joined: August 18th, 2011, 7:13 am

Re: Prior Service Enlistments

Post by twitch »

Thought the same here Ranger goon175. Right now I'm taking it with a grain of salt... typical hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Who knows things can change... still haven't been able to throw up that information; once i get a scanner up and running I'll have to post it.

thanks for the good wishes though!
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things...The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
J.S. Mill
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twitch
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Re: Prior Service Enlistments

Post by twitch »

Throwing out a good idea grenade here but maybe it's just the fact that I might be missing something. While sitting round this weekend reading the AF and Army times I've noticed a good bit of ads mentioning that the Rangers are recruiting... after a bit more pondering they have been putting this out for months now and here's where my question lies. If there is a dier need for Rangers then why would you block prior-service from entering and only block it to 18X series ... granted im not knocking anything about any 18X operators, don't get me wrong... but wouldn't they try to at least push some Opt40 contracts through?
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things...The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
J.S. Mill
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goon175
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Re: Prior Service Enlistments

Post by goon175 »

No, b/c Accessions Command is run by the Big Army, who see the option 40 as just an incentive, something to induce someone to enlist when they happen to be available. I disagree with this approach, but it is what it is.
"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt

1/75 2006 - 2010
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twitch
USAF
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Re: Prior Service Enlistments

Post by twitch »

Roger that Ranger goon175 ... for some reason that doesn't surprise me.
"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things...The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
J.S. Mill
lindy
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Re: Prior Service Enlistments

Post by lindy »

35P3S and 35P4S no AD vacancies??? Total BS. But like you said..."it is what it is."
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goon175
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Re: Prior Service Enlistments

Post by goon175 »

they are hurting for 35P's so bad though, I have to assume that they would consider exceptions.
"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt

1/75 2006 - 2010
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goon175
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Re: Prior Service Enlistments

Post by goon175 »

The latest and greatest PS message, as of 11OCT2011:

[quote%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
111500 October 2011 (EST) USAREC MESSAGE 12-009 Part I
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Headquarters USAREC
To: All Recruiting Personnel


SUBJECT: Prior Service (PS) enlistments into the Regular Army (RA).

1. This is an immediate message and requires dissemination to all
recruiting personnel.

2. This message is valid for 2 years from date of publication unless sooner
rescinded or superseded.

3. References:

a. Army Regulation 601-210, Active and Reserve Component Enlistment
Program, dated 8 February 2011 (with Operational changes), dated 14 June 2011.

b. Department of the Army Memorandum, Prior Service Accessions Business
Rules for Grade Determinations, dated 4 October 2011.

c. USAREC message 10-021, Operation Blue to Green Enlistment Program, dated
6 November 2009.

d. USAREC message 11-193, Prior Service (PS) enlistments into the Regular
Army (RA), dated 14 July 2011. (Rescinded)

4. The purpose of this message is to announce new guidance on Prior Service
(PS) enlistments into the Regular Army (RA). Administrative reduction is no
longer authorized to fill a vacancy.

5. Effective 10 October 2011, PS enlistments in all Skill Levels, to include
Soldiers from Sister Services applying for the Blue to Green (B2G) Program,
are restricted by critical MOS exception according to Human Resource Command
(HRC) Accessions Business Rules. This policy does not affect those PS already in
Delayed Status (DS). No reductions in pay grade will be favorably considered, no
exceptions.

6. This policy affects all Days of Service (DOS) Soldiers in pay grades E-1
thru E-4. Applicants with 179 days or less on Active Duty are considered DOS.
Applicants who never shipped to training and have ZERO days of service may apply
for an exception to policy thru Enlistment Eligibility and Processing Division.

7. This policy DOES NOT affect Soldiers who are removed from the Temporary
Disability Retirement List (TDRL). All Soldiers removed from TDRL will have a
formal electronic grade determination completed IAW AR 601-210, Chapter 5-51f.

8. The HRC Business Rules will be updated periodically by HRC (see part II of
this message).

a. Applicants in grade E-5 and above must submit a formal electronic
request for grade determination to CG, USAREC IAW with AR 601-210, Chapter 3-17.

b. If applicant is MOS qualified in an MOS listed for his/her pay grade in
paragraph 1a of the HRC business rules; approval will be granted in his/her grade
in current PMOS.

c. If applicant is not MOS qualified for a MOS listed for his/her pay grade
in paragraph 1a, then grade will be approved to retrain in an MOS listed in
paragraph 1b of the HRC business rules for his/her pay grade.

d. Applicants in pay grade E-4 and above who hold MOS 09L, 18B, 18C, 18D,
18E, 18F, 37F, 42R, 42S, 46Q, 46R, or 89D can request an exception to the
Business Rules.
Send exception request thru GCR as a grade determination.
Exceptions are not always favorably considered.

