IT Workers In The US Military Reserves? 19
A semper-fi Anonymous Coward asks: "I've been seriously thinking of enlisting in the USMCR [?] for a while now and I think I'm pretty set except for the question of how it will affect my civilian IT career. I'm planning to leave my current job when I decide to go to boot camp, but I'm wondering if my having to be away one weekend/month, 2 weeks/year will adversely affect my job prospects. Theoretically my being in the Reserves can't be held against me when applying for a job. Also, if I ever need to be deployed my position is supposed to still be available when I get back. I was wondering if any readers out there could give me some of their experiences with being in the Reserves and working in the IT field?"
"I've never had any problems finding IT jobs ever since I graduated high school (I'm 21 now) so I'm hoping that my experience and knowledge will balance out the fact that I might have to pick up and leave in the middle of a project. I'm also thinking that maybe I could just become a freelance consultant so that I could at least try to work around my drills (the scheduled Reserve training each month and once a year)."
Technically, you're right. (Score:2)
But they can always dig up some meaningless little tidbit to hold against you and use as an excuse for not hiring you/letting you go/etc. I would hope that most employers wouldn't do this, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did happen quite often.
In my limited experience, generally a positive (Score:2)
Disclaimers:
First: I am not and have not ever been in the Military Reserves - this observation is based on co-workers.
Second: I work in State government agency with a large percentage of employees Law Enforcement personnel. We've been seriously affected by reserve call-ups - many Police officers have reserve committments. This is a strong part of our specific organizational culture, and my observations may or may not be widely applicable.
They'd be fools (Score:3)
That said, you wouldn't want to work for someone who would descriminate on that basis anyway. It has been my experience as a past employer of ex-military/reservists that they have the best work ethic I've seen and present the least trouble when it comes to things like following policies and taking direction. I'm convinced that these traits are a result of military service making them the better candidate.
Employers should realize that even with slightly reduced availability of the employee, greater overall productivity is more likely. Yeah, it might be inconvenient if your two weeks fell in the middle of a big project, but it's not like it's a surprise. And as for active service, well, that's the risk you take. You could just as easily crash your car and be out as long (and at greater expense.)
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Depending on what you do in the Reserves (Score:2)
I have no direct expirience with this so reality may vary.
The cure of the ills of Democracy is more Democracy.
lying? (Score:1)
Re:lying? (Score:1)
Semper Fi (Score:1)
The real deal (Score:2)
ooo-ra (Score:1)
I've been in your shoes! - Read this! (USMCR vet) (Score:3)
Semper Fi (Score:1)
Most employers you'll want to work for will honor the reserve obligation, and value the extra skills you'll pick up. Your reserve time won't be a surprise, as it's scheduled and can be worked around.
Having said that - you'll probably spend more time active than the recruiter promised. I'm not trying to disuade you (far from it) but remember all the thousands of reservists in '90 and '91. We got a shipment of reservists in Japan during Desert Shield who were cheesed off because 1) they were called to active duty for the duration and 2) they were in Japan, not Saudi. Go figure.
Insight From the Trenches (Score:2)
I am currently a Marine Reservist working in the IT field. I left active duty in July. Since then, I have met several reservists that work in IT. To a person, their employers do not have a problem with it. There are a lot of potential benefits to the employer:
There are plenty of jobs in the Corps that are directly IT related. Talk to the recruiter about getting a guaranteed MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) assignment before enlisting. If he says that can't be done, tell him to go pound sand. It can be done, and he needs your body to fill his quota. See if you can get assigned to MOS 4066 - the title is something like Computer Systems Technician. Don't let the title fool you -- you will do everything from installing word-processing software to splicing fiber-optic cables. The Corps rarely lets a formal job description get in the way of assigning duties. If you can do the work, the work will be assigned to you. If not, you will be taught. You will gain valuable experience on real-world systems.
The Corps will send you to school. You can get formal training above and beyond the minimum required -- and it won't cost your employer a dime.
