Let me lead with a little insight into my current situation. I am an Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 that is retiring from the Army after 20 years of active duty service. I have attended the Transition Assistance briefings and classes provided by my local installation. We got assistance in resume writing, doing interviews, looking for jobs via the internet, and what our military occupation translates to in the civilian sector. I went to briefings on Veterans benefits and financial planning post military because it’s important to understand what allowances on top of pay we no longer will receive. But, these classes are very basic and for everyone. The VA briefings do distinguish the differences in benefits between those that ETS and those that retire but that is the extent of any differentiated training between two types of Soldiers exiting the Army.
The information about when I, as a commissioned officer, could start employment was very much discovery learning. There was no briefing on the restrictions, and the military contractors that I submitted my resume to, or called me interested in my working for them were just as naive about the issues as I was. I even dropped a question on LinkedIn to see if anyone else was in the know about post retirement employment for a commissioned officer. Mainly, could I start working as a government contractor while I was on terminal leave. I received a lot of replies explaining that I could start working as a contractor during terminal leave and a few highlighted that they wish they had not gone right to work and spent some time with their family and leaving the military behind. I received a lot of good advice. The one piece of advice that I received that was a gold mine was to see my local JAG office and enquire with them about employment and ethics as they would know the correct answer.
What I had found out was very contradictory to what I received to my question on LinkedIn. I was able to talk to the Administrative Law Lawyer in the JAG office and he informed me that, unlike an enlisted or noncommissioned officer, I as a commissioned officer, yes Chief Warrant Officer 2 and higher are commissioned officers, could not work on a military installation as a government contractor, while I was on terminal leave; the sought after “double-dipping.” What I could do was work for a company at their office or head quarters or do training relevant to the position as long as it didn’t involved working on the installation. After his answers to my questions, I now have to prepare myself for additional anxiety of the possibility of having a gap between paychecks from the DoD to whoever my new employer is.
If you are an enlisted / noncommissioned officer, you can start government contract work as soon as you start terminal leave but you have to get a memorandum from your commander highlighting that you will be honorably discharged (get with your local S1 and Commander for more specifics).
On government service (GS) employment there is somewhat better news but it aligns with the contract employment piece. In December of 2016, President Obama did not renew the military to GS employment wavers that President Bush signed in support of OIF/OEF. What that means is that if a transitioning soldier wants to be a GS employee, they now have to wait six months past their ETS/Retirement date to start work. The gaining GS branch can file for an exception to policy. There are two special pay tables that is not affected though, and that is Information Technology/Cyber Management and Air Traffic Control. There are already permanent exception to policies established for those to pay tables. This is one of the few post employment restrictions that affects both enlisted and officer.
Unfortunately, none of my SFL-TAP (Soldier For Life-Transition Assistance Program) classes, briefings, and counseling sessions highlighted what I stated above–very much discovery learning on my part. It has also made conversations with recruiters and future employers somewhat frustrating as I inform them that that the soonest I can start is June 1, 2018. Some of you may have found loopholes, and I would ask that you please share them. This is what LinkedIn is truly about right?
The good news, none of this applies to the private sector. We have plenty of positions open at Dell Technologies, whether you’re looking to stay IT pure or cross-pollinate to the Cyber side with Secureworks. Ping me and I’ll be glad to refer you to an open position of your choosing at https://dell.referrals.selectminds.com
#Iwork4Dell
#FellowWO
Jeremy do you have any positions with Dell that will keep me local and my family stable?
Shane Walradt – I work 100% from home – “remote” – Go on the site above and search on “remote” – example, if you’re looking at a certain company under the Dell brand, ie Secureworks, search “secureworks remote” and feast your eyes. When I say 100% from home (or anywhere I have an Internet Connection, that’s exactly what I mean). Never been to an office or physically met my boss for 4 years now. I only work from in a physical environment with the Army (USAR)
Shane Walradt btw, probably don’t remember, but you were my team Chief in ’01 at B co., 122nd Sig BN, 2ID. Haha. Small world
Thanks Jeremy I appreciate it. Yes it has been a long time—17 years and it is most definitely a small world.
Feel free to ping me if you have any questions or would like me to refer you. Tons of opportunities and definitely a great org to work with.
Trying to look at a few jobs but their website crashes every time I go to upload my resume.
Shane Walradt apparently they just can’t handle how good you are
Shane Walradt , if you find a good req #, message it to me and I’ll refer you. Will just need a good email and they’ll send you a message requesting your resume and contact info. I can find out who the talent mgmt person is as well.
Jeremy Cooper awesome thanks. I sent a friend request.
Do you have jobs in Utah? I was medically separated after 14.5 years, a CW2 (prior E-6), currently teaching at a middle school but am interested in other things. Have a BA in Spanish and an MA in Teaching (both earned prior to enlisting). Thanks for your help, Ron
Wow I did not know this. Lucky for me I chose a civilian sector job over a contractor job. I told the contractor job I could start April 23rd when my terminal leave started. They would have been upset had I decided to go with them and then had to tell them I couldn’t work until July 1st.
There is no issue working as a Gov contractor on Terminal Leave. I did it and many others have too. Its all up to the company.
It can be complicated if you were in charge of acquisitions or made contract determinations. You can also run into problems if you’re trying to stay in the same organization as a contractor where you were a Soldier.
I agree with Jeremy don’t let yourself get pigeonholed into stay around the military the private sector is teeming with IT jobs in both Network and Securities field. I’ve been hit by local recruits at least 2 times a week, and this has been true for the last two years. Granted this is in the New England area and I know you don’t family around here but if you want I can start sending the recruiters your way.
I’m just planning on getting the band back together…..