Posted on Feb 29, 2016
How do you balance Reserve duty with Civilian Employment?
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I have a friend who's a ARNG 1LT and just got a new civilian job. His first week on the job, and his unit is having a MUTA-5 where he has to report early. He's got a slot coming up for his Captains Career Course, and pretty much guaranteed to pin CPT when he comes out of it....in two weeks. His employer wants him to reschedule, but broaching the subject with his CoC, his CO flipped his shit.
Posted in these groups: 
Reserves
Employment
Reserves Employment
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 21
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This is exactly the kind of situation that leaves me wanting to say nasty things to those who say "suck it up". As a Reserve component Soldier (ARNG/USAR) you should not have to risk your civilian job in order to serve. It isn't right. Note I didn't say fair, I said right.
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CW4 Tim Claus
At some point, the reserve leadership need to understand/accept that the reserve paychecks do not pay for the mortgage, utilities and other living expenses, that civilian employer paycheck does. Other than AGRs, the rest of us need/needed those paychecks from the civilian employer as the primary source of income. Demands on a reservist's time should commensurate with the compensation provided; most reservists in any level of leadership spend far more time than they are compensated for doing work for reserve units.
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I've heard of many issues like this coming up for Guard and Reserve members in the civilian workforce. I attended my first ESGR signing at Farmers Insurance HQ a few months back. I remember how many of their service members and veterans spoke about being deployed and sent to training with the full backing of their company's leadership. I want to loop in a few folks who might be able to tell that story from a firsthand perspective.
MAJ Rod Harden CPT Dana Reeder Lucas Buck Michelle Titus SFC Tom Allen
MAJ Rod Harden CPT Dana Reeder Lucas Buck Michelle Titus SFC Tom Allen
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I read a lot of valid posts, both from an employer’s perspective and service member’s perspective. No military or civilian employment situation is perfect. When conflicts arise, only you can decide for yourself what is more important, your civilian job or your military career. Ideally you should be able to do both, but that is not always possible. I am 59, but only a few months passed the 20 year mark because I made those decisions for myself. There was a time when college took priority, so I got out for a while. There was a period when building my civilian career took priority, so I took another break. Today at 59 my military career takes priority, so I am eagerly preparing for my fourth and final deployment before mandatory retirement from the ANG, regardless of the impact on my civilian job. That was my choice. I chose to serve knowing that someday my decision could impact my civilian employment and income, but I still chose to do so. No one forced any of you to enlist. No one forced you to accept one job over another. And no one forced any of you to stay in. Explore your options, make the best decision for your situation, then live with it.
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CW4 Tim Claus
Well put, make decisions based on knowledge and evaluation, not the blind hope a law will protect you. Reservists will receive pressure from military leadership to put the unit/mission first, from civilian leadership to put the job first, from the spouse and kids to put family first. Only the reserve member and immediate family can figure out the best balance of family, job and reserve duty will work. But whatever choices are made, do not forget to include spouse and family, losses in that are worse than losses in a civilian or military career.
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