Can a US Army Reserve Officer get civilian jobs with the Army as an additional engagement?

Ope Oguntoyinbo — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 08:46:53 -0500

Hello Everyone and Happy New Year!, Thank you for constantly answering my questions as basic as some of them may seem... Awesome platform!

My question is... As a serving US Army Reserve Officer with the US Army Medical Corps (as a Social Worker for example) , do you get normal work hours like 9-5, or 8-5? Since Reserve Officers can additionally take civilian jobs, is there a possibility of a US Army Reserve Social Worker of taking a civilian job (if any?)with the Department of the Army?

If Not, What would be the best option?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2020 8:56 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 08:56:13 -0500

Yes, you'll need a job between Drills, AT and Deployments.
I don't know about Social Work but I am an Army Reserve officer and also an Army Civilian Employee.

Response by LTC John Griscom made Jan 7 at 2020 9:09 AM

LTC John Griscom — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 09:09:26 -0500

Department of the Army is not your only option. depending on your location, VA often has jobs for social workers. Lots of civil service jobs out there since many civilians are aging out and retiring.
I am retired MSC and had 26 years civil service and non-medical jobs.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2020 9:13 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 09:13:23 -0500

As LTC Miller shows, yes you can be a drilling reservist and employed as a DAC. (Dept of Army Civilian). However the particulars as to your duties as an AMEDD Reservisit vs DAC will need to be clearly understood. The best to ask will be currently practicing people at an MTF as DAC who are reservists. They can give you better insight.

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Jan 7 at 2020 12:01 PM

CPL Gary Pifer — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 12:01:07 -0500

Have met many.. Yelled at a Sgt who call a Army Major Reserve nurse... "Hun" while she was working as a civilian Department of Army employee. Actually grabbed him by the collar..

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 7 at 2020 4:31 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 16:31:07 -0500

I knew a reserve MG working at DFAS as a civilian.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 7 at 2020 9:54 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 21:54:51 -0500

Your weekend drills (battle assembly) and training periods you can plan on not being available to your employer. You need the get clock punching hours out of your lexicon as an Army officer. There is a whole body of law that articulates the relationship between you, your Reserve commitment to the USAR, and employers. They have to let you go to your official reserve duty.

Can you work as a government employee. If you are a social worker working in that licensed capacity, you may be a DHA employee. This all depends if you get hired or not. But yes, you can work as a government employee including DA and DoD.

You need to also understand potential emergency recall / deployment parts of a government civilian position that may interfere with your res eve obligations. It's not hidden, it will be a part of the full job description.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2020 8:21 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 20:21:56 -0500

Toats bro.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made May 31 at 2023 3:46 PM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Wed, 31 May 2023 15:46:46 -0400

The only restriction that I ever heard of about Os working for Uncle Sam was that USA Os had to wait 2 years after going on retainer pay to work for guvment. Only affected USA Os, not USAR and AUS. There must have been a change to that as current SECDEF, a LTG AUS, had to get the Congress to exempt him from law to take the current job.