9. If an applicant does not hold the grade and MOS that has an open vacancy
listed in paragraph 1a of the Business Rules and there are no retraining
vacancies in current grade listed in paragraph 1b of the Business Rules, request
for grade determination for the purpose of enlistment in the RA will not be
favorably considered due to lack of vacancies in MOS and grade.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
111500 October 2011 (EST) USAREC MESSAGE 12-009 Part II
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Headquarters USAREC
To: All Recruiting Personnel


MEMORANDUM FOR U.S. Army Recruiting Command (RCRO-EEP), Ft Knox, KY 40121.

SUBJECT: Prior Service Accession Business Rules for Grade Determinations
(ref AR 601-210)

1. This memorandum supersedes the memorandum dated 4 October 2011 and
provides new guidance to USAREC in the vacancies that may be filled. These
Business Rules are all encompassing for Prior Service (PS)/Days of Service (DOS)
vacancies.

The following vacancies are available provided the applicant is otherwise
qualified.

a. Vacancies by grade and MOS (changes monthly based on the needs of the
Army):

(1) Grades E-1 thru E-4 - 35P (language dependent) or 91F (see note
below).

(2) Grades E-1 thru E-4 - Must already be AIRBORNE qualified - 13B,
13T, 25S, 35F, 35N, 91F, 92A or 92Y.

(3) Grade E-5 - 35F, 35L, 35N, 35P (language dependent), 46R or 91F (see
note below).

(4) Grade E-5 - Must already be AIRBORNE qualified - 92Y.

(5) Grade E-6 - 35P (language dependent).

(6) Grade E-7 - no vacancies.

(7) Grade E-8 - no vacancies.

(8) Grade E-9 - no vacancies.

NOTE: Prior Service applicants that held PMOS 45B are now MOS qualified in MOS
91F.

b. If no vacancy exists, the following MOS will be used for retraining
(changes monthly based on the needs of the Army):

(1) Grades E-1 thru E-4 - 18X or 91S.
(2) Grade E-5 - no vacancies.

(3) Grades E-6 and above - no vacancies.

c. If applicant holds the grade and MOS that is listed in paragraph 1a
above, the applicant will enlist for Option 18, (U.S. Army First Assignment);
Prior Service Accession Branch (USAREC) will validate MOS qualifications.

2. For applicants who require a grade determination, Prior Service Accession
Branch (USAREC) will determine the enlistment grade as follows:

a. Applicant must enlist in the Delayed Status (DS) within 30 days of final
grade determination. He/she must understand that the vacancies constantly
change; if the grade determination expires prior to enlisting into the DS, they
could be subject to disapproval.

b. If an applicant does not hold the grade and MOS that has an open vacancy
listed in paragraph 1a above and there are no retraining vacancies in current
grade listed in paragraph 1b above, he/she will not be granted accession at this
time. Administrative reduction is no longer authorized to fill a vacancy.

c. Training opportunities exist for MOSs and grades listed in paragraph lb
above, however, training is limited.

3. If a renegotiation is approved the DS Soldier may enlist under current HRC
business rules or the HRC business rules in affect at time of entry in the DS.

4. All PS/DOS applicants that hold an Additional Skill Identifier (ASI) may
submit for an exception to policy without regards to the listed MOS vacancies
in
paragraph 1a above. Not all exceptions are favorably considered.][/quote]
"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt

1/75 2006 - 2010
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Jim
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Re: Prior Service Enlistments

Post by Jim »

To expand on this discussion: The services report that they are achieving their recruitment/retention goals.
IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 892-11
October 20, 2011
________________________________

DOD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for Fiscal 2011


The Department of Defense announced today recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for fiscal year 2011.

- Active Component.

