#conditional release

Construction Contract & Lien Basics that Will Get You Paid Faster: Waiver and Release Best Practices

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I have a lot to update about. I am a little annoyed with myself for not updating this earlier!

About two months ago I found out through the HS2 that my flight physical will not transfer over. She wished me luck and sent me on my way; no matter, I am glad I know that I can pass a first class flight physical.

I have secured a position volunteering 3 hours a week at Seattle Children's Hospital, for which I am extremely excited!!! I need to complete a minimum of 80 hours in 6 months. Depending on how that goes I may volunteer more with them, I have a foot in the door though. Which is great considering how difficult it is to apply!

Got all my E4 sign-off's completed. Now I just need to take the test. For some reason I felt like a fire got lit under me and I had a burning urge to move forward sooner rather than later. I approached my Command Master Chief with what I had completed in my conditional release package and let him go over it. He suggested some structure changes within the memorandum. I also showed it to my department head, Bosun. He agreed with Master Chief and just about smacked me over the head for waiting as long as I did to tell him, "Sir, I am going to see a recruiter."

He has been so supportive of my decision that he gave me time during the work day to schedule my appointment with a recruiter. I had created a list of all near-by recruiting stations so I was ready to make calls right away. I started near Ft. Lewis-McChord and found a recruiter whom had done WOFT packets before. I made the appointment for the 24th of May (today, at the time of this writing).

I did not get to talk to the recruiter whom had done the WOFT packets as he was at a Dental Appointment. I had sensed during the two phone calls I had placed to him that he seemed un-interested which was worrisome. And when I found out he was out of the office for our appointment I fought the urge to shake my head. It was as if all the things I had heard about recruiters was coming true before my eyes. While waiting in the office I observed all the other enlistees, high schoolers,  talk to the recruiters like they were pals. Their shaggy hair cuts were very amusing and brought me back to when I was processing for the Coast Guard. Of course, I was extremely respectful and addressed the recruiters, all E6 and above with the proper respect that is expected of military members. They definitely showed me respect and I noticed there was no buddy-buddy theme to our conversations, which I was pleased with.

After waiting for 45 minutes I finally was directed to talk to another member whom had put people through WOFT. He basically confirmed everything I already knew but emphasized the PT test, something I had not really given much thought too. So I made a mental note to start training in earnest to score well above the standard on the PT test. That was perhaps, the biggest thing I took away today. That, and of course a signed conditional release form (DD-368)! As I was walking out the recruiter I was originally supposed to see walked in. We introduced ourselves and I quickly found out his tour was ending in 2 months which gave reason as to my initial concern about his lack of interest. So I will be working with the one I had talked too today, whom still has two years left in his tour. 

Once I get the form signed by my commanding officer I will be able to start scheduling tests and physicals etc. I need to pass my E4 test first however... Which will take at least another few weeks. In all honesty, it should already be done. Either way, soon I will have a signed conditional release in hand!

I apologize for summarizing as much as I did, usually my posts are much more detailed but I had a lot to write about.

Recently returned from some leave I took to see my girl friend, my friends, and my family during the holiday routine - or what other might call Christmas break. I got back to my unit on the 5th and I immediately checked my email, anxious to see if I had received any word regarding the conditional release.

NOTHING! ARRRRRGHHH!

I shot off an email to my YN2 briefly asking if she had any news regarding the release.

The following day came her response;

SN Bartlett, Unfortunately the Coast Guard will not give you a Conditional release form. You are allowed to talk too any recruiter, but will not be able to do any paperwork with them, so I am pretty sure they will not even want to talk too you until you are released from active duty from the Coast Guard. So until you are accepted to the Army Warrant Officer Commission Program, you are still a member of the Coast Guard and will not be able to do any paperwork with any other service until you get that DD214 paperwork from the Coast Guard stating that you have been released from active duty. R/ YN2 [name ommited]

Wait.. That can't be right? I was numbed for a moment. I needed to report to watch, this would have to wait until later.

During my morning watch which is extremely busy I somehow managed to find a conditional release form DD-0368 online and print it out. The hard part wasn't finding it (thank you google) it was just difficult between all the incoming calls I had to redirect and the pipes I had to make while on watch. Fortunately, my Command Master Chief (CMC) called the quarterdeck to request a pipe. Before he hung up I asked if he would give me a moment of his time after my watch to see me regarding the conditional release. Something didn't feel right about my YN2's response and it was about time I brought my intentions to the command. The CMC's job is acting as a direct line of communication between a unit's enlisted work force, and the top of the immediate command - in my case that is my Executive Officer (XO) and the Commanding Officer (CO). You can approach the CMC about anything you feel your immediate supervisor can't handle, is above their level of responsibility or for any reason you feel is valid. If it's something that needs command approval CMC's are supposed to maintain a neutral position regardless of the situation. Which I felt important because I didn't know how my 1st Lieutenant (Bosun) would react if I told him I was trying to apply for the Army. Master Chief set up a time with me shortly after my watch would conclude so we could talk about the matter privately.

