Posted on Mar 8, 2017
Balancing commitments: What do you do when no one is willing to work with you?
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I've noticed quite a few threads about balancing employer commitments and college commitments against Reserve and Guard commitments for drill and AT.
What do you do if NO ONE is willing to work with you? In the case of a school commitment, what happens when your unit changes the schedule multiple times, and is not willing to let you RST (or do an alternate AT), but your professors aren't willing to work with you? Is it really right to have to then put off school (or potentially fail) because your unit can't get its act together and give you a stable drill/AT schedule?
In the case of an employer, what do you do if your job won't work with you and your unit won't either?
What do you do if NO ONE is willing to work with you? In the case of a school commitment, what happens when your unit changes the schedule multiple times, and is not willing to let you RST (or do an alternate AT), but your professors aren't willing to work with you? Is it really right to have to then put off school (or potentially fail) because your unit can't get its act together and give you a stable drill/AT schedule?
In the case of an employer, what do you do if your job won't work with you and your unit won't either?
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Edited 7 y ago
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 10
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Chief, your post reminds me of the axiom about most questions being statements in disguise. Let me guess, you've unfortunately been there and done that?
I've never had that issue. My unit has always been organized enough to stick to its training schedule and provide dates well ahead of time, and it generally accommodates scheduling issues when it can when they arise. If one's unit is not so organized and will not assist those who have to suffer due to their lack of organization, perhaps it's time to look at other units.
But if that isn't an option, many schools have policies in place to allow for time away from class to address military issues. If the instructor wants to be a douche, contact the appropriate dean and/or coordinate with any student veteran or ROTC groups on campus to see what insight or assistance they can provide. Might as well, you're paying for that education, and it should be worth the time and effort to ensure you get it. As far as employment goes, there are certain legal protections; it would be worth exploring the limits of those protections though before going to the boss.
I don't envy those with the issues you bring up. As I said, I don't have such issues; nonetheless, I can't well balance grad school, work, family, life (which I apparently still need to get), and my Reserve commitments, and what will give is the Reserves. My contract is up in May. Two more drills. Six more drill days. Then I'm out.
Good luck.
I've never had that issue. My unit has always been organized enough to stick to its training schedule and provide dates well ahead of time, and it generally accommodates scheduling issues when it can when they arise. If one's unit is not so organized and will not assist those who have to suffer due to their lack of organization, perhaps it's time to look at other units.
But if that isn't an option, many schools have policies in place to allow for time away from class to address military issues. If the instructor wants to be a douche, contact the appropriate dean and/or coordinate with any student veteran or ROTC groups on campus to see what insight or assistance they can provide. Might as well, you're paying for that education, and it should be worth the time and effort to ensure you get it. As far as employment goes, there are certain legal protections; it would be worth exploring the limits of those protections though before going to the boss.
I don't envy those with the issues you bring up. As I said, I don't have such issues; nonetheless, I can't well balance grad school, work, family, life (which I apparently still need to get), and my Reserve commitments, and what will give is the Reserves. My contract is up in May. Two more drills. Six more drill days. Then I'm out.
Good luck.
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CW3 (Join to see)
Well, my situation was a little different, as my job WAS willing to work with me. I work for the most military friendly employer in the area, Booz Allen Hamilton. It took some adjustment, but my at-the-time commander was successfully able to bully me into an EXTRA two weeks of annual training over and above that which I had already done.....
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SGT Dave Tracy
CW3 (Join to see) - Two weeks extra?!
Damn. Big Green Weenie strikes again.
Our unit sometimes requests volunteers, but I don't recall them ever strong-arming anyone. That qualifies as "sucking"!
Damn. Big Green Weenie strikes again.
Our unit sometimes requests volunteers, but I don't recall them ever strong-arming anyone. That qualifies as "sucking"!
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CW3 (Join to see)
Yup, and I got raked over the coals here on RP for it. Plenty of idiots thought I should just suck it up.
Which I did, and then the commander stuck me on a data entry mission. At the time, I was a senior Signal CW2 with a Master's degree in Software Engineering, and it was soooo important for me to do 2 extra weeks of AT so I could get stuck on a data entry mission that he wouldn't let me push to automate.
Which I did, and then the commander stuck me on a data entry mission. At the time, I was a senior Signal CW2 with a Master's degree in Software Engineering, and it was soooo important for me to do 2 extra weeks of AT so I could get stuck on a data entry mission that he wouldn't let me push to automate.
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Where there is a will, there is a way. When I decided to get my masters, I wanted to attend a local state university. They only offered daytime classes. I asked my boss if I could flex my schedule two days a week, which he disapproved. I found a for profit school that offered night classes and left that job as soon as I graduated.
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That's a tough position when no one will work with you.
The easiest solution is to pick a school that is geared towards military folks. AMU is a great example, but there are others out there.
Having a unit that isn't flexible is tough. Easiest answer, change units. I recommend the IMA program (both the Army and Air Force have it). Getting into the IMA can be tough as the average recruiter has no clue about it. For those that don't know, IMA stands for Individual Mobilization Augmentee. You are a reservist assigned to an active duty unit. Your obligation is 30 days a year. You choose your own schedule. Its a great program.
Dealing with a job that wont work with you is tough too. Again, the IMA program solves that issue.
The easiest solution is to pick a school that is geared towards military folks. AMU is a great example, but there are others out there.
Having a unit that isn't flexible is tough. Easiest answer, change units. I recommend the IMA program (both the Army and Air Force have it). Getting into the IMA can be tough as the average recruiter has no clue about it. For those that don't know, IMA stands for Individual Mobilization Augmentee. You are a reservist assigned to an active duty unit. Your obligation is 30 days a year. You choose your own schedule. Its a great program.
Dealing with a job that wont work with you is tough too. Again, the IMA program solves that issue.
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