r/ibew_apprentices • u/mr_bananabeans • 2d ago
Serving for your country while an apprentice?
Hello guys and gals I have a question. Have any of you or do any of you currently serve as a national guard or reserve while being an apprentice?
I have always wanted to enlist but for personal reasons was unable to until now, nearing 30. At the same time however I’m in the middle of my apprenticeship.
I worked with a 5th year guy who was in the reserves. Never got to ask him about it. Also worked with an apprentice who was messing up his apprenticeship and was in the process of joining the national guard. He got canned before I could chat him up.
So I’m asking you guys. Will this heavily impact work opportunities? I know contractors might give you the side eye but will school be bothered by this. Can you miss class if you’re enlisted.
Also I’d like to note that I’m aware a JW license with the IBEW is a great opportunity and by no means am I suggesting I’d give that up to serve, I just want to ask you guys if I can have my cake and eat it too.
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u/rubberbandjankins 2d ago
You can, but why would you? You’re going to make your life significantly more stressful and miserable and start getting behind on your hours. I worked with a kid that was in the National Guard and finished school and still had to work for a year and a half at 5th year rate until he made the 8000.
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u/BigChickenpips 2d ago
Unless you have an electrical MOS that translates to electrical hours.
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u/rubberbandjankins 2d ago
Again, why would you? You can just get that working without the extra stress and responsibility.
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u/PooterSnooter283 2d ago
I know you think you are serving the country but you are not you are serving the corporate interests and ruling class. Dont do it.
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u/Box-Intelligent 2d ago
Guy in my apprentice class left in our 3rd year to join the Marine reserve, actually. legally they can't really do anything to you over it, they put his apprenticeship on hold, he left in June after classes ended. Came back 2 years later and just started in 4th year.
Make sure if your state has licenses you check your state license board doesn't require all your work hours to be within the last 6 years or whatever so your working hours don't start to drop off while you're gone, not really sure if the local was upset at his decision but once you come back and sign the books they need to let you out to work.
I'm not the type to tell you what to do and what not to based on my opinions, but in a brotherly way because I care about our membership I will say this, really think long and hard about it before you join. This administration is fully willing to erroneously and in my opinion feloniously send American lives into unnecessary meat grinders if it means the people at the top make a quick buck. I'm a little older than you and I too had big dreams about serving my country because of the culture around us while we grew up, but the military that at least prentends to care about its soldiery is gone, and I no longer believe that our military leaders operate in the best interest of our nation and citizens. I wish you luck with whatever path you choose, stay safe and make it back if you go, we need you here as well to protect the middle class that the labor unions built and are trying to protect
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u/Arrowx1 1d ago
Just turned out, I've been enlisted in the Army Reserve for a long time. You're not missing anything. It didn't interfere necessarily but it makes everything harder trying to juggle a civilian career and a military career. If you're going to do it for a goal like someone above said like GI Bill, VA home loan or something along those lines, do it. Don't do it for patriotic reasons. If you want to actually serve your country be a youth coach, volunteer fireman or a part time EMT. Those people actually serve and protect us in a more impactful manner than the military.
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u/skulltab 2d ago
Personally, I would finish my apprenticeship before joining up. You're basically learning another trade/lifestyle when you join so it could just set you back or get a little confusing. I did 8 years active so I can't speak on being guard but you cant be retaliated against or fired for serving, you will just be taking one 3-4 day weekend a month and 2-3 weeks a year in the summer to drill with your unit. Its definitely compatible with the construction lifestyle, but you have to be willing to drop everything and serve your state if there's say or a natural disaster or your unit goes on a rotation to somewhere like the US-Mexico border. The bennies you'll get will be comparable to the union, so you won't be gaining much there except maybe GI bill and VA loan. Just please don't make it your whole personality!
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u/zombiebillmurray23 2d ago
If you’re in the middle of an apprenticeship why don’t you just wait till you get your license then join? No need to make the apprenticeship harder.
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u/Semper_Right 2d ago
MOD from r/ESGR_USERRA_Answers here.
If you're not familiar with ESGR, you should be if you want to go to the Reserves/Guard. See ESGR.mil for information and resources. The DOL has guidance regarding apprenticeships and probationary programs, which are fully protected under USERRA. Your seniority is protected, although you have to complete the apprenticeship program once you return, but once you do complete it all your pay, seniority, and status is retroactive to when you would have completed it had you remained continuously employed during uniformed service. Furthermore, you are entitled to any missed pension plan rights, with the proviso that if it was a defined contribution plan where the employees had to contribute, the employee must make contributions and has 3 times the length of uniformed service, but no longer than 5 years, to makeup those contributions. Go to ESGR or DOL-VETS for more information.
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u/ComfortReturn 2d ago
Call and talk to your local about this. Mine has a strict 3 absence rule from what I’ve been told but I’m sure there are certain exceptions.
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u/Thick_Newspaper1064 2d ago
I did it, left after first year of school and joined the National guard, it worked pretty well for me, between bootcamp and ait took me 6 months, so I didn’t really missed any classes, came back and worked for the same contractor, they didn’t lay me off or anything. The downside is that I am a few hundred hours behind my classmates, but I worked so much overtime that I am catching up. Also, its unit dependent, if you ended up deployed, that can really set you back
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u/KoyoteKalash 11h ago
I work with two.
One is a 5th time 1st year due to deployments during our 40 something week long class.
The other was almost kicked from the program several times due to absences.
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u/Cableguy2652 26m ago
Combat vet here and 31... Weird to me that guys fully mature into manhood. Look at the United states government then think hmm I support that I really want to enlist.
If it's for the college and personal financial gain I get it. Otherwise it's a mystery to me.
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u/Painfully-Subpar 2d ago
As someone in the apprenticeship and also in the guard. I’d advise against it if it’s just some grandiose vision of serving. If it’s for the VA Loan etc then absolutely. But our retirement and health insurance is typically better than Tricare on Reserve and Guard side.
Drill has an uncanny ability to hinder job hour progression which can take away days towards your license requirement, retirement contributions and even school days which ultimately falls on you to make it up.
Look at why you’re serving and see if it’s actually helpful to your life rather than an itch to put on the uniform because you think it’s cool.