1. Does an SRDC officer really serve one weekend a month, two weeks a year, or are they typically called up for more?

2. What sort of jobs do SRDC officers do? In particular around Fredericksburg, VA (or I guess DC would be nearest major station?)

3. I make significantly more than an officer's salary in my current job; in the event I do get called to active duty or deployed, what safety net is there to ensure I don't lose my house etc. from spending a year earning half my normal salary?

4. How does advancement/promotion work for SRDC officers? Can a fair evaluation be done based off of just one weekend a month/two weeks a year?

5. I'm aware of the age limit to enter the SRDC program, but would you say it gets significantly harder to be accepted as you reach the upper age limit? Would serving in the auxiliary help my admission chances?

Thanks to any who have info!

Here is a shot at your questions. I

1. It all depends. I have been in the CGR one year and so far it has been ~ 1 weekend per month, however some weekends I have gone twice (so I could go on vacation the next month). I think it depends on the job you are doing, unit, and a host of other factors. However, as you up the chain (past Ensign and LTJG), I think it is expected that you will spend more time. I look at the LT's, LCDR's and CDR in my unit, and they spend more than one weekend per month.

2. It all depends on your unit. But as a general rule I would say taht O's manage/facilitate work/workflow as opposed to E's who get to have all the fun and actually do the work.

3. Common theme, it depends. Some employers will make up the difference, some wont. You should talk to your employer BEFORE you join to see what they are willing to do. I think there is a program to help bridge the gap, but it may not be enough. Make sure that you are aware of this before joining as it can put you in a financial hardship if you are not properly prepared.

4. The RPM goes into more detail about this. Good question, I dont know the answer.

5. No idea.

Yamil

Thanks for your answers, they're just the kind of thing I was looking to find out! My employer is the federal government, if you happen to know offhand what effect that has on #3....

oh, and I had another one... for the two weeks a year part of the service, are employers required to give you time off (or in my case, if not required, does the federal govt give you time off), or do you have to use up your own vacation time for it?

http://www.osc.gov/userra.htm This is the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. You need to read up on this to be better informed of your rights.

For question #3. You need to talk with your Federal Government Civilian Job and see if what their compensation package is. The Coast Guard only pays your drill/active duty salary, BAH, BAS if called to active. You will fill out a spousal consent/Statement of Financial Obligation form to make sure your pay won't cause a financial hardship on your family if activated.

Your employer should be able to tell you their flexibility in your 2 week drill schedule as well if you are a "key federal employee". Alot of the answers to your questions fall to your current employer.

The Coast Guard has a process in place just for Reserve advancements and has factored in on how it's done while only drilling 1 weekend a month, 2 weeks a year.

#5, so long as you don't go over the age limit, the whole person is taken into consideration when making decisions, not just the age of the applicant. Working with the Auxillary would show you've done community service and that you are familiar with the Coast Guard. Some applicants never take the time to learn what the Coast Guard is all about and it reflects in thier oral board. Definately research the Coast Guard, so if you are asked you'll know what the core values are(Honor Respect and Devotion to Duty), or what the current programs are the Coast Guard is working on(Deepwater, Rescue 21, etc) CPO Kalbach

If you're a FEDERAL employee, better read, understand, and bookmark these OPM webpages:

Frequently Asked Questions on Military Leave

Military Leave

As an LT and LCDR, and especially as a LCDR in NCW, I was averaging 20 hrs per week just keeping up with all the CG and USN stuff. This was in addition to the weekends, which typically started on Fridays (w/ all the pre-drill meetings the Commodore held with the Os and CPOs. The enlisted men and women put in a great amount of time too, especially to obtain and maintain quals (such as boat crewman).

The old days of showing up, signing in, disappearing until chow, wandering around, then leaving early are long over for most CG reservists.

It's better from a satisfaction point now. The old system was a waste of time in many ways.

If you make it into the CGR you will make many sacrifices, but you will get experiences and "shipmates" that your civilian co-workers will never be able to understand, no matter how many movies they may watch.

Your questions are very good, as were the answers to them. Good luck!

Mike-
1. I would expect to do more than the advertised 1 weekend per month, two weeks per year if you expect to make it beyond LT.
2. From Fredricksburg you can expect a billet anywhere from Baltimore to North Carolina. My buddy applied from Richmond and was offered a billet in Group Ft. Macon, NC. The commission was contngent on acceptance of the specific billet.
3. I was a GS-14 at Treasury when I deployed in 2004-2005. After all the entitlements and tax free treatment it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be financially speaking. Bottom line: Prepare for the worst or don't apply at all.
4. Yes, same as Active Duty. Subjective but fair.
5.If you are in you 30s you ought to apply ASAP. There is no bias based on the age of applicants but you'd be wise to apply well before you reach the maximum age limit.

Good Luck. Have you considered enlisting in the USCGR? The SRDC process is alot easier to negotiate from the inside than out. Or so I am told.....
4.