I printed out the page I had found in the Coast Guard Personnel Manual so I could fight for my cause if need be. I got that, and the conditional release from the printer before heading down to put on my good boots and a nice uniform. Not taking any chances I brushed my hair since it was longer than I usually let it get. I had not gone to the barber on base to have it cut before I left for my leave so it was a mess from my hard helmet

I arrived and my Bosun was in the room with the CMC. He made a hasty exit when I arrived,

"Good morning Bosun."

"He's all yours" he said slapping me on the shoulder as he walked out.

Master Chief invited me in and asked me to take a seat and explain.

"Well Master Chief, my ultimate goal is to fly, and I joined the Coast Guard for that reason. But, now that I'm in the service I have a much better situational awareness regarding my career. . . The age cut-off is 26 in the Coast Guard to fly. I need to make E5 and have at least an Associates degree which I'm working on right now in order to even be eligible for OCS. I'm 23 years old so that's only 3 years away for me. At the rate my A-school list is moving - " He stopped me and asked what A school list I was on, he nodded his head in understanding when I answered. I continued; 

". . . combined with the pre-requisits, the next two years it will take before I even make grade, and THEN the two years in grade I need to even be eligible to advance - I just can't make the cut-off. It's impossible. The Warrant Officer Flight Training program offered by the Army has an age cut-off of 32. That's a lot more breathing room for me, that's why I need a conditional release."

I went on to explain what a conditional release is, showing him the form. Then giving him the paper from the Personnel Manual I showed him that I can be discharged if I am accepted into a program that will lead to an appointment or commission in any other branch of the armed services.

He patiently listened as filled him in with all the details and what I new about the process. I was elated when he said,

"Well, you've certainly done your homework. I'm glad it's not something bad about the Coast Guard that's causing you to request a conditional release, this is definitely about pursuing professional growth. You have my approval. I can support this. You're argument for the release is valid. . . Yeah. You can get this routed up the immediate chain of command and when it gets to me I'll approve it. I'll go rattle some cages with it and see if we can't get you what you need."

I asked how it might affect my chances to obtain additional training and he said that I wouldn't lose any of my entitlements like government leased housing or money for school, but that I would probably have a hard time convincing my command to let me attend any kind of special training. For example in a few months we are bringing brand new cranes on-line and that will require training at a special school in order to operate them, I was really looking forward to getting crane qualified. Probably wont happen if I start this process. He also threw a curve ball at me that I wasn't expecting but makes perfect sense. He said that while I would still advance on the A-school list, if I start this process for conditional release, I will probably be put on an administrative hold which would essentially keep me from receiving orders to my A-school until this process is resolved by either my acceptance into the program, or denial. The Coast Guard isn't going to spend money on my training if I could potentially be leaving in short order. Something that I should have considered. Though he didn't point it out, I got the vibe that if I was denied from WOFT that I would probably have a much harder time securing another conditional release since the Coast Guard will have then put me through A-school, not to mention any kind of special training I may receive prior to me re-applying for WOFT in the future. It was food for thought. Master Chief did express that he thought it was a good thing I was looking for this release before the Coast Guard had invested to much in me. I shared the sentiment. He suggested that I take my flight physical in order to see if I even qualify medically. If I don't, it would be a shame for me to start the process before I know and get put on hold for any opportunities that would other wise be mine. Good suggestion. Luckily I had already scheduled a my preliminaries for the flight physical two weeks prior. He was impressed when I shared that with him.

Bosun later called me up to his stateroom to talk to me about it. Turns out Master Chief talked to him about my decision and Bosun, though disappointed he would be losing one of his own if this worked out, was happy to hear I was taking steps toward a higher goal. He asked me about it and I briefly explained everything I had explained to Master Chief. He said I had his support which made me feel so much relief - it had been one reason I hadn't approached my command sooner.

Armed with the backing of my two highest immediate supervisors I felt that despite what my YN2 said, I could still make this work. I felt like perhaps she was a little confused as to what a conditional release is. And she's always super busy with other things that it very possible that she didn't have enough time to dedicate to thoroughly researching the conditional release. Which is but a reminder that I can't rely on anyone else to give me the information I need, only myself.