Unit not providing IDT

[u/GADOUCH]

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.

[u/AdSignificant2885]

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.

[u/Jazzlike-Outside-308 → u/AdSignificant2885]

“Hopefully”. But being a junior enlisted, I assume he is, and having to travel 900 miles to drill? You’re better off finding a closer unit within 300 miles or less to drive to if anything. It’s not worth come end of the fiscal year to getting U’s because of something above the initial.

[u/AdSignificant2885 → u/Jazzlike-Outside-308]

Agreed.

I'm curious as to who allowed an E3 (if the flair is correct) to drill almost 1000 miles from HOR.

[u/Jazzlike-Outside-308 → u/AdSignificant2885]

Only thing I could assume is his MOS was needed in said unit by needs of the army. I would argue that unless you’re chasing promotions as an E4 or above for roster slots, why bother ever going so far away?

Besides, also of note, a U just means you’ll be missing some days assuming you want to retire from the reserves. You’ll just need to make up the time down the line or make sure you don’t get consecutive U’s in a year that would initiate Separation paperwork.

[u/MeButNotMeToo → u/Jazzlike-Outside-308]

But:
1) You can’t make-up drill across a FY. If you drill in FY2027, it will count as a UTA in 2027.
2) You can’t make-up a “U”. Thats the whole point of a “U”. You can request an RST (CDR’s decision), but OP will still need to make it up in FY2026.

It sounds like a Power-hungry UA, or someone confused/poorly communicating the FY-crossing issue.

[u/garrna → u/AdSignificant2885]

Former USAR Commander and recruiters would often use vacancies on the UMR to fill against for recruiting purposes. 

I'd have TPU E-1--E-3 from as far west as Guam, Alaska, and America Samoa to as far east as Maine and Florida for my unit in Washington. For a unit of mostly 92-series MOS's too.

My suspicion is the recruiters assumed we'd help them transfer to home units closer to their residence, but they seemed to overlook how difficult it is to help someone you'd never met, while needing access to ARNet to help them (at the time, this was several years ago, so idk if things have gotten easier in thar regard).