FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What’s the benifit in swapping with someone veruses going through Branch or Retention?
A. Swapping assignments is a little known and little used secrect within the Army.In order to go through Branch you must have at least 24 months TOS and there must be a spot for you at the duty station you’d be look at going. As you know, spots come and go within minutes sometimes with Branch. A swap has no effect on that. You only need 12 months TOS. An, yes unlike going through Branch and having the Army pay for your move, with a swap you’d need to foot the cost of moving and travel. Also with a swap, unlike dealing through Branch, you can find out move about the unit you’re wanting to swap to. I would recommand using Branch to go CONUS to OCONUS or OCONUS to CONUS. I encourage everyone to read the reg on swaps. You can find it on this site by clicking on “View The Reg” in the top left navigation. I also want to point out that though you have to have the 24 months TOS before Branch is able to place you on any assignments. That doesn’t mean they’ll be able to do so. Example, you may of just got back from a deployment and 4, 5, 6 months later, ex you find that you’re still fenced in. Branch can’t do anything unless the fence is lefted or goes away. The only way to get it lefted is by sending up a 4187 to have your Bde Commander sign off on it and then you would still need to fax it over to your Branch Manager. Only then would they be able to put you on an assignment. You wouldn’t need to go through all that hassle with a swap option. Your unit wouldn’t be losing or gaining anyone. It would be a one on one swap.
With going through Retention. It’s basically the same as with going through Branch. There would still need to be a spot opened for you as well. Although, Branch will from time to time, hold some certain spots just for Retention options. You’ll also not have the opportunity to find out more about that unit as you would with doing a swapped assignment. Also, in most cases, unless you can get PIN POINT orders, you’ll just end up at some replacement center somewhere. You also need to be within 24 months of your ETS date to re-up.
Q. How do I create a post?
A. You must first register in order to create a post. The way to do that is by either going to the home page and clicking on where it says “….register Here” or “Assignment Swap Listings” on the top on the page. Once you’re at the “ASSIGNMENT SWAP LISTINGS” page. On the right top corner. You’ll read “You must be logged in to post” . You’ll see “Login/Register”. You would go to “ASSIGNMENT SWAP LISTINGS” anytime you want to change or delete your post. OK, once you’re logged in. To post, you just click on where it reads ” “Add a New Topic”.
Q. How long does my post stay active?
A. Your post will run for 6 months, unless you delete it before. 7 days before your your post is set to expire. We’ll e-mail you a reminder notification that your post is about to expire and ask if you’d like to continue your free posting for another 6 months. Your posting will only be deleted by it’s if we don’t hear back from you.
Q. I’m a SGT (P). Does the other soldier need to be promotable also?
A. In the reg under section “A” it says, “Both Soldiers must agree and be of the same GRADE and MOS….” So, you got to be of the same grade not rank. If you’re a SGT (P) then from what it reads, you can swap with an (E-5) SGT non-promotable.
Q. I’m in AIT and got an assignment to Korea. I want to try and swap with someone at Fort Bragg. Do I put a post in both stateside and overseas, or?
A. I don’t think ArmySwaps.com can help you. You might want to talk to your Drill Sargent. There’s three things I see wrong here. The reg says:
- “Soldiers must have served at least 12 months at current duty station and have at least 12 months time remaining in service upon arrival at the gaining installation.”
- “Exchanges must be CONUS to CONUS or OCONUS within the same OCONUS command.”
- “Soldiers in receipt of AIs (assignment instruction), or in a deployed status, are not eligible.”
Q. Can I still request premisive TDY for house hunting?
A. The reg doesn’t say any about premisive TDY. It seems like you can still request it like any ordinary PCS move. All it says is:
- “Soldiers will pay all costs incurred in relocation, and all travel time will be charged as
ordinary leave.”. It’s talking about your travel time to your new installation.
Q. I was put on assignment for an overseas tour to Germany. I want to stay at my current duty station or swap with someone stateside. Can I do this?
A. Since the reg says “Soldiers in receipt of AIs (assignment instruction), or in a deployed status, are not eligible.” There might be ways around it though. Now, I’m not sure but I believe you could do a Declaration statement to cancle your overseas tour assignment. Now, I don’t know the pro’s and con’s of doing that. You might want to talk to your COC and find out more. If it works to were you can cancle your assignment. Then you’d be free, if you choose to, for an assignment swap with someone else.
Q. I posted on here. But my post was deleted. Why? I wanted to explain the good and bad about my unit to any soldier who might want to swap with me.
A. I understand that you want to let everyone know about your unit’s bad, good and ugly. But, have you ever heard of being discrete and having some descretion on where you post your units business. Save that for when you guys e-mail or telephone one another. It is important to find out all you can about the new unit you’re looking to go. Just be discrete about some things, is all we’re saying.
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