I'm not so much worried about putting in more time than 1 weekend/2 weeks... It's getting sent overseas for months at a time that I'm concerned with (and one of the reasons I'd prever CG to Navy). If it was just me, then I'd have no problem with it, but I came from a Navy family, and don't want my daughter to be without me that much. I hear that the job to avoid in order to not get deployed is PSU... I'm kind of interested in NCW due to my Navy heritage...

Right now I'm 28 and a patent examiner... In 5 years, I will be promoted to primary examiner which means I can sign my own work and telecommute, which will offer me the flexibility to devote the time needed to the CGR, so I was planning on waiting till then to apply (I'll be 33). Plenty of time to weigh everything and get in shape I suppose (oh, and to convince my wife to get on board with the idea ). I can't really consider enlisting because I can't afford to take so much time off for boot camp... I can use my own vacation time one year to go to ROIC though (again, risking the wrath of my wife...)

No one has asked this yet, but why do you want to join? It appears you are very interested in avoiding any lengthy deployement. Even if you don't go PSU you could still be activated for an extended period of time which could result in the same lengthy separation from your family that would occur if you were in a PSU.

well, basically for the same reason I've considered joining the local rescue squad, etc... I have a desire to help people and to do and see interesting things... I like my job, but it is pretty much the same thing from day to day. Coupling this with my love of the water and boating, and the CGR seems like a good fit...

Incidentally, I spent two years of my undergrad degree at USNA, so I do have a good idea of what I'd be getting into. I did not finish there due to physical reasons which I believe are now resolved, but now I have a family which I didn't back then (and a master's degree and a high paying job); hence my concern about deployment and why I didn't go back to get my Navy commission.

quote:

I'm kind of interested in NCW due to my Navy heritage...

Naval Coastal Warfare is DEPLOYABLE as with the PSU. You may want to ask the hard questions now about being a Reserve = MOBILIZATION(it may not be overseas as much, but it does happen). Your wife is a BIG factor, since she has to sign a SPOUSAL CONSENT form. She needs to know, when you are called up, you go. CPO Kalbach

not that I would try it, but does that spousal consent form mean that she can actually stop me from joining if I decided to do it over her protest?

and I realize NCW is likely deployable, and therefore probably wouldn't be my first job choice; it's just something of interest to me due to my background... of course I also realize my choice is secondary to the needs of the CGR...

I still can't see where you are going with this. You want to join, yet don't want to be deployed or have to work more than one weekend a month/2weeks ADT.

NCW deploys on the Navy schedule, think 12+ months. As an O, you may not be drilling near your home, you may end up across the US, paying for transportation out of pocket.

Perhaps you may have more luck with your local VFD. You get to stay home and can't be sent anywhere, I say this due to the statements you have made.

quote:

not that I would try it, but does that spousal consent form mean that she can actually stop me from joining if I decided to do it over her protest?

Yup, she doesn't sign, you don't join. I found out the hard way my first year as a recruiter, lost 2 applicants because spouse would not sign. A recruiter will not process you, unless your spouse is onboard. Think about it, you would be wasting both your times on something that's not going to happen if you spouse is not onboard. Again, time to dig deep inside and see if the Coast Guard or any military service is going to work for both you and the spouse. CPO Kalbach

quote:

Originally posted by BTDT:
I still can't see where you are going with this. You want to join, yet don't want to be deployed or have to work more than one weekend a month/2weeks ADT.

NCW deploys on the Navy schedule, think 12+ months. As an O, you may not be drilling near your home, you may end up across the US, paying for transportation out of pocket.

Perhaps you may have more luck with your local VFD. You get to stay home and can't be sent anywhere, I say this due to the statements you have made.

I should have chosen my original words better... I have no problem with putting in more than one weekend a month/2 weeks a year, in fact I'd likely not be satisfied with only that much involvement; when I asked if that's what it really is, I was focusing on the deployment issue.

NCW is just an interest of mine, I wouldn't really put it as my choice billet. My real desire is to be able to help people; surely there are CGR units focused on the safety and rescue side of things?

Anyway, it may all be a moot point, since my wife does not seem to be on board with the idea at the moment. I plan to volunteer for my local auxiliary flotilla and see if that scratches my itch...

quote:

I plan to volunteer for my local auxiliary flotilla and see if that scratches my itch...

That's a great place to start and maybe ease your spouse into things. She can even be part of the Auxillary if she wants. CPO Kalbach

Does anyone know about the SRDC timeline? My packet will be submitted in Nov. and the Panel convenes in January. Will I be notified if I have been accepted before the next round of applications are due (Feb.). If not, I will have to wait another year before I can apply again. My recruiter wasn't sure.

Selected Reserve Direct Commission Panel (SRDC 01-08)

Panel Convenes: 07 January 2008
CGRC Deadline: 13 November 2007
Recruiter Deadline: 15 October 2007
ESO Deadline: 17 September 2007

Selected Reserve Direct Commission Panel (SRDC 02-08)

Panel Convenes: 31 March 2008
CGRC Deadline: 25 February 2008
Recruiter Deadline: 28 January 2008
ESO Deadline: 17 December 2007

Thanks for the prompt reply. I have this timeline and it doesn't mention anything about notification. Do you know when they will be notifying applicants?