For us, it's based on the type of order you are on. On the last few "deployments," our choice has been 12304b (invol) or 12301d (vol) orders. I have found the source document provided by our commanders/personnel during our spinup to our last trip, I'd be happy to send it to you. It clearly shows that 12304b (involuntary Combatant Command Mission Support) does not meet eligibility requirements for Post 9/11 GI Bill. In fact, wrt to TAMP, early retirement credit and GI Bill, they're treated the same as AT orders.

Lucky you. We essentially get the dubious choice of picking the red pill or blue pill. They put the carrot in front of voluntary because then it doesn't count for dwell purposes. So they get you for this deployment, but you remain eligible for later invols. Anyway, same document mentioned above, shows invol orders are not eligible for early retirement credit.

Supposedly they're "fixing" it, but the checks been in the mail for over 5 years...


In my ANG fighter squadron, there isn't a single pilot on continuous orders that are USERRA exempt. Even with an alert mission on base (O.N.E.), we have zero exempt orders. But sure stat tours at NGB and various other random assignments may get you exempt orders.

Honestly, wrt to exemption, I couldn't care less for me. I have have absolutely zero desire to go back on full time orders for anything other than squadron TDYs and our deployments. But I can see a problem looming as many of our guys are running out of USERRA time not the mention the desire to put up with all the added BS that continues to stack up. Basically, as with many other things in life, the Commanders up high, don't see it as a problem because we're "plugging the holes in the damn," for now...