Screwed out of 18,000 bucks!

[JOdom86]

Ok, so here is what happened: My issue is that while I was at the Memphis, TN MEPS, I signed a contract with a no cash bonus. However the next day I went back to the Memphis, MEPS and took an AIMS test. I was informed I passed the AIMS test and was given a new contract entitling me to a $18,000 bonus. After arriving at 30th AG, in-processing for Fort Benning, GA, I was told by the army liaison that my $18,000 bonus was a computer error and I would not be receiving a bonus. When I asked the liaison if I had to sign the contract stating I would not receive a bonus, he said yes and an NCO in the room said yes, I had to sign the document or I would be subject to an article 15 for disobeying an order from a non-commissioned officer. After signing the contract, out of fear of an article 15, I spoke with a civilian in finance that was giving a class during OSUT and he told me I needed to speak to legal before I left. I informed my drill sergeant of the issue and my drill sergeant said no, you can take care of this when you get to your unit. Now I am in Germany and just finding out that I did not have to sign the contract given to me by the liaison, I was coerced into signing it, and there and my drill sergeant was not allowed to deny me legal. The issue I am dealing with now is that my unit is trying to deploy me to Iraq before JAG gives me any options towards this breach of contract and JAG also can not tell me any solutions on how to postpone my deployment date until this issue is resolved. So yeah, any opinions?

[OIFCOMBATVETNYC]

Ok, so here is what happened: My issue is that while I was at the Memphis, TN MEPS, I signed a contract with a no cash bonus. However the next day I went back to the Memphis, MEPS and took an AIMS test. I was informed I passed the AIMS test and was given a new contract entitling me to a $18,000 bonus. After arriving at 30th AG, in-processing for Fort Benning, GA, I was told by the army liaison that my $18,000 bonus was a computer error and I would not be receiving a bonus. When I asked the liaison if I had to sign the contract stating I would not receive a bonus, he said yes and an NCO in the room said yes, I had to sign the document or I would be subject to an article 15 for disobeying an order from a non-commissioned officer. After signing the contract, out of fear of an article 15, I spoke with a civilian in finance that was giving a class during OSUT and he told me I needed to speak to legal before I left. I informed my drill sergeant of the issue and my drill sergeant said no, you can take care of this when you get to your unit. Now I am in Germany and just finding out that I did not have to sign the contract given to me by the liaison, I was coerced into signing it, and there and my drill sergeant was not allowed to deny me legal. The issue I am dealing with now is that my unit is trying to deploy me to Iraq before JAG gives me any options towards this breach of contract and JAG also can not tell me any solutions on how to postpone my deployment date until this issue is resolved. So yeah, any opinions?

where you at in Germany? click the link to email me a message and I can offer some suggestions.

[USMC_8156]

Write your congressman. Carbon Copy your CO. Nothing scares officers more than the threat of a congressional hearing.

[former31B]

Write your congressman. Carbon Copy your CO. Nothing scares officers more than the threat of a congressional hearing.

Please don't do this. For one thing, your current CO really has nothing to do with this issue. He will be dumbfounded/pissed to find a congressional inquiry on his desk and you, as a young soldier, will find yourself on the short end of the stick. You will find yourself cut no breaks and given no benefit-of-the-doubt for the duration of your time in that unit.

This issue doesn't warrant a delay in your deployment. At best, the Army will give you your $18,000 and tell you to soldier on with the remainder of your contract. It is unlikely that you will get to go home for breach of contract. JAG officers can be found wherever you are going. Have you tried bringing this issue to your unit finance? The problem you will have is that you did sign another contract. Who is to say you signed it under duress?

[sigecaps]

Write your congressman. Carbon Copy your CO. Nothing scares officers more than the threat of a congressional hearing.

Please don't do this. For one thing, your current CO really has nothing to do with this issue. He will be dumbfounded/pissed to find a congressional inquiry on his desk and you, as a young soldier, will find yourself on the short end of the stick. You will find yourself cut no breaks and given no benefit-of-the-doubt for the duration of your time in that unit.

This issue doesn't warrant a delay in your deployment. At best, the Army will give you your $18,000 and tell you to soldier on with the remainder of your contract. It is unlikely that you will get to go home for breach of contract. JAG officers can be found wherever you are going. Have you tried bringing this issue to your unit finance? The problem you will have is that you did sign another contract. Who is to say you signed it under duress?

If he was coerced into signing an enlistment contract then hell yes he can get out of a deployment. If they are not letting you see JAG, that's a big foul. Contact the IG team.

[USMC_8156]

Write your congressman. Carbon Copy your CO. Nothing scares officers more than the threat of a congressional hearing.

Please don't do this. For one thing, your current CO really has nothing to do with this issue.

So what? His chain of command has failed him, and his CO is indirectly responsible.


He will be dumbfounded/pissed to find a congressional inquiry on his desk and you, as a young soldier, will find yourself on the short end of the stick. You will find yourself cut no breaks and given no benefit-of-the-doubt for the duration of your time in that unit.

It's illegal to punish him for contacting his congressman. His command will actually be extra careful when dealing with him in the future, and hopefully it will be a wake up call that you can't just tell a young soldier to suck it up when the Army is in the wrong.



This issue doesn't warrant a delay in your deployment. At best, the Army will give you your $18,000 and tell you to soldier on with the remainder of your contract.

The hell it doesn't. He was coerced into signing a document which enlists him in the Army. Here's what happened.

Recruiter thought he rated a bonus.
Someone made a mistake.
They decided instead of explaining the situation, they would order (although they had no legal right to) him to sign the paper.

He deserves his contract to be cancelled, if that is what he desires.



It is unlikely that you will get to go home for breach of contract.
Again, bullshit.


JAG officers can be found wherever you are going. Have you tried bringing this issue to your unit finance? The problem you will have is that you did sign another contract. Who is to say you signed it under duress?

The problem is that he was coerced into signing the contract, not that he signed it. Boots will pretty much do whatever you tell them they are so terrified. Ordering them to do something illegal is coercion. Bring it to unit finance? Are you retarded? This isn't a finance issue, this is a serious breach of ethics which needs to be brought forward.

[smarg]

Bait and switch.