Expert: Aaron Shifferly - 1/31/2010

Question
QUESTION: I re-enlisted in iraq last year and picked germany as a duty station and now im here in germany but is there any legal way to change my duty station and get sent back to the state side?

ANSWER: Please follow up and give me more information, which I promise to keep private.  I need to know when you got to Germany, unaccompanied or accompanied, and the reasons you want to leave Germany so quickly.  Also, other facts as you see fit, please.

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QUESTION: yes i got here in germany 15th of january 2010 and the reason why i wanna go back to the states and finish up my contract is because my fiancee is getting her tourist visa and the weather over here is relly killing me.. i came here as unaccompanied. i would like to get my divorce done in the states as well...

Answer
You're not going to like my answer Mark. I'm pretty sure you're stuck there.  Weather and fiancees are not valid reasons for the Army to spend good money to send you back to the USA. You will be afforded normal leave time to go back to the states and finalize your divorce.  If you want to live with your fiancee, you should probably marry her and start the command sponsorship paperwork so that she can legally live with you. Otherwise she can fly over (no real visa needed) and just come in and visit you, but it is limited to a 90 day stay.  Without more valid reasons than the ones you provided you'll have to remain in Germany.. Try to look at it like the benefit that it is. You get extra pay and the chance to travel all over Europe for a lot less than others. Its a huge benefit and, after spending 4 1/2 years there, I would go back in a heartbeat.