Navy Reserve activation question

[mcsap]

If a Navy Reservist is activated and sent to the Middle East for about 9 months , returns for 3 months and than gets orders to go back to the Middle East again...is that typical ?

I thought there was a gap of 6-12 months between deployments ?

Can a reservist REQUEST or VOLUNTEER to be activated in such a short time ?

Does the employer ( who must allow them the time off) have any say if this is the case ?

This has happened where I now work ( non-LE) and it seems very odd that this guy is going to be leaving after just getting back from a 9 month deployment.

[marinepilot]

I don't know too much about reserves since my time was all active, but that does sound somewhat strange to have such a short turn around, even for an active military member. I know they TRY for a 6 to 12 month gap before re-deployment, but if they are extremely shorthanded, and the person has a skill that is in dire need, I've seen them just cross deploy someone where he didn't even get to come home, just stayed out for another 6 month deployment (but that is very rare).

I do believe, but again, I could be completely wrong, that a reservist CAN request or volunteer to be activated or re-deployed, and this situation almost sounds as if that might be happening since there is such a short turn around.

I don't believe the employer has any say in the matter as national defense will trump any company. As for what I know about that, if they have hired the person knowing that he/she is a reservist, then they are obligated to keep his job for him when he returns, whether he volunteers to go or is volun-TOLD to go. But again, I'll have to check since I'm just wagging it.

My pastor is Army reserve, and if he's in church (and not deployed!) on Sunday, I'll ask him and see what he says. Also, I'm betting there's some reserves on here that may chime in a bit quicker.

[Kimble]

I thought there was a gap of 6-12 months between deployments

Can't speak to specifics of reserves, but deployment schedules (especially in the last 10 years as we've been active in 2 theaters and countless ops/humanitarian efforts across the world) often depend on operational tempo. For example, I knew sailors who deployed summer 2009, came back in Jan 2010 only to go right back out to provide relief for the earthquake in Haiti, then came back to the US for a few months before their ship was assigned to another deploying squadron.

The average American has no idea the sacrifices a typical military family endures.

[TSOC357]

Having worked around Reserve/National Guard Soliders and Airmen, I will toss out what I've seen.

If a Navy Reservist is activated and sent to the Middle East for about 9 months , returns for 3 months and than gets orders to go back to the Middle East again...is that typical ?

Perhaps not typical but it can happen. Especially if he has a job that is in high demand. There have been plenty of military members that have done 6-7 tours, especially Air Force and Special Operations personnel because their tours tend to be a bit shorter than others.

I thought there was a gap of 6-12 months between deployments ?

They try to do that but, once again, if the individual in question has a high demand job skill (EOD/Intel/MP/Supply/language skills/etc...), they could drag them back and forth on shorter tours.

Can a reservist REQUEST or VOLUNTEER to be activated in such a short time ?

Yes, it happens all the time.

Does the employer ( who must allow them the time off) have any say if this is the case ?

The employer must abide by USERRA no matter if the Service Member requested another deployment or if the military is sending them.

If an employer violates USERRA, they will be getting visits from the Feds. And not the good type.

Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

[retdetsgt]

Unless the military has changed in the last 40 years, they love volunteers and their needs trump absolutely everything else.

Even during Vietnam, when we were only required to do one tour, if you volunteered to go back, you better have your personal affairs in order before you submitted the paperwork. My company had an E-5 return and was only in country for about a month when he got into a drunken altercation with a couple of MP's. He turned in his request to go back and he was gone within 2 weeks. The old man gave him a very mild letter of reprimand and let him go.

[John Solo]

Hello everyone,

[My .02 :] I recently spoke to an enlisted Navy Reserve recruiter regarding the enforcement 'Master-at-Arms' position (4 year term) and he said that deployments for the NR are 'not that common, and almost always done by request of the reservist. No disrespect intended, but I know he has to 'sell' the NR so...

[My -.05 :] I wouldn't necessarily be against volunteering to deploy (seems like the point of mil. service in general) but could there be a major conflict between NR duty -active training or deployed- and application/interviewing for LE, FLE or IC positions.

Looking at the USERRA link TSOC357 was kind enough to provide I didn't catch anything protecting uniformed service members applying to other Federal jobs/ jobs they don't currently hold while serving/deploted. Is this assessment accurate?

I'm a 2011 college graduate who has been looking to break into civilian public service, and was considering NR and also deployment as a means to that end. I wouldn't necessarily be against volunteering to deploy (seems like the point of mil. service in general) but could there be a major conflict between NR duty -active training and especially deployed- and application/interviewing for LE, FLE or IC positions?

P.S. Since I have the degree I was also considering going the Officer route in either the Information Warfare or Intelligence areas (there's no enforcement equivalent for NR w/o prior exp.), but my concerns would be the same.