Active Duty
#11
Layover Master
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2013
Position: Seated
Posts: 4,310
This.
Many HR depts are either grossly ignorant of the (complicated and nuanced) rules, or are willfully pushing boundaries and grey areas to intimidate and discourage participation.
Never ask HR. Get the right answer and then tell HR what you're doing.
Some companies try to force you to "request" mil leave and get "approval". You don't have to play that game, you can simply email scheduling (cc your CP) notifying them of what you're doing (with reasonable lead time). But play their game if on probation.
Many HR depts are either grossly ignorant of the (complicated and nuanced) rules, or are willfully pushing boundaries and grey areas to intimidate and discourage participation.
Never ask HR. Get the right answer and then tell HR what you're doing.
Some companies try to force you to "request" mil leave and get "approval". You don't have to play that game, you can simply email scheduling (cc your CP) notifying them of what you're doing (with reasonable lead time). But play their game if on probation.
#12
Banned
Joined APC: Jun 2019
Posts: 442
The company and Sedgwick asked me for my orders before I went on long term mil. I just ignored their request. Sent them in to Sedgwick when I returned from leave. The dudes I dealt with at Sedgwick had no idea when I asked specific questions. I don’t think you’d have any issues tbh, no matter what your orders said.
#13
The company and Sedgwick asked me for my orders before I went on long term mil. I just ignored their request. Sent them in to Sedgwick when I returned from leave. The dudes I dealt with at Sedgwick had no idea when I asked specific questions. I don’t think you’d have any issues tbh, no matter what your orders said.
I had an employer do that once, they had my CP make the call (he didn't want to, and was embarrassed to ask for the contact info). My direct-report was an AD two-star... after getting filtered by the staff for a few days the CP finally got through. We had a laugh about it later, it basically it went like "Why the eff are you calling me about reserve crap? He knows how to do his job, he'll tell you when he needs to be on mil leave. Click".
#14
New Hire
Joined APC: Sep 2017
Position: CFI
Posts: 9
PotatoChip i did what you’re trying to do. Left my airline when I finished school and commissioned for AD (non-flying MOS). Told mgmt i had orders coming to be nice. When i got em i emailed a copy to my managers/HR/union and that was that. During my AD time (6 years) I didn’t hear a peep from the company. They were very military friendly though. I was lucky enough to maintain flight benefits too! Even added my spouse to my airline benefits mid way through the milleave.
But like others have eluded to, get smart, know the answers, TELL HR what you’re doing (don’t ask), drop your orders and embrace the suck. NOT a SME on USERRA but my experience went off without a hitch. PM if you have questions
But like others have eluded to, get smart, know the answers, TELL HR what you’re doing (don’t ask), drop your orders and embrace the suck. NOT a SME on USERRA but my experience went off without a hitch. PM if you have questions
#15
Layover Master
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2013
Position: Seated
Posts: 4,310
PotatoChip i did what you’re trying to do. Left my airline when I finished school and commissioned for AD (non-flying MOS). Told mgmt i had orders coming to be nice. When i got em i emailed a copy to my managers/HR/union and that was that. During my AD time (6 years) I didn’t hear a peep from the company. They were very military friendly though. I was lucky enough to maintain flight benefits too! Even added my spouse to my airline benefits mid way through the milleave.
But like others have eluded to, get smart, know the answers, TELL HR what you’re doing (don’t ask), drop your orders and embrace the suck. NOT a SME on USERRA but my experience went off without a hitch. PM if you have questions
But like others have eluded to, get smart, know the answers, TELL HR what you’re doing (don’t ask), drop your orders and embrace the suck. NOT a SME on USERRA but my experience went off without a hitch. PM if you have questions
#16
Layover Master
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2013
Position: Seated
Posts: 4,310
Well, thanks everyone for the intel, however it all appears to be for not. Hopefully someone else can find this thread useful.
The age limit of 39 is to start OTS, which I knew, but there is also an age limit of 38 to submit your packet, and is non-waivable.
I miss that by less than two months.
There goes plan E of my career.
The age limit of 39 is to start OTS, which I knew, but there is also an age limit of 38 to submit your packet, and is non-waivable.
I miss that by less than two months.
There goes plan E of my career.
#17
Well, thanks everyone for the intel, however it all appears to be for not. Hopefully someone else can find this thread useful.
The age limit of 39 is to start OTS, which I knew, but there is also an age limit of 38 to submit your packet, and is non-waivable.
I miss that by less than two months.
There goes plan E of my career.
The age limit of 39 is to start OTS, which I knew, but there is also an age limit of 38 to submit your packet, and is non-waivable.
I miss that by less than two months.
There goes plan E of my career.
