Are you front office (i.e., revenue generating roles) or back office (i.e., non-revenue generating roles as IT, risk, security)? I'm on my second financial institution and it's been the same experience: CEO and C-level praises military and wants recruiting, however, many lifer managers do not adhere to or tow the line: your success as a Reservist and employee are directly relation to your manager.
I am in revenue generating roles and work with the revenue generating hiring managers, just had a guy hired yesterday whose second job listed is his Navy Reserve job.
Yep, each person has to make their own value judgement on what works for them. The only hard part is that most of the people who pitch the reserves are guys who are excited about it. I've had lots of people try and recruit me into the reserves because it works for them. But my personal assessment was that it wasn't going to work for me. So I hope I don't come across as poo-pooing the reserves or reservists, I'm just sharing my story and perspective. It seems that the reserves works the best for airline guys and then CSS and GS in decreasing order. I couldn't imagine trying to do startup stuff or personal small business as a reservist.
Yes, I am excited about earning > $3,200 per month in retirement pay for doing very little "work."
People succeed all the time. Where it hurts is if/when you get mobilized, but it's still doable... Recently retired 1835/O6 that I know ran/runs hedge funds.. Another 1835/O6 that I know is a partner at one of the top consulting firms in the world. another 1835/O6 that I know is a partner at a law firm. Another recently retired 1835/O6 that I know is an exec at Microsoft.
This I have to agree with. When you're working at a large company, there's enough folks to cover down that you can go on orders or even MOB and things won't go sideways. Much. But as a sole proprietor, business owner, or key member of a small business? Yeah, bad headwork there.
Current Chief of Navy Reserve is/was CEO and founder of an ad agency in New York City when he picked up his third star.
He'e the second flag I know who's made it work... RDML Gene Price is another. I've know him since he was an O6 on the staff at NAVIFOR Region Southeast back in 2009/2010.
Angling to the VTU costs you nothing but time, which now consists of telecommuting during each drill weekend. Been this way for > 1.5 years. No 2 week annual orders requirement, no mobs. You are a free agent earning points without the b.s. nonsense associated with SELRES. Easy day.
I've run into a surprising number of civilian attorneys who are non-JAGC reservists. Like I can think of at least three aviators: one of my old RAG instructors and two of my SELRES COs.
Eh. Threadjacks and tangents are a time-honored AWs tradition, and I doubt anyone will object if someone eventually chimes in with a more on-original-topic post. I can split it off if anyone thinks it's a big deal.
Part of this is, possibly, the Navy’s extremely high expectations and low selection rates for reserve JAG accessions. You basically need to be a prior active duty JAG, is what I’m told.
