I thought I was moving to Oklahoma....

[AregularGuy]

Make no mistake, that wasn't a function of their generosity as much as it was a shortage of labor in the market.

That could certainly be the case. They can circle the wagons and get viscious. I saw a doc get escorted out of our department by security on their last day, all because she didn't get along with the department chief. Pretty insulting.

[dC0m]

Thank you for your service and stay safe out there!

[therealnickb]

Take care ArG!

[SilveradoColt21]

Good thing you told me this, I am not a LEO by any means but I was so close to joining the national guard then always wondered what would happen to my regular job

[BlueOvalBandit]

It sounds that way but it is often not the case in the real world.

While working as a state LEO, I got hired for a lateral position in a different department. I got my assignment location and reporting date, then I got activated and sent to Iraq. Informed them of this and was told, be safe your job will be waiting for you when you get back.

A year later I get back call them and I’m told, really sorry but do to budget cuts we are not hiring any more officers. I told them but I was already hired, yeah but your position is no longer available so sorry. Luckily I was able to keep my job with my original department.

Same thing happened to me, except the budget cut excuse cause they were literally hiring my position (Forensic Lab role). I eventually got my job back 6 months later... less 6 months pay and unemployment wasn't that sweet $1100/week during the pandemic.

USERRA is literally useless unless you have a slam dunk case, it just turns into he said she said.

Good thing you told me this, I am not a LEO by any means but I was so close to joining the national guard then always wondered what would happen to my regular job

YMMV, I just got out because it absolutely destroyed my primary career (mechanical engineer) among other things. It's mind blowing how many interviews you can go through and be asked "How much time are you going to take off for the Guard" Or "When are you deploying?" I wish I made this up. Sad part is most were State Gov jobs.

[Snoopy47]

.....

USERRA is literally useless unless you have a slam dunk case, it just turns into he said she said........

Yeah......... a Navy LT (O3) I served with while deployed literally was let go the day of his going away party at work for said deployment. How's that for a stressful situation. Going down range you then go into a situation where you know you have NOTHING back home.

He even ended up speaking before congress regarding strengthen USERRA..

Nothing has changed.

It is not a coincidence of the CSM's and COL's I see have successful careers in the reserves that they tend to have government related jobs that are much harder to wiggle out of USERRA guidelines.

Even the ones without government jobs tend to have a civilian career track that allows them to work things around a lot.

********
Before I put myself into new positions I research the hell out of it to get an idea of what the maneuverability is to work into my civilian obligations. Travel alone is a key driver. If the unit is too far away I automatically add a travel day TO and an travel day FROM for every single Battel Assembly.

This year I'm now looking at a 27 day AT, and that was BEFORE Russia got all frisky.

[AregularGuy]

Thanks for the well-wishes folks! I've got SRP next weekend. Reminds me of herding cattle the way they run you through the stations.

LHI rep: "Anthrax vaccine?"
Me: "Oh, I've had that before."
LHI rep: "Hmm, you're on the list"
Me: "But it's in Medpros I'm sure of it"
LHI rep: "Yeah, you're going to need this again"

[Coolguy101]

Yeah......... a Navy LT (O3) I served with while deployed literally was let go the day of his going away party at work for said deployment. How's that for a stressful situation. Going down range you then go into a situation where you know you have NOTHING back home.

He even ended up speaking before congress regarding strengthen USERRA..

Nothing has changed.

It is not a coincidence of the CSM's and COL's I see have successful careers in the reserves that they tend to have government related jobs that are much harder to wiggle out of USERRA guidelines.

Even the ones without government jobs tend to have a civilian career track that allows them to work things around a lot.

********
Before I put myself into new positions I research the hell out of it to get an idea of what the maneuverability is to work into my civilian obligations. Travel alone is a key driver. If the unit is too far away I automatically add a travel day TO and an travel day FROM for every single Battel Assembly.

This year I'm now looking at a 27 day AT, and that was BEFORE Russia got all frisky.

My brother, whom I mentioned in my previous post, now works for the Federal Government, so doesn't have problems with deployments anymore.

[Mars637]

Enjoy. Not much going on there anymore.

True. I was at AAAB this past summer. It was very chill, aside from the random incoming once in a while. They were using drones now more than rockets though so that will keep you alert. There was a good rocket attack in early July though. You will hear "Live Fire Exercise" all day long.

Good luck out there.

[AregularGuy]

True. I was at AAAB this past summer. It was very chill, aside from the random incoming once in a while. They were using drones now more than rockets though so that will keep you alert. There was a good rocket attack in early July though. You will hear "Live Fire Exercise" all day long.

Good luck out there.

Thanks! I will be at BDSC with outings to various other areas.

[tomk556]

BDSC is a nice existence, for sure.

[AregularGuy]

Touched down in Baghdad a couple of days ago. Flew in on a C130, knees to nuts. Hot as a bastard! The day before heading to Iraq, i Got "arrested" in Kuwait in zone 6 at the PX a few hours after arriving at Arifjan

That's a funny story. Me and a SGT traveled by bus from zone 1 to 6. We were carrying our weapons as no one told us otherwise. Had welcome brief and weapons safety check that morning.

MP stops us on the street and asks about the weapons. We explain we are headed to the PX. He said weapons needed to be in the barracks with a guard and to leave immediately. We then proceeded to walk toward the bus stop. Three things then influenced my decision to head smartly back to the barracks. One, I was thirsty as heck. It was 111 degrees an no water point for 4 blocks. Two, the bus stop was just after the PX. Three, walking by the PX I saw about 8 Soldiers come out with weapons.

So in We went. I actually bought a huge bottle of water and 2 other drinks. On the way out the MP was standing there and already called his supervisor. I explained my story to her, showed the water and drinks, no Bueno. We were cuffed and disarmed for transport to the station. My SGT somehow texted my NCOIC. After sitting in a room for about an hour an SFC came in and said he spoke with the Garrison Commander and they were not going to press charges, apparently an article 92. They were actually midway through reading my SGT his rights when they got the news.

Through the whole thing g I was polite and respectful. I was wrong but it was obvious what we were doing. Anyway, none of tge inprocessing folks were tracking the weapons policy and added a slide immediately. Lol. At least something good came of it.

[AregularGuy]

BDSC is a nice existence, for sure.

Sure is so far! The DFAC is pretty freaking good. Gym is well equipped. The most challenging thing is good internet data. I've got 2 phones and wifi costing me over $250/month just to stay connected. It's the one luxury I find it hard to compromise on.

ETA: the guy at the Popeye's chicken shack told me they will deliver chicken and subway sandwiches to your chu! Somehow I find this hilarious.

[tomk556]

Sure is so far! The DFAC is pretty freaking good. Gym is well equipped. The most challenging thing is good internet data. I've got 2 phones and wifi costing me over $250/month just to stay connected. It's the one luxury I find it hard to compromise on.

ETA: the guy at the Popeye's chicken shack told me they will deliver chicken and subway sandwiches to your chu! Somehow I find this hilarious.

I don't remember what I used there, probably a sapphire plan? Remember to use a VPN and be cautious about what you send over the dirty internet... Funny about AJ. That's probably new. I feel like I had a weapon there, definitely in Beuhring. Stay safe.

[coryhenry]

AJ has always been a problem because you have all the head sheds there that have never been anywhere outside the wire. I have almost always gone directly to the armory to turn in weapons because they just don't like the idea of a soldier carrying, even though we always came out of a combat zone.