Told my trip was approved, now being told I’ll be AWOL for missing drill
Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice because I’m not sure what my options are.
I recently graduated AIT and Basic Training and was assigned to a small, fairly rural unit. Shortly after arriving, I told my chain of command that I had an international trip planned a few months later. They looked into whether I would be allowed to go, and I specifically waited until they told me it was approved before purchasing my nonrefundable tickets.
At no point did anyone tell me there was additional paperwork or that I needed to submit anything before leaving. Since I had just gotten out of training, I didn’t really know the process, so I trusted what they told me.
Now my trip is only a week away, and a friend asked if I had completed a SUTA. That was the first time I had even heard of it. When I asked my chain of command about it, they told me I’d be marked AWOL for the two drill days I’d miss.
The confusing part is that another soldier told me my unit doesn’t provide SUTA forms and that soldiers usually have to create the document themselves before getting it signed. If that’s true, I had no idea, and no one in my chain of command ever explained that to me. I’ve been messaging them trying to figure out what I’m supposed to do, but my messages either get ignored or brushed off.
assigned under the supply section, and because we’re a small unit and we just got back from AT, there honestly isn’t much going on right now. It feels like a lot of the blame is being put on me, even though I was relying on the guidance my leadership gave me and wasn’t told there were any additional requirements.
At this point, I’m not sure what to do. Am I in the wrong here? How serious are two AWOLs for missing drill, especially given the circumstances? Is there anything I can do this late to avoid being marked AWOL? Any advice would be appreciated.