Posted on Jun 12, 2021
USAR/TPU: Back to back Annual Training - How have you handled it with respect to your civilian job?
3.96K
9
7
4
4
0
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?
Posted in these groups: 
Annual Training
Annual Training
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
2
2
0
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.
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.
(2)
(0)
CW3 (Join to see)
Paid military leave isn't really the point. I get that my employer doesn't have to pay me, and I'm not annoyed with them, I'm annoyed with my brigade commander for forcing me to burn PTO or be unpaid.
I just want examples of how y'all have dealt with it when the civilian employer expresses their unhappiness with this in bad ways.
I just want examples of how y'all have dealt with it when the civilian employer expresses their unhappiness with this in bad ways.
(1)
(0)
SGM (Join to see)
CW3 (Join to see) - Technically you won't be forced to burn PTO or be "unpaid," you will get a check for the whole AT.
Dealing with unhappy employers;
-give the dates as soon as you have them, and emphasize the positive:
-Be the employee that doesn't call in sick (I get that's changed with COVID).
-Submit your vacation time well in advance.
-Point out the one upside to an October AT: probably no one else will have AT in October (unless there are other people in your office your same unit).
-Put your employer in for a certificate of appreciation or a letter from the BDE or CG, or the ESGR Patriot Award:
https://www.esgr.mil/Employer-Awards/Patriot-Award/Form
usually makes them at least feel guilty for bitching about an employee's reserve commitments, (and its also a subtle reminder that there's a few laws that cover your job and reserve commitments.)
Dealing with unhappy employers;
-give the dates as soon as you have them, and emphasize the positive:
-Be the employee that doesn't call in sick (I get that's changed with COVID).
-Submit your vacation time well in advance.
-Point out the one upside to an October AT: probably no one else will have AT in October (unless there are other people in your office your same unit).
-Put your employer in for a certificate of appreciation or a letter from the BDE or CG, or the ESGR Patriot Award:
https://www.esgr.mil/Employer-Awards/Patriot-Award/Form
usually makes them at least feel guilty for bitching about an employee's reserve commitments, (and its also a subtle reminder that there's a few laws that cover your job and reserve commitments.)
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Employer Awards Patriot Award Form
Recognize your supervisor for supportingNational Guard and Reserve members by nominating him or her fora Patriot Award!Your supervisor will receive a beautiful Department of Defense Certificate of Appreciation (framed if desired) and lapel pin. All members of the National Guard and Reserve are eligible to nominate their employer !A maximum of 4 Patriot Award recipients may be nominated by a service Member each year. Simply complete and submit...
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
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
(1)
(0)
0
0
0
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.
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.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google