The citizen soldier's dual capacity. Two bosses to please.

I have seen a sea change in how the National Guard is viewed by employers.  I was shocked the first time one of my Soldiers came to me and asked if he had to disclose his Guard status on a resume.  We have come from the point where NG service was a point of pride to a point of apprehension.  I believe there are a number of reasons for this.

Your not alone LT, but I will share my experiences and some things I have done. <br><br>1) To first talk about your current employer. Many employers have the "one weekend a month two weeks a year" mentality, as an officer or senior NCO it's more than that. Employers want to know in advance and here is why. You manager can schedule around training if they know well in advanced. <br><br>If they won't budge, hit them with orders if your in, they try to fire you while your in training and that will be a nightmare they don't want. Not something I recommend though. But if in that situation start looking for a new job, because they will find a way to let you go.<br><br>I had a manager that anything other than AT he would always come back with the "I thought this was 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year", and then say he supports the military. He doesn't and you and I know that. It's one reason I left.<br><br>My current company is more supportive but I do let them know in advance of training because for managers it's about scheduling.<br><br>2) As a new LT your career path and you wear the blue chord like I do. (Well my pic was for the promotion board but I wear one.....LOL).<br><br>1) IOBC. (I did BOLC 2,3, but I think it's 16 weeks again)<br>2) Maneuver Career Course. (reserve component (2) 2 week phases)<br>3) Army War College (1 year)<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -- ILE for majors was implemented into AWC<br><br>I didn't even mention airborne, air-assault, ranger school, or combatives 1,2,3 which everybody wants to do. (hooaah stuff)<br><br>3) Some things that you can do with additional training listed above. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; a) Use your vacation time on top of schools. I did this in January for my TCC (Tactics Certification Course) which was a week long. I gave my manager my orders anyways but I was technically on vacation. The good part doing this is you get double paid (double dipping).<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; b) Plan and space things out. Too many schools can look like you never there, but space them out and you will be seen as always on the job, with some military training. They will find a way if they want to get rid of you. Don't give them a reason.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; c) Know the deadlines of your projects and space schools around dead time. You don't want to kill the good graces of your employer and burn bridges by scheduling schools near a deadline where they NEED you. That is a recipe for disaster.<br>

I am sorry that you are going this, and I am lucky to say that my employer has always been supportive. However, this is a HUGE issue with the USAR/NG, especially with the "operational" reserve which our leaders desire. It's a tough sell to tell employers that, on pain of litigation, they must suffer through the caprice of the services. In the 75 months that I've served, I've been gone for 24 I've been gone for 6 months, 4 months, and 14 months at a time. They have started to ask for documentation for things such as the Commander's and 1SG's Course, which I took in June. Who can blame them? It isn't easy finding a replacement, even if it's just for a week. They also don't understand why the Army doesn't just schedule me for training in the summer (I'm a teacher). 

CPT (Join to see) I came close to losing my job a couple months ago when I went on ADOS orders for a month. I'm about to go on ADOS again for a couple months so I'll be let go here. Unfortunately, ESGR does not apply overseas.
My last employer was amazing being that half of their employees were vets or current servicemen. The summer was always difficult for them b/c all of us Guard guys would go to AT with many of us from the same Squadron. They never complained though.

Yes, I totally agree with your statement of two bosses to please. I'm in the Coast Guard, cross assigned to the Navy. I'm at the point of serving three bosses. I have to constantly juggle to keep all three happy. Occasionally I even have to make the point of explaining that YES, the Coast Guard is a branch of the military (mostly credit companies when I try to lower interest rates). Training aside, it's a nearly a full time job working with the Navy unit. Honestly I think my employer has taken pity on me. 

I always give my employer an exact copy of the law. They can't argue with me or challenge me. Most employers know the information but there are some out there who don't.

Just two bosses? Civilian work (teacher), Navy, attached to USCG D1, ordained and endorsed by a church denomination, married with kids...5 bosses! Lol. As a former boss said, CIVCOM and FAMCOM are pretty important. Or as my first reserve CO, now a 1-star Admiral, said, “the key to success in the Navy Reserves is to keep your job, the Navy, and your family equally ticked off at you.” I am blessed, as the leading bishop of my denomination is a retired GA Natl Guard chaplain, and my school district superintendent is the wife of a retired SC Natl Guard Col. When i returned from ODF she told me to stay at home for 3 days to take care of my wife and son. Not the greatest pay, but it lets me be teacher, pastor, and military.

All I can say is that's BS. There are laws that prohibit employers from terminating an employee on the grounds of obligation to military duty.

Sir, I am facing this possibility currently. I am critically skilled employee at the Veterinary Hospital I work for. Up to now, my AT and occasional 3 day weekends have been an annoyance but dealt with.

Now that I am up for WO selection, there is a whole new ballgame. If I get selected I have to decided if I should attend WOCC though the nearby RTI, which is more employeer friendly, but delays my eventual pinning of the WO1 rank. Or I could go for the 5 weeks at Mother Rucker, which I am told is the better way to get my training. But that hurts my employer more. Beyond that, I will have WOCS at my Branch school for 10 weeks.

We had a lead technician take about 12 weeks for Maternity leave and managed to deal just fine so I won't feel too bad taking the 10 if I get that far. Sometimes I feel a bit guilty tipping the balance towards the military side and I keep telling myself that the Law is on my side. I have heard a counter argument from a coworker that because I choose to go for WO, I chose the consequences for my employer (as opposed to say being mobilized).