USAR/TPU: Back to back Annual Training - How have you handled it with respect to your civilian job?

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 22:45:42 -0400

My commander has my unit doing annual training in August, and then again in October. My civilian job isn't going to be very happy with this. If you've run into this situation, how did you handle it?

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Jun 13 at 2021 3:03 AM

CW4 Craig Urban — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 03:03:44 -0400

I will tell you Chief when I was on active duty Warrant Officers did not do PT. Had this INF Cpt to order me to do PT with the troops. I ran them 8 miles into the dirt. Not one was left. He did not make major. This was fort ord 78-82

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2021 8:32 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 08:32:56 -0400

I've never had to deal with this specific situation but just inform your employer of changes when you find out about them so everyone can plan with the time they have.

Best of luck

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2021 10:46 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 10:46:40 -0400

There's only one thing you can do, notify your employer as soon as you know.
And notify them as soon as you know about changes.
I was MDAY (TPU) for two years.
The second year, our AT was 4 weeks at JRTC, and I informed by employer the week I was hired because we already had those dates.
That was 2005, and my first morning back at work from JRTC, as I was walking in the door, I got notified that we were going back for Katrina. I hung up the phone and informed by crew and my supervisor immediately.

Paid military leave is a nice perk, most MDAYs/TPUs don't have that at their jobs.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2021 3:28 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 15:28:55 -0400

You gotta do what you gotta do with your employers. Everyone will say the same thing in regard to just notifying your employer and dealing with it.

It's not a guarantee, but going forward since my previous unit I dig deep in looking up vacancies and assignments of units I may be interested in transferring to. I look for historic training history, MTOE, and try and read between the lines of their METL.

Everyone will say the military gets to ram their training priorities down the throats of employers so long as you give the proper notifications, but it doesn't mean you have to be in a unit that does that. Just be sure where you are stepping before you put your foot into it at your next assignment. I get it, your CW3 and getting up there, so your options are only getting more limited.