Posted: 3/29/2008 4:28:41 PM EDT
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Quick question for any Guardsmen out there: I'll be taking a Government job in early June, and am interested in joining the Guard sometime thereafter. I know I can't be fired for being deployed, but how about the initial training period? Is that covered too? Alternately, since I'll be leaving my current job next week, and have a written offer for my next job in hand, can I accept the offer then join the Guard even if I'm not able to start the job on the agreed upon date due to Guard training? Thanks! |
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I can't answer your question directly but I will say that my employer didn't know one type of Guard training from the next, so when I had to leave for Annual Training, weekend drills, and even PLDC, I just told them "sorry, I've got a Guard thing to do" and there was never a problem. The longest I was gone however was two weeks. |
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As soon as you talk to a recruiter you can not be fired for anything the gaurd asks of you. If you tell your boss your thinking of joining the gaurd and you haven't talked to a recruiter yet you may be in trouble, but as long as you have a recruiter on your side there are some very large and nasty laws that ensure that your employer can't fire you. |
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I am a recruiter in the MI National Guard. Once you raise your hand and enlist (I would do this BEFORE you tell your boss) they can not do ANYTHING to screw with your job. I assume you are beyond your initial 90 days with the job, right? It still doesn't matter but they might try to fire you for "perfomance issues" if they have a problem with your Guard service. If you are between jobs now is the time to join. Usually you can tell your recruiter when you want to go to training. Basic will be 10 weeks, your MOS school will differ, but you have two years to get MOS qualified from the day you enlist (although I would do it as soon as possible). Feel free to ask me anything. |
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I am a GS-12 and work for the Dept of the Navy and am a Guardsman. A Federal employee who is a member of the National Guard or Reserves is entitled to 15 days (120 hours) of paid military leave under 5 U.S.C. 6323(a) each fiscal year for active duty, active duty training, or inactive duty training. An employee on military leave under section 6323(a) receives his or her full civilian salary, as well as military pay. This leave accrues at the beginning of each fiscal year, and all Guard or Reserve members, including those on extended active duty, should be credited with 15 days of paid military leave on October 1 of each year. All training, to include initial training (Boot camp, AIT, etc.) is covered and your employer cannot hold it against you. Although I would wait until the probationary period is over and your position becomes permanent before joining. You can find allot of answers here: USERRA OPM |
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Thanks for your replies. Here's a little more info on my present situation. I'm a 25 year old Connecticut resident, and am stuck in a job that I'm dissatisfied with and will be resigning from shortly. I've got an offer from the US Patent & Trademark Office to come aboard as a patent examiner (GS-7/10) in June. The PTO puts all new examiners through an 8 month long training program in their patent academy, and new academy classes begin every 2-3 months. If I resign from my current job tomorrow, I've got enough cash on hand to live comfortably until the paychecks start flowing again in 3 months, but I'll be sitting on my thumbs in the meantime. I'm thinking the best time for my enlistment would be immediately after the 8-month PTO training program--or right now--and then start PTO training upon completion of Basic/OCS/etc.. I'm just not sure if the PTO can be compelled to hold the offer open if I haven't started working for them yet. To complicate matters, the recruiter I would need to work with is in VA and I'm still in CT. Thoughts? |
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That sounds like a reasonable plan. Thanks for your input. I'll spend the next couple of months working on my run time and polishing my OCS packet. Any idea how competitive allocation of OCS slots are these days? Is anyone familiar with the various VA Guard units? I'm not sure how much choice I'll have in selecting a unit, but is one preferable to another? |
What part of VA? Lots of MP units (31B). Still have the 29th Inf (11B) in VA. Google the VA guard. As for OCS, you'll have to be M-day for a year. Now, if you have the college credits you might get a direct commission. Good luck! |
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Can you explain how direct commissioning works? I guess I was under the mistaken impression that Guard OCS apps were handled the same was as those for active duty.  Anyhow, I've got a 4 year engineering degree and a JD, but would prefer NOT to do JAG work for the guard. Do you think I am still eligible for a direct commission? What kind of training would be involved? BTW: I'll be in the Alexandria/DC region. |
I can't speak for the Guard, but the USAR is offering enlisted soldiers who meet the criteria and pass teh baord direct commissions. You will need a few years service enlisted first to apply. With a 4 year degree you will go in as an E-4 either way. Also, how is your vision? If you can pass a flight physical you may qualify for a WOFT packet and go "street to seat" and start flying. |
UPS would very much regret that by the time the DOJ and DOL were done with them. |
Vision is 20/20 in both eyes. I had LASIK a year ago and have been thrilled with the results. I recall reading that LASIK wavers are now routinely granted. AFAIK, there is no Guard/Reserve WOFT enlistment option. I'd have to go active for that and request WOFT after some period of enlisted service, which I might not get because I'm approaching the 27 year age cutoff. Anyway, I'd really appreciate any additional info on direct commission options. Are they limited exclusively to legal/medical? Any chance of a direct commission to the infantry branch? |
I do not know about Virginia, but in my state there is a drastic shortage of company grade officers. The are currently offering a $10k bonus for new officer assentions and a $20k bonus for captains to a stick around another 2 years. I would not count on getting a direct commission unless you are degreed in an extremely short branch, such as medical. When you enlist as an 09S (OCS option) you will go to recruit training and then OCS. Do the accelerated OCS, its over in 8 weeks. |
A very good friend of mine in the Guard is a driver for UPS, and has spent a year i Iraq with me and then deployed for another year to Kuwait. His bosses at UPS took very good care of him throughout everything. |