Also there's a saying in the mil... ANYTHING is waiver-able. Some are just harder to get.
And did you consider enlisted? They usually grant an advanced paygrade for college, and you could get a commission more easily from the inside (I know the officer age limit's higher for enlisted vs. off the street)
#18
Layover Master
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2013
Position: Seated
Posts: 4,310
Bummer. Did you check with other services.
Also there's a saying in the mil... ANYTHING is waiver-able. Some are just harder to get.
And did you consider enlisted? They usually grant an advanced paygrade for college, and you could get a commission more easily from the inside (I know the officer age limit's higher for enlisted vs. off the street)
Also there's a saying in the mil... ANYTHING is waiver-able. Some are just harder to get.
And did you consider enlisted? They usually grant an advanced paygrade for college, and you could get a commission more easily from the inside (I know the officer age limit's higher for enlisted vs. off the street)
That said I’m currently talking with the PA ANG to see what options may be available. We’ll see. I was preferring to go AD, but I’ll see what they can/can’t offer.
#19
On Reserve
Joined APC: Oct 2019
Position: Big Red Fire Truck
Posts: 13
As he also said, ANYTHING is waiverable if you find the right folks and put the legwork in yourself. But, those are two big keys. If you go to recruiters/Reserves/ANG and just say, "Hey, I wanna go to OTS but I'll need a waiver," they're going to likely just view it as too much work and tell you, "No." Especially in this cratering economy where they probably have/are expecting a glut of new applicants looking for the job security of Uncle Sam.
However, if you go to them with the paperwork filled out, a clear idea of what you need for a path forward, and maybe make a contact that can make a phone call or two for you and they just need to push the paperwork, you stand a fighting chance. Most people don't want you to give them a problem and they have to find your solution. But, if you make it as easy as possible for them to do their part to get you from A to B, they'll be much more willing to make it happen.
Source: a non-prior service dude that got a (Reserves) UPT slot at 36 (when the cutoff was still 30), commissioned through OTS at 37, and should have a set of wings (depending on Coronas and lockdowns) in less than 2 months at 38 years old. There's almost always a way to "Yes," it will just require a lot of extra hustle on your part. And luck, too, but you can make a lot of that with your own legwork.
#20
Occasional box hauler
Joined APC: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,682
You might have more luck with Guard/Reserves and then just getting on AD orders for the waiver. And, as Rick said, I really wanna say I knew a couple folks in my OTS class that were Active Duty and close to or above 40 that were prior-enlisted.
As he also said, ANYTHING is waiverable if you find the right folks and put the legwork in yourself. But, those are two big keys. If you go to recruiters/Reserves/ANG and just say, "Hey, I wanna go to OTS but I'll need a waiver," they're going to likely just view it as too much work and tell you, "No." Especially in this cratering economy where they probably have/are expecting a glut of new applicants looking for the job security of Uncle Sam.
However, if you go to them with the paperwork filled out, a clear idea of what you need for a path forward, and maybe make a contact that can make a phone call or two for you and they just need to push the paperwork, you stand a fighting chance. Most people don't want you to give them a problem and they have to find your solution. But, if you make it as easy as possible for them to do their part to get you from A to B, they'll be much more willing to make it happen.
Source: a non-prior service dude that got a (Reserves) UPT slot at 36 (when the cutoff was still 30), commissioned through OTS at 37, and should have a set of wings (depending on Coronas and lockdowns) in less than 2 months at 38 years old. There's almost always a way to "Yes," it will just require a lot of extra hustle on your part. And luck, too, but you can make a lot of that with your own legwork.
As he also said, ANYTHING is waiverable if you find the right folks and put the legwork in yourself. But, those are two big keys. If you go to recruiters/Reserves/ANG and just say, "Hey, I wanna go to OTS but I'll need a waiver," they're going to likely just view it as too much work and tell you, "No." Especially in this cratering economy where they probably have/are expecting a glut of new applicants looking for the job security of Uncle Sam.
However, if you go to them with the paperwork filled out, a clear idea of what you need for a path forward, and maybe make a contact that can make a phone call or two for you and they just need to push the paperwork, you stand a fighting chance. Most people don't want you to give them a problem and they have to find your solution. But, if you make it as easy as possible for them to do their part to get you from A to B, they'll be much more willing to make it happen.
Source: a non-prior service dude that got a (Reserves) UPT slot at 36 (when the cutoff was still 30), commissioned through OTS at 37, and should have a set of wings (depending on Coronas and lockdowns) in less than 2 months at 38 years old. There's almost always a way to "Yes," it will just require a lot of extra hustle on your part. And luck, too, but you can make a lot of that with your own legwork.
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