Conflict with National Guard deployment and Civilian Employment

2015-02-02T00:34:20-05:00

I am just wondering what my options are concerning my civilian employment and an upcoming deployment. I am an intelligence analyst in the National Guard and am supposed to deploy in April. But I also have just been offered a job as a Wildlife Enforcement Officer, my dream career that I've been going for now for 5 years. To be a Wildlife Officer I have to finish basic law enforcement training and additional in-service training specific for Wildlife Officers in order to perform the duties required. I informed my CoC that I was applying back in October when the recruitment process started, and I was officially offered the job in December. My CoC is saying that even though this conflict exists, only those with terminally ill family members are being taken off the deployment. I had actually found a replacement to take my spot, but he was flagged, for what I do not know. So they would not accept him. By deploying, I can not finish my required training and will not be able to fully perform my duties once I return. So I was just wondering if I had any other options to appeal being taken off the deployment, being able to deploy late, or trade deployments with someone going next year?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 1:13 AM

2015-02-02T01:13:48-05:00

Being in the Guard or reserves is always a unique situation SGT Private RallyPoint Member . Technically you fall under the SSCRA since you were officially offered the Wildlife job so the deployment should not be an issue. It would just delay your training.

On the other hand I would continue to work with the Unit to see if there are other options.

Response by MAJ Monique Ruiz made Feb 2 at 2015 1:40 AM

2015-02-02T01:40:43-05:00

Talk with ESGR (Employer Support for Guard and Reserve). Every state has one. The organization assists employers to understand the laws that protect servicemembers' employment while serving. If a replacement cannot be found for the deployment, you will need to go. However, if you have accepted the position and are on the payroll, they can't fire you for deploying. Your training will get delayed. Good luck!

Response by SPC Lukas Jones made Feb 2 at 2015 2:01 AM

2015-02-02T02:01:58-05:00

If you have been hired (filled out all the paperwork with Hr and all that), it is simply a matter of them allowing you to perform your regular military duties as is federal law. The ESGR will back you up there. Perhaps you can attend some of the training before you leave and complete the rest once you return. If not, however, you would have to ask them if they are willing to offer you a position once you return and start your employment then. I found this to be the case when I was going to take a bank position, and when I returned, that same bank gave me a very cold shoulder but since I was not an employee, the ESGR could not help.

Response by SSG Nick Tramontano made May 15 at 2015 11:16 PM

2015-05-15T23:16:49-04:00

I would also speak with someone at the department you are being accepted at and find out what you need to do to continue your training when you're released from duty. Once you are put on Title 10 active duty you officially belong to the Army. At some point your unit will go to MOB station and depending on the type of unit and how well it performs you might be there for several months prior to going over seas, then you can expect to be in theater for a year then return to MOB for a short while then return to your state and put on terminal leave.