- Recruiting -- Fiscal 2011. All four active services met or exceeded their numerical accession goals for fiscal year 2011.

o Army -- 64,019 accessions, with a goal of 64,000; 100 percent
o Navy -- 33,444 accessions, with a goal of 33,400; 100 percent
o Marine Corps -- 29,773 accessions, with a goal of 29,750; 100 percent
o Air Force -- 28,518 accessions, with a goal of 28,515; 100 percent

- Retention. The Army, Navy, and Marine Corps exceeded their fiscal 2011 retention goals in all categories. The Air Force achieved 96 percent of its careerist retention goal.

- Reserve Component.

- Recruiting -- Fiscal 2011. Five of the six reserve components met or exceeded their numerical accession goals for fiscal year 2011. The Army National Guard intentionally achieved 95 percent in order to stay within its congressionally authorized end strength.

o Army National Guard -- 50,430 accessions, with a goal of 53,000; 95 percent
o Army Reserve -- 30,087 accessions, with a goal of 28,320; 106 percent
o Navy Reserve -- 8,364 accessions, with a goal of 8,344; 100 percent
o Marine Corps Reserve -- 9,180 accessions, with a goal of 9,157; 100 percent
o Air National Guard -- 7,182 accessions, with a goal of 6,632; 108 percent
o Air Force Reserve -- 9,069 accessions, with a goal of 8,831; 103 percent

- Attrition. All reserve components are on target to achieve their fiscal year 2011 attrition goals. End of fiscal 2011 achievements will be published in the November 2011 report.
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goon175
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Re: Prior Service Enlistments

Post by goon175 »

A new Prior Service message came out, they damn near blew the gates open, opening up a bunch of MOS's for PS guys. I will post the complete message ASAP, but one noteable highlight is E-1 through E-5 11B's can now enlist.
"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt

1/75 2006 - 2010
jcchamp
US Army Veteran
Posts: 17
Joined: August 23rd, 2012, 1:18 am

Prior Service Soldier Seeking Best Way to Regiment

Post by jcchamp »

Hello Rangers and everyone else,
As a Prior Service 11B, I'm trying to get back in and get to RASP, one way or another. Given the current USAREC message, all the recruiters I've been speaking with have all told me that the best I can get is my old MOS (which is good) with no choice of duty station or anything else. The recruiters have more applicants than they can handle, and they're not giving Option 40s to PS guys. Going this route, I'd go to my duty station, start doing my job there, and then put in a packet for RASP; this relies too much on circumstance, luck, and my chain of command. I'm looking for a better way. I've searched these forums, and have found a lot of useful information regarding becoming a Ranger, but so far haven't seen anything that takes into account the recent "seller's market" recruiting situation as it applies to Prior Service and the best way to work with/around the current system to get where I want to be.
I would be very grateful for any advice or suggestions. Thank you.
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goon175
Ranger
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Re: Prior Service Enlistments

Post by goon175 »

I hate to break it to you bro, but as a recruiter our hands are tied when it comes to giving an incentive of any kind to PS guys. I sincerely doubt you will get an opt. 40, you may have to do it the hard way if you want to get to Regiment. Hate to be a debbie downer, but thats the honest truth right now. If something changes I will try to get it posted asap!
"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt

1/75 2006 - 2010
jcchamp
US Army Veteran
Posts: 17
Joined: August 23rd, 2012, 1:18 am

Re: Prior Service Enlistments

Post by jcchamp »

Thank you, Ranger goon175. I will look into other avenues, such as which steps to take after I get to my unit, to becoming a Ranger.
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IvanTheTerrible
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Re: Prior Service Enlistments

Post by IvanTheTerrible »

The hard way... yikes. Having been born in Battalion and later a leg, I can't imagine a more sickening feeling than "the hard way". It sounds synonymous with "needs of the army". I moved across the country to be closer to 1st and 3rd Batts for when I can get back in. It's like waiting for the housing market to do something... anything.
Tallahassee, FL
Wpns/Rat Bastards, A Co 2/75
1992
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jas0341
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Re: Prior Service Enlistments

Post by jas0341 »

goon175 wrote:I hate to break it to you bro, but as a recruiter our hands are tied when it comes to giving an incentive of any kind to PS guys. I sincerely doubt you will get an opt. 40, you may have to do it the hard way if you want to get to Regiment. Hate to be a debbie downer, but thats the honest truth right now. If something changes I will try to get it posted asap!
Does this include all PS members from any branch?
"You pay the price for the life you live" - Gysgt. Velarde

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2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, Fox Co. "Blackhearts", 10-12
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