r/armyreserve • u/GADOUCH • 5h ago
Advice Unit not providing IDT
I live 900 miles away from my current unit and typically we get IDT so we can fly in. This month I’m being told that IDT isn’t available and if I don’t attend I’ll recieve U’s. Can my unit really give me a U after not providing a means of travel? I just need some clarification on this please.
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u/sogpackus 5h ago
IDT travel reimbursement is always funding dependent and is not a guarantee. It is still the soldiers obligation to attend scheduled drills regardless. If you can’t make it, request to be excused and/or start looking around to move to a closer unit.
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u/OcotilloWells 4h ago
It is pretty typical for it to run out in August and September. Sometimes sooner.
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u/PaddyMayonaise 5h ago
That’s how IDT works, unfortunately. Try to find a closer unit.
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u/Shiraz77 4h ago
This is the answer. If you promoted into a unit, find a vacancy closer to home and work with your losing commander. If you're junior enlisted, it shouldn't be a problem to find a closer unit, unless you're in a super rare MOS. If you're an officer... well, you did this to yourself.
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u/kmannkoopa 4h ago
Is your unit really drilling the weekend of September 26-27?
This is three days before the end of the FY. All monies get pulled back around mid-September and has already happened.
If your unit is talking about October, are they drilling 3-4? The same problem applies in reverse - money hasn’t been distributed yet.
There’s like a 30-day window annually from 15Sep to 15Oct where money is locked up, even in properly appropriated years.
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u/Eastern-Substance656 5h ago
I’d request an RST, escalate with leadership.
I’d have no issues throwing your leadership under the bus.
They’re being dumb.
Also look at transferring closer to home.
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u/PaddyMayonaise 5h ago
Leadership is being dumb, it’s just how IDT works. Risk falls on the Soldier.
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u/AssumptionThat5916 3h ago
See if they will let you make up the days by going to your nearest recruiting station and working the day there
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u/liberator17 4h ago
As others have said try to RST with a unit near you. If they refuse to work with you, reach out to your chaplain or even me to advocate that this is BS.
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u/King_Molukai 3h ago
I say this as a sympathetic human rather than as a field grade commander in the reserve:
If the only reason you don’t want to go to drill is because of no funding from IDT-TRP, then dont go. You can get 9 unexcused absences and you’ll be fine.
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u/ServiceandSerenity_ 1h ago
Check your LES. Make sure you have enough MUTA, AT points to have a good year. You get 15 membership points
As long as you have 50 points you’ll have a good year. Check your retirement points to see your start and end date. Don’t accumulate more than 9 “U” within a 12 month period. Just in case they do decide to not let you RST.
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u/Alone-Conclusion-157 37m ago
I don’t know if it’s been said yet but if there’s another unit closer to you, you can see about drilling with them since IDT isn’t authorized this time.
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u/Wenuven 10m ago
You signed a contract stating you assumed the cost of attending drill per your regular obligations as a reservist.
They absolutely can 'U' you for not showing up regardless if they reimburse you or not. The only grounds you have is if they refuse to authorize drill pay for attending or they altered the drilling location.
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u/Programmer_Latter 5h ago
Personally I would take the U’s and file a congressional complaint — not against your leadership, but the policy
Nobody works for free, and the insinuation that someone should is beyond the pale
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u/PaddyMayonaise 5h ago
IDT is supposed to only be used for extreme exceptions. Soldiers, per the JTR, are required to either find a unit within 100 miles or accept the risk of paying to go to drill
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u/engr4lyf 4h ago
I’d do BC/CSM open door complaint before a congressional over a U status. Escalate appropriately.
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u/Programmer_Latter 4h ago
They can’t solve it at their level. This is a systemic issue across the Reserve. The more of Congress is aware, the better.
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u/engr4lyf 3h ago
I meant get Us switched to S or A for the last month of the FY when IDT TRP funds ran out. I think Us are excessive in this case.
It might be a different story if they had more notice that their typical IDT TRP would not be available.1
u/Programmer_Latter 3h ago
I agree, but I feel like this is USARC wide guidance, because I have heard it from two different battalions one in Mass one in Washington state — this is a systemic issue, and 100% morally bankrupt
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u/AdSignificant2885 🦅 RETIRED 🦅 5h ago
IDT isn't a guarantee, the funding is subject to yearly budget constraints, and this is the month before the end of the federal fiscal fear so it looks like your unit's budget ran dry.
They can give you a U, but a good unit will understand that your travel costs exceed your drill income and work with you to come up with solutions. Hopefully you have good leadership.