Playing Army: The Difficulties The Guard and Reserve Face

MSgt Lionel (Leo) Rondeau — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 15:32:12 -0500

I recently read an article on Fox News regarding the difficulties the Guard and Reserve faced when being recalled to active duty service, and I was appalled at the treatment these service members faced from their superiors.

I was active duty my whole career, but I have worked side by side with many Guardsmen and Reservists from all five branches of the service and have never worked with a finer group of men and women. I know the difficulties I faced when deploying months on end, going TDY for days, weeks, or months, and being locked down on base for long exercises, but what I dealt with is different from the same requirements that face those in the Guard and Reserve. Yes, they go through the same separations that the active duty do, but depending on the unit and individual, they may not do it as frequently (or in some cases, more frequently). However, they also have to face disruption in their civilian work, volunteer, and school lives.

With this in mind, employers, both federal and civilian, need to support all members of the armed services, regardless of their status. These individuals are not “playing war”, but are a cornerstone of our defensive services. Excluding the National Guard’s state commitments, the Guard and Reserves make up a significant portion of our military forces, encompassing 38% of the total force personnel according to a DoD 2013 demographics report. This significant force brings flexibility, adaptability, and strategic reach to our forces, allowing our government to adapt to changing situations and fight a war on more than one front.

Even with the protection provided by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), civilian and government employers are creating unneeded hardships for the Guard and Reservists. A summary provided by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESRG) states: “USERRA provides that an employer must give you time off to perform military service and reemploy you following the service with status, seniority and rate of pay as though you never left. The employer cannot discriminate against you because of your military connection. This protection applies to employees who are full-time, part-time, or probationary, so long as the employment is not brief, non-recurring, and not expected to continue for a significant period.”

Without the sacrifices of our Guard and Reserve brothers and sisters, the stresses on the active duty forces would be enormous. Our military would be much more selective in its operations, we would have reduced strike capability, less adaptability to battlefront conditions, and the physical toll on our service members would be unbearable. Most likely, Congress and the DoD would have had to introduce the draft to support the post-Vietnam era instead of using the all-volunteer force that exists today.

While not all employers make their recalled employees’ lives difficult, those that do outweigh the benefits received from the supporters of our Guard and Reserves. I believe we need to be vocal when we hear of these issues, bring them to light, and support those who are serving with pride. We are a total force, Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve, and we need to stand together to support each other, on the battlefield, in garrison, and in the community.

Response by CSM David Heidke made Nov 30 at 2015 3:38 PM

CSM David Heidke — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 15:38:20 -0500

I would always grouse when I heard the term "playing Army."

People should know better.

Response by LTC Michael Hrycak made Nov 30 at 2015 3:49 PM

LTC Michael Hrycak — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 15:49:53 -0500

The mobilization of Army and Air Guard, although both commanded by a Joint Force Headquarters at the state level, proceed along different routes. The Air Force has developed a smooth, almost seamless, approach to mobilizing their Airmen for Active Duty service, ranging from a month to a year. The Army side has developed another much more complicated system that mobilizes both individual Soldiers as well as units, from company to division level. Although I served as a state MRO (Mobilization Readiness Officer) and dealt with the Army mobilization of the most Soldiers since World War II, the Air Guard side seemed to be able to operate with greater flexibility and their force worked in concert with each other. Of course our fighter wing, refueling squadron, and other Air Guard assets had been serving active duty tours in between Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, while enforcing the No-Fly Zone. Maybe that is the answer to solving some of the difficulties, having a Total Force Concept toward military operations, and thereby minimizing the additional war between components.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 30 at 2015 4:01 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 16:01:33 -0500

Some organizations don't want disruptions so they start proceedings that are against the spirit and the letter of the law for employment.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2015 5:45 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 17:45:13 -0500

I was in the Coast Guard Investigative Service during the last twenty years of my military career. In my civilian career, my last years were spent as a DEA Intelligence Analyst. Never, ever did I experience any issues with my COC when it came to getting off for my military duties. There will be pricks everywhere to piss and moan about this ages-old issue, but the federal laws covering your military service supersede those civilian jerks who gripe.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Nov 30 at 2015 10:18 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 22:18:58 -0500

