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This chapter is designed to provide commanders suggestions and alternatives to improving the attendance of soldiers absent from drill. This is necessary because a FLL, 1SG, or commander will often over-react to a soldier absence and immediately give the soldier a Code "U" (unsatisfactory participation) on the DA Form 1379 and then follow up with an "Unsat" letter. The code "U" may be appropriate; however, it is not the first step. This chapter will explain to you a three-step process for attempting to resolve a potential soldier or unit problem before reaching the code "U" step.

Often a family, education or employment requirement (the "big three") causes our soldiers to make choices. Considering that the National Guard is a part-time job, being a drilling guardsmen may have a lower priority in a soldier's life than the big three requirements stated above. If this is true, we will compound the problem if our initial reaction to an absence is an "Unsat" letter. If the Guard is contributing to a soldier's difficulties, an "Unsat" letter will only make the situation worse. Therefore, we recommend the following three-step course of action to attempt to identify and then rectify a soldier's absence.

Further, a soldier may have very well "screwed up" (i.e., overslept on Saturday morning). Having done so could cause a young soldier to feel guilty and/or embarrassed, and unsure how to deal with "not being in formation." We in the Army have conditioned them to never be late. If the soldier feels that his mistake will cause him to automatically be dealt with harshly, he may choose to avoid the situation totally, and not show up at all, and then the situation "snowballs" in a negative direction from there. The soldier and the unit are forced to make choices without proper information. The only way to obtain the data necessary to make good choices is to have an open, honest and caring line of communication between the soldier and the chain of command. Remember, don't assume anything!

This approach will provide the FLL, 1SG, commander or ADURNCO an opportunity to explore the cause of a soldier's absence. The NJARNG may very well be causing conflict in a soldier's life. If this is true, and the conflict outweighs the reward and benefit of being a guardsmen, the soldier will not come back to drill. It is that simple. If units follow the philosophy and directives mandated by this step, Step Two and Step Three should not be necessary. The following is the approach a commander, 1SG or FLL will take when a soldier misses drill, and has not habitually done so:

Initially, give the soldier the benefit of the doubt. The NJARNG commitment may be causing turmoil in the soldier's life. You won't know if you don't find out. Our research has proven that in many cases, the FLL may very well be the root cause of a soldier's dissatisfaction. Therefore, the commander, 1SG or ADURNCO may have to substantiate an FLL explanation of a soldier's absence.

The FLL, ADURNCO, ISG or commander will have a face-to-face meeting with the absent soldier. This will take place at the most convenient time for all concerned, but preferably during the drill weekend. This may absolutely require a visit to the soldier's current address. Commanders must establish this as per SOP (consider "Attendance Improvement Teams"). If transportation is a concern to perform this mission, request support for a vehicle with your higher headquarters.

Keep a positive attitude. Show the soldier that you are concerned with his circumstances. Display a caring attitude and earn the trust of the soldier so that he is not compelled to deceive you or not call you if he cannot make drill.

If a face-to-face meeting, despite every unit effort, cannot be arranged, send the soldier a postcard or letter of concern. It must not be certified or return receipt requested. Give it a personal touch, rather than a negative "official language" military memo. Provide the soldier the unit and home phone number of the commander, 1SG, FLL and/or ADURNCO (see the example personal letters [both typed and handwritten] at Figures 5-1 and 5-2).

This approach will provide the FLL, 1SG, commander or ADURNCO a method of correcting a soldier for his continued unauthorized absences. We recognize that even after a unit's best effort to give the soldier the benefit of the doubt, the soldier may abuse the thoughtfulness of the command structure. Unit commanders are responsible for determining the difference between a soldier with difficult circumstances and one who is undisciplined and abusing the system. The only way to make this distinction is by fully complying with Step One. Once the unit exhausts the requirements of Step One, begin this step:

Make personal contact with the soldier, again. If the face-to-face meeting is impractical or appears unnecessarily redundant, send a memo with firmer language (see example at Figure 5-3).

Make clear to the soldier that he has a commitment to the unit and the team. This includes notifying the unit and making up drills when the soldier anticipates an absence.

Consider recalling the soldier's OCIE and military uniforms.

As a last resort, after the unit commander, 1SG, FLL and ADURNCO have made every reasonable effort to salvage a soldier's career, to no avail, complete the following:

• Initiate discharge procedures as per AR 135-91 and NJARNGR 601-X (TBP).
• Retrieve OCIE and Military Clothing.
• Consider reduction proceedings.

Duties and Responsibilities

Company Commanders

• Establish an SOP to address the duties and responsibilities of each attendance improvement task. Ensure, at a minimum, that your SOP includes these tasks along with unit-specific techniques and requirements.
• Establish a soldier's home visit program to make personal "face-to-face" visits with unsatisfactory soldiers.

1SG

• Identify unsatisfactory (or Code "U") soldier.
• Direct FTS Readiness NCO or ADURNCO to send appropriate-type unsatisfactory letter (see Figures 5-1, 2, 3 and 4, or AR 135-91).
• Maintain record of attendance improvement attempts for each soldier in the unit.

ADURNCO or FLL (Commander's Discretion per SOP)

• Initial contact of unsatisfactory soldier before end of first UTA.
• Solve or resolve reason for AWOL and schedule SUTA and/or report findings to 1SG.
• Document conversation or attempts to converse on a "Conversation Record;" provide to 1SG.
• Document attempted visits as per SOP.

FLL

• If you or the ADURNCO do not make initial contact, you will try again on Sunday afternoon either by phone or by visiting the soldier (commander's discretion).
• Request 1SG send appropriate type of unsatisfactory letter to the soldier, depending on the situation (see Figures 5-1, 2, 3 and 4).
• If contact is not made by close of business on the drill, contact the soldier before the next drill as per commander's SOP.
• Document attempted visits as per SOP.

FTS Readiness NCO

• If directed by the commander or 1SG, attempt to call the unsatisfactory soldiers immediately following the drill.
• Send appropriate unsatisfactory letter (see Figures 5-1, 2, 3 and 4) as directed by 1SG or Commander.

If a soldier is attending a New Jersey public institution of higher learning (i.e., a county community college or state university) and is using the New Jersey National Guard Tuition Program ((NJNGTP), 12 free college credits), and is not attending drill, the commander or his designated representative should call the college and have the soldier billed for attendance or removed from school. This should improve the soldier's drill attendance.

To do so, each commander will maintain a roster of all soldiers in the command taking advantage of, and attending college on, the NJNGTP. If a soldier has drill attendance problems, the commander will inform the soldier that he will call the college and have the college bill the soldier for the classes he is enrolled. This should give the soldier greater incentive to attend drill.

The unit 1SG, administrative specialist or FTS Readiness NCO must add the soldier's name to a designated roster each time the commander certifies the soldier's eligibility for college. Currently, HQ STARC does not maintain a database of soldiers attending college. This is a unit-level responsibility.

Chapter 4: Career Counseling Card, NJDMAVA Form 1315

Chapter 6: Unit Climate Profile (DA Pamphlet 600-69)