Primary Question: Do any Reservists or Guardsmen have input about the wisdom (or lack thereof) of trying to balance a UPS career with service in the Reserves or Guard considering current GWOT missions?
I served an active duty USMC stint in late '90s and then transferred from IRR to Army Reserves when I moved to Interior Alaska. I allowed my contract to expire last year after a three month extension because there were a lot of unknowns in my life at the time (primarily an ongoing divorce and custody case) and I wanted the flexibility that getting out of the Reserves would afford me. They were offering me $15K to stay but I just wanted a breather from it all and don't regret the decision for one second. Most of the issues have been resolved (not necessarily to my liking but they are resolved) and I find myself starting a new career with UPS.
I had plans to enter an apprenticeship this year with one of the construction trades; however, I had worked as a Driver Helper last peak season and was fortunate enough to get called back for an interview. A career as an UPS Teamster may have its frustrations but I don't have to worry about getting sent up on the North Slope during the summers when I have custody of my son (or anytime of year for that matter).
The Army and Navy are offering $20K to come back in as a Reservist which is nothing to sneeze at given my current financial situation and how long it will take me to get established with UPS as a top-scale driver. I generally enjoy military service and the deployments (they would be a significant pay cut for me especially during mobilization and demobilization when I was getting taxed) and I have over ten years of military service so the enlistment bonus is like icing on the cake (albeit really thick icing) as far as I'm concerned.
The general information that has been relayed to me is that most Reservists and Guardsmen find balancing an UPS career with Reserve or Guard service more difficult than it is worth; however, the contributions were rather limited and all came from pre-911 context.
Secondary Question: How does mobilization affect retirement and pension?
I've read the Military Clause, Article 15, of the old UPS NMA and my understanding is that the new UPS NMA left the old contract language intact with regard to the Military Clause but maybe I'm misunderstanding.
My general concern is that mobilizations for my MOS and pay-grade generally amount to twenty months out of every sixty months given current OPTEMPO. Discussions about the likelihood of that changing in the future are mere conjecture until at least November of this year and changes to the future OPTEMPO will not occur quickly enough to prevent at least one more mobilization .
It seems that I would lose at least two pension years (possibly three depending upon timing of mobilization). I think my seniority (at this point, it would be part-time seniority) would be preserved if I understand correctly. I would appreciate the input of any Reservists or Guardsmen about how their UPS retirement and pension were impacted by a mobilization in the last six years.
Peace,
Danny Ray
I served an active duty USMC stint in late '90s and then transferred from IRR to Army Reserves when I moved to Interior Alaska. I allowed my contract to expire last year after a three month extension because there were a lot of unknowns in my life at the time (primarily an ongoing divorce and custody case) and I wanted the flexibility that getting out of the Reserves would afford me. They were offering me $15K to stay but I just wanted a breather from it all and don't regret the decision for one second. Most of the issues have been resolved (not necessarily to my liking but they are resolved) and I find myself starting a new career with UPS.
I had plans to enter an apprenticeship this year with one of the construction trades; however, I had worked as a Driver Helper last peak season and was fortunate enough to get called back for an interview. A career as an UPS Teamster may have its frustrations but I don't have to worry about getting sent up on the North Slope during the summers when I have custody of my son (or anytime of year for that matter).
The Army and Navy are offering $20K to come back in as a Reservist which is nothing to sneeze at given my current financial situation and how long it will take me to get established with UPS as a top-scale driver. I generally enjoy military service and the deployments (they would be a significant pay cut for me especially during mobilization and demobilization when I was getting taxed) and I have over ten years of military service so the enlistment bonus is like icing on the cake (albeit really thick icing) as far as I'm concerned.
The general information that has been relayed to me is that most Reservists and Guardsmen find balancing an UPS career with Reserve or Guard service more difficult than it is worth; however, the contributions were rather limited and all came from pre-911 context.
Secondary Question: How does mobilization affect retirement and pension?
I've read the Military Clause, Article 15, of the old UPS NMA and my understanding is that the new UPS NMA left the old contract language intact with regard to the Military Clause but maybe I'm misunderstanding.
My general concern is that mobilizations for my MOS and pay-grade generally amount to twenty months out of every sixty months given current OPTEMPO. Discussions about the likelihood of that changing in the future are mere conjecture until at least November of this year and changes to the future OPTEMPO will not occur quickly enough to prevent at least one more mobilization .
It seems that I would lose at least two pension years (possibly three depending upon timing of mobilization). I think my seniority (at this point, it would be part-time seniority) would be preserved if I understand correctly. I would appreciate the input of any Reservists or Guardsmen about how their UPS retirement and pension were impacted by a mobilization in the last six years.
Peace,
Danny Ray