Strange situation that I am looking for any help possible on:
I separated from the active duty AF in May 2007 under the Voluntary Separation Program (VSP). When I did so I was automatically placed in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR).
Apparently you still face promotion boards in the IRR. My first one was about a year ago and my second one is Monday. The unfortunate thing about these boards is the fact that you can't get promoted on them. I spoke with ARPC on Friday and they indicated that 1100 of us would be reviewed in this board and 1 would be promoted. The IRR is simply a holding pool of names of people that can be recalled. You aren't active in any unit. It's not surprising that nobody gets promoted off of it...what is surprising is that they even have IRR promotion boards.
The ARPC folks explained that by law you must meet the board. They are trying to get the law changed because they are actually only shooting themselves in the foot. Once you are passed over twice (twice deferred) they kick you out of the IRR.
So here is my issue...I am currently being recruited by a Guard unit. They were the ones that actually informed me of my grim situation just yesterday. They called and said, "you have a great record and we definitely want you. the problem is that you are facing your second board on Monday 1/31 and if you are passed over (which i certainly will be) then we can't recruit you."
So...this is basically a technicality that is biting me in the butt. I called ARPC to beg to have my name held from the board. They explained that by law, 1100 of us WILL meet the board Monday. No dodging that. They also explained that I WILL get passed over. I will then be kicked off the IRR in 7 months. I really don't care about that...what I do care about is getting into the Guard or reserves. This all just seems so strange considering I'm not doing anything wrong but it feels like I am being punished.
Here are my questions:
1. Has anybody ever faced this? Did you get around it?
2. Does anybody know if being twice deferred is a 100% deal breaker for Guard or Reserves. I separated as a Captain. I have heard there are waivers because this rule is ridiculous.
3. What would happen if you did get picked up by a unit? I assume you would meet a final board and hope to be promoted but is that the case?
4. ARPC indicated my best hope is to try to get the promotion boards expunged from my record. They indicated the best way to do that is to prove that I never should have been on the IRR, and thus, should never have met these boards. Apparently the record change happens through the BCMR process. Does anyone have any guidance or experience with this? I do have one angle to work which is the fact that my DD214 indicates I should have been terminated from the reserves in 2008. They put the date of 6/2008 in error. I am hoping I can somehow use this error to be removed from the IRR and have the boards expunged.
I'm hoping my situation is clear here. I haven't done anything wrong and have an excellent record. I am simply trying to join the Guard (which some would consider the "right" thing to do). I never could have avoided these boards and they don't actually promote anyone off of them.
Help! Willing to listen to any advice. Hoping someone else has seen this and successfully navigated it or some part of it.
Thanks in advance!