There are a lot of Reserve billets that allow a much more flexible schedule than the standard one-weekend-a-month, two-weeks-a-year. My slot allows me to break that up and rearrange it to better mesh my civilian schedule with my military schedule. It all depends on what is available and what you want to do. If you want to be an infantryman, you will have to drill with the rest of your unit. I work for an office-bound unit (11 years of field service, with the infantry and various helicopter squadrons -- I earned some time indoors), so I can tailor my schedule better.
There are plenty of opportunities, many of which can directly pay off for your employer. What is available depends on what you want to do and where you live. It is at least worth looking into.
If you would like some detailed info, especially in the Northern Virginia area, go ahead and drop me a line, I'd be happy to answer any questions (no, I am not a recruiter): mcdowall@crosslink.net
Personnal Experiences with this (Score:1)
As for the time away from work, you are supposed to be allowed the time off. They do not have to pay you, but they also should not require the use of vacation time. I always used my vacation time when I'd leave so that I'd have something of a paycheck. The part about having your job when you get back applies to being deployed, not your AT (Annual Training). Basic Training/Boot Camp falls under this classification. You cannot be outright replaced during your time away, but when you come backj they don't have to give you the EXACT positionback. They are only required to provide a comparable position.
As I said before I've only seen positive from being in the reserves. I've never been screwed around by an employer because of it. There was a guy in my unit that was layed off during an AT. Man you chould have seen JAG go after them. Nothing makes a company pucker like being sued by the military! :)
Some employers look for military ties (Score:1)
Active Duty (Score:1)
I doubt that being in the reserves would adversely effect your abilities to perform your job but I'd imagine it'd be an annoyance. Its a good experience though and I'd recommend it to anyone who needs some change in their life or has problems staying financially stable or organized.
What's your job title? (Score:1)
Also, are you trying to earn your degree, do you have any college or Post-Secondary training? Just because you enlist in the Reserves, don't think that people will respect what that commitment entails. In most cases, though, it can't hurt your chances AS LONG AS you act the part, meaning that you consistently show that you are more responsible and mature than others in your age group. You should dress appropriately, follow Marine Corps regulations regarding facial hair and haircuts (although you don't have to keep your hair always high and tight, it should always be short). Basically, after you finish with Boot Camp, take pride in who you are - a U.S. Marine!
I am almost finished with my current enlistment (May) and am considering whether or not to try to get a reenlistment as a 4066 - Small Computer Systems Specialist. But, after almost six years, you do start to get a little tired of doing and hearing the same things over and over. The main thing to remember is that you need to make higher expectations on yourself than what other expect from you, so if you don't meet those expectations, you only disappoint yourself.
For what it's worth... (Score:1)
One interview he was on went swimmingly well, he didn't get the job. He asked why, was told (point-blank) something to the effect of "you're ex-military and you'll be after my job in weeks."
I'm not saying this is anything widespread, just that if you go on interviews, maybe don't ask so many questions about promotions?
Reserves (Score:1)
Pedro
In the Reserves (Score:1)
If you're thinking about joining, then don't make the same mistake that I made, check the units out near your home. Make SURE that they have $$ to train with or you'll be picking up garbage all day long and looking for a place to hide and take a nap.
As far as it affecting your career, well that could go a lot of different ways. I don't think you're going to want to join the Marines if you are looking for a lot of understanding. They are very hard core about "the core", and they are great for it, because I wouldn't want their job. Consider the Army as an "in-between." It takes 8 people working the back lines to keep 1 person on the front lines. The Army does a LOT of support work for all branches and maintains a bit more grunge respect than the Air Force or the Navy. It is my opinion that you will have more flexibility in the Army Reserves with your career, but be cautious. You can't force your current employer to keep your position open while you go off to basic training for 2 months. I believe that the descrimination law applies only if you are already an enlisted member and applying for a job. It doesn't work like the family leave act.
Either way, I would not have traded my military experience in for anything. High school had become a joke and made me lazy. I went in looking for a new paradigm, and got it. And what other job in the world teaches you how to shoot people from 300 meters, throw hand grenades, launch anti-tank rockets, and set mines?
Good luck in whatever you choose.