By Sgt. Jon Cupp
1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – You can't always believe what you hear, especially when it comes from the lips of someone who isn't an expert on your topic of discussion.
In much the same way as "barracks lawyers" dish out advice, sometimes Soldiers listen to their peers as opposed to going to the proper source for information, thus leading to accepting rumors as truth or their receiving the wrong information.
To get the facts on reenlistment, the best people to talk to are your battalion or brigade retention noncommissioned officers or career counselors, according to Staff Sgt. James Ray, a 1st "Ironhorse" Brigade Combat Team career counselor.
"When it comes to reenlisting, people need to listen to those who are trained in it, so they can get the best information from a reliable source," said Ray. "This brings more credibility to the retention program and it lets people know not to trust the rumor mill.
"Just because someone reenlists and gets a certain option, that doesn't mean everyone will get the same option," added Ray. "Reenlistments are tailored to the individual Soldier and his or her needs."
One of the biggest rumors circulating during the current Operation Iraqi Freedom rotation, said Ray, concerns the up to $15,000 cash bonus that deployed Soldiers who reenlist can receive.
"The rumor is that everyone is automatically eligible to receive $15,000," said Ray.
What they don't realize however is that not everyone qualifies for a flat $15,000, he added. The amount of their bonus depends upon several factors and is determined by the amount of time the person has spent in the Army; the zone they're in; the number of years in service they are being paid for and the length of their reenlistment.
"Each Soldier needs to sit down with us," said Ray. "It's hard to generalize and say everyone is going to get the same amount or the same incentives."
For "Charlie Zone" Soldiers who have 10 to 14 years active federal service, the deployment bonuses are determined by using a formula and the amounts may be different than that of "Alpha Zone" Soldiers (those with 17 months to six years active federal service at the date of discharge) and "Bravo Zone" Soldiers (those with six to 10 years active federal service at the time of discharge), Ray explained.
Yet bonuses are not the only incentives being offered to Soldiers.
For initial-term Soldiers going for their very first reenlistment, there are five reenlistment options available to them.
These options include:
· the regular Army reenlistment option, which is a simple reenlistment with no guarantee of assignment or training incentives
· the current station stabilization option, which guarantees Soldiers can reenlist to remain at their current duty station of Fort Hood, Texas or wherever they are currently stationed but it does not guarantee Soldiers will remain in a particular unit.
· the continental U.S. (CONUS) station of choice option, which guarantees an assignment at various duty stations within the 48 continental U.S states.
· the overseas option, which guarantees an overseas assignment to places such as Europe or Korea or other overseas assignments
· the Army training option, which offers Soldiers the option of going to other military occupational specialty schools, if they wish to change their MOS. Or Soldiers may choose to go to other military schools such as language training, additional skill identifier (ASI) and special qualification identifier (SQI) schools.
All of these options, Ray said, may be dependent upon whether there are slots available in schools or at particular duty stations. Those Soldiers reenlisting must also be within two years out from their expiration of time in service (ETS) when reenlisting.
"It can be dependent on the needs of the Army and slots available but it's worth it to check these things out for yourself," said Ray, explaining that Soldiers need to do their homework before making general assumptions about reenlisting.
For Soldiers in the mid-career term, they are eligible for four of the options except for the training option for MOS schools.
Under certain circumstances, however, said Ray, mid-career Soldiers may be eligible for the training option.
"In some cases if they are in an over-strengthed MOS or a balanced MOS, they may be able to exercise the training option if they are wanting to change their current MOS," said Ray.
For 1st Cavalry Division Soldiers who are in the initial and mid-career term categories and reenlist under the current stabilization option there are two special incentives which are available to them, according to Ray.
They may choose to take both the Fort Hood college incentive program and the airborne/air assault school incentive option.
"The Fort Hood college option affords them the opportunity to attend up to 12 semester hours of college during duty hours," said Ray. "This option is signed by the III Corps commander, so they're guaranteed to receive it, and normal tuition assistance rules apply.
"A guaranteed 1st Cav. Div. incentive also allows them to choose training at either the Army's airborne or air assault Schools," Ray added.
Both the college incentive and airborne/air assault school options require a three-year minimum reenlistment.
Soldiers who in the rank of staff sergeants or higher with more than 10 years of active duty service are eligible only for the regular Army reenlistment option. In some cases, but not all, there is a bonus. These Soldiers must reenlist for an indefinite amount of time, Ray said.
Spc. Jared Barron with Co. B, 115th Brigade Support Battalion and a native of Birmingham, Ala., said he knew all about going to the right source for the right information when it comes to reenlistment.
Barron, whose reenlistment Jan. 17 marked the 150th reenlistment for the 1st Brigade Combat Team during this rotation, re-upped for six more years.
"The Army is a great place to start a career and the first place I went for information was my battalion retention office," said Barron who received an $11,000 cash bonus. "The Army has been nothing but good to me, it has great benefits, things you can't really get outside in civilian life."
Whether Soldiers are going to reenlist or not, Ray said they shouldn't be afraid to come and talk to their career counselors or visit their retention offices just to see what types of options are available to them.
"They should sit down and honestly review the options with us. We can assist them in making a decision that benefits their career and their families," said Ray.
"The best part of our job is being able to help Soldiers and their families," he added. "Soldiers who receive correct and honest information tend to stay in the Army longer. They don't feel they've been short-changed in their career or that they've been lied to."
Finally, Ray said Soldiers must keep in mind that due to the fast-paced, ever- changing Army, retention policies can change almost on a daily basis, making it even more important to speak to the experts.