When I was activated and deployed for a year after 9/11, I was passed over for promotion and lost my assignment. The worst part was that the guy that screwed me spent 25+ years in the Air Force (both active and Reserve). My organization was smart and did it in a way where I had no recourse through USERRA. Unfortunately, it happens all the time to civilian Law Enforcement and Fire. But I wouldn't change anything. My military service is well worth the sacrifices me and my family have made.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 1 at 2015 6:56 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 06:56:30 -0500

Unfortunately I think it depends on the agency. I am employed as a federal employee and SSA has been very supportive and easy to work with regarding service with the ARNG. One of my lieutenants can't say the same thing about the USPS. Most likely it depends on the agency and the supervisor.

Response by SGT Robert Deem made Dec 1 at 2015 7:50 AM

SGT Robert Deem — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 07:50:25 -0500

As a DoD civilian, I have seen both extremes. My supervisors moved mountains to avoid even the appearance of interfering with or punishing ARNG/Reserve service. On the other hand, I saw our HR department delay and deny promotions, raises, etc. for veterans returning from combat service. One individual in particular spent more than a year in hospital recovering from combat related injuries, only to be denied career progression advancements upon his return. This was eventually corrected, but he had to file a grievance with DoL (who then sued our HR department) in order to get it done.

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Dec 1 at 2015 8:39 AM

SSG Audwin Scott — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 08:39:01 -0500

During my final tour in Iraq, I had some National Guards out of Alabama support our convoys while on missions. Our missions were successful because these great men and women put their lives on the line every time we went outside the wire and into the streets of Baghdad. It was their gun trucks and their fire support that help us at times get out of some crucial situations. So for someone to excuse them of playing Army, they don't have a clue!

Response by SSG Brian Lovins made Dec 2 at 2015 10:28 PM

SSG Brian Lovins — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 22:28:13 -0500

When I was activated in 03 and was activated CONUS for the next 23 months I came back to work and while I was welcomed back I went from being one of the top paid technicians to the lowest paid and they wouldn't give me raises because I "fell behind on technological advances to the equipment", which was true at the time construction equipment was transitioning to more electronics, however the equipment I specifically worked on was one of the first and I was completely up to date, I argued and received a 3% raise while my peers received a dollar or more both years I was gone. 9 months after I returned we were activated for Katrina relief. During this time I applied and was turned down for a promotion,I was however "promoted to assistant service manager" and told in writing the next available spot would be mine. No pay or benefits for the title, basically a corporal..lol. In my unit we were performing MUTA 5's and 6's alot so when the position came open again and I applied a year later I was turned down again, I moved on to another job shortly after that. I became a service manager for a new startup company and my unit was now doing MUTA 6'S 8' AND 10'S, a week after returning to work after a MUTA 8 is was fired (November 11th, Veterans day no less), never been wrote up and only praised for my performance, the excuse, was the company wasn't making enough money to pay my salary (which was higher than I requested). November in the Rockie mountains is a terrible time for a construction equipment tech to find work. Ii went to work as a temp tech (title 32). I ended up moving to TX shortly after that. I never had issues with any employer here even when I would get 24 hour notice that I needed to go to a school or even AT, but I have heard about title 32 technicians that were released from the guard due to QRB (?) WHILE deployed so they also lost their tech jobs since you have to be in the guard or reserve to have the job. The law may state they have to maintain our jobs but in hire/fire at will states all they needs is a viable excuse and to NOT deny unemployment.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 30 at 2018 7:00 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 30 Dec 2018 19:00:11 -0500

I was quite accommodating to our Reserve backfills because they often were discriminated by the Regular Army. They sacrificed for the greater good of the Army.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 21 at 2019 6:52 AM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 06:52:24 -0400

They face many challenges trying to fill both roles as Citizen soldiers!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 21 at 2019 5:07 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 17:07:36 -0400

Can you expound on: I was appalled at the treatment these service members faced from their superiors?