I am currently stationed in texas and my wife and 2 step kids are in Atlanta. They cant leave because of custody reasons so I'm hoping there is a way for me to get closer to them. Obviously a mutual would be one way, but are there any other options for transferring, on my own dime, so that I could at least be within driving distance of them? Appriciate any help.

Not that I am aware of. If there were some special needs issues, you could try a humanitarian transfer.

T

There may be other less obvious options. I once had an EO working for me with a similar issue. He asked the detailer for oan early transfer, then requested a HUMS (humanitarian) transfer and was turned down by both. Within six months he was gone - the detailer had another issue to address and he solved both by giving my EO a transfer (at least a year before he was tour complete) and moved the other person into the EO billet. That was lucky but never would have happened if the detailer wasn't made aware of the issue. Also, watch for any special assignment solicitations that may come up.

But my best advice is ask your XO/personnel office.

You could request unilateral orders if you're an over-billet or paygrade mis-match. Be aware though, that unilateral orders are effectively the same as a mutual, and that you will be responsible for the full cost of your move should you receive them.

I'm seconding asking your XO.

quote:

Originally posted by militia1:
Not that I am aware of. If there were some special needs issues, you could try a humanitarian transfer.

T

This one of the most misunderstood programs around. The case described would be almost impossible to classify as a HUMs. Most importantly, the reason behind a HUMs must be a temporary issue, resolvable in 6-12 months. The reason described above most likely wouldn't fit that. Even if it did fit the time frame, it wouldn't be one of the issue described to be w/i the program. Coasties are away from their families all the time. Special needs is a program completly seperate from HUMs and only looks at whether or not the dependant with a special need, can have that special need met at the dependants location. That would require the people at issue to be dependants. Step Children are no always dependants. (could be, but not always)

I would be careful what you ask for and how you ask for it. If you put something down on paper trying to say you are not available for world wide assignment, that can bit you square in the butt!

quote:

Originally posted by Adam1982:
I am currently stationed in texas and my wife and 2 step kids are in Atlanta. They cant leave because of custody reasons so I'm hoping there is a way for me to get closer to them. Obviously a mutual would be one way, but are there any other options for transferring, on my own dime, so that I could at least be within driving distance of them? Appriciate any help.

Outside of mutuals, etc.....when you say "on my own dime" that means your "buying" your transfer. That will not normally be acceptable. One reason is if a member payed (bought) for his/her transfer, gets to the new unit and then has to short-tour out due to needs of the service, the member will loose. The second reason is everyone else would try to buy their transfers too. This is how I have seen EPM explain it in that past.

Good luck with whatever works out.

The other on your own dime would be a unilateral transfer, but you would have to excess at your current unit and there would have to be an opening at the next unit.

Charleston is a lot closer to Atlanta perhaps someone on one of those 378's could help you out.

Advance =-)

quote:

Originally posted by Raiderfootball:
Advance =-)

Although good advice, this is not as guaranteed as some people lead others to believe. But that's a whole 'nother ball of wax.

quote:

Originally posted by Adam1982:
I am currently stationed in texas and my wife and 2 step kids are in Atlanta. They cant leave because of custody reasons so I'm hoping there is a way for me to get closer to them. Obviously a mutual would be one way, but are there any other options for transferring, on my own dime, so that I could at least be within driving distance of them? Appriciate any help.

Try this for starters: submit an e-resume with some GA, SC and TN units that are on the shopping list this season and in the remarks section say something like "Request any critical or need to fill billet in this area. I have command approval." Of course, you'll need to run this by your command. Can't guarantee you success but I do know of one person it has worked for.

The con: you very well could get transferred to a dreadful unit.

quote:

Originally posted by CgShipmate:

quote:

Originally posted by Adam1982:
I am currently stationed in texas and my wife and 2 step kids are in Atlanta. They cant leave because of custody reasons so I'm hoping there is a way for me to get closer to them. Obviously a mutual would be one way, but are there any other options for transferring, on my own dime, so that I could at least be within driving distance of them? Appriciate any help.

Try this for starters: submit an e-resume with some GA, SC and TN units that are on the shopping list this season and in the remarks section say something like "Request any critical or need to fill billet in this area. I have command approval." Of course, you'll need to run this by your command. Can't guarantee you success but I do know of one person it has worked for.

The con: you very well could get transferred to a dreadful unit.

That's an outside option. A few factors in play.

1. How long has member been at current unit? If member has not been at current unit very long, that hurts chances.

2. Is member's current billet/unit hard to fill? Is so, forget it!

3. What is the paygrade of the critical fill at other unit? If E4/E5, opening would likely be filled by an A Schooler before short-touring somone else was utilized. Senior positions would help chances.

If member's Chief/Command is willing to help, they could make a call to respective AO to follow-up with the e-resume offer. That would give the member an idea if the AO would even consider it.

It never hurts to ask. Whatever you do, shoot straight with the Command and the AO's....no BS. AO's do keep electronic notes on the members within their accounts for future reference. I don't know your situation but if it doesn't work out, geo-batching isn't too bad. Lot's of folks do it. I did for a while.

If you haven't already, you might want to check the wording in her divorce papers.
My wifes' divorce papers from her previous marraige stated she wasn't allowed to move 'x' miles from that city UNLESS she re-married a military member under orders.
Her ex-husband put up a fight (she has custody of their child) but was denied because of what the papers said.
Sometimes their may be a military clause in there that you didn't know of.