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Post by dukehoops on Jul 18, 2014 6:54:21 GMT -5
Please let me know if you have any thoughts on the compatibility of military reserve service with serving as an ALJ. I am in the Army Reserve and would like to continue to serve until I have to retire in 4 years, although I could retire at any time. Just wondering if anyone on the Board has any experience with how that might be received or perceived. Thanks!
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Post by Friant on Jul 18, 2014 8:00:20 GMT -5
I'm not an ALJ-only a wannabe (and recently retired from the USAR). I have a good friend who is an ALJ and is still in the Army Reserves. It's doable but requires advanced planning. IIRC, he sets his docket 4 months out which he must build in his USAR time. It does limit any volunteering for last-minute calls to duty (but that can be a good thing as well). He told me he gets no flack from his SSA office.
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Post by Ace Midnight on Jul 18, 2014 8:03:47 GMT -5
Please let me know if you have any thoughts on the compatibility of military reserve service with serving as an ALJ. I am in the Army Reserve and would like to continue to serve until I have to retire in 4 years, although I could retire at any time. Just wondering if anyone on the Board has any experience with how that might be received or perceived. Thanks! We've probably covered a lot of the same ground, Duke - I also have an MRD at the end of 2018. I think one of our judges continued with USAR duties after appointment. I expect to, but it all depends on location. |
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Post by dukehoops on Jul 18, 2014 8:10:30 GMT -5
Please let me know if you have any thoughts on the compatibility of military reserve service with serving as an ALJ. I am in the Army Reserve and would like to continue to serve until I have to retire in 4 years, although I could retire at any time. Just wondering if anyone on the Board has any experience with how that might be received or perceived. Thanks! We've probably covered a lot of the same ground, Duke - I also have an MRD at the end of 2018. I think one of our judges continued with USAR duties after appointment. I expect to, but it all depends on location. Thanks Ace. Will send you a PM later today. |
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Post by chessparent on Jul 18, 2014 9:44:24 GMT -5
I have no idea, but thank you for your continuing service.
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Post by cowboy on Jul 18, 2014 10:16:32 GMT -5
It can be done. The US Government is chiefly aware of the process of any US employee serving in the reserves and the possibility of duty and deployment. First, you have the choice when to schedule hearings, so you plan them around the time you will be out of the office, whether it is vacation or duty. Secondly, many ALJs pick up other hearings when last minute changes need to be done. They are pretty good about it. Management doesn't blink twice.
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Post by cheesy on Jul 18, 2014 11:26:36 GMT -5
Given that I'm in the Navy Reserves, I'm in the same boat.
Pun intended.
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Post by futuressaalj on Jul 18, 2014 11:48:26 GMT -5
Just do not follow this ALJs example: ALJ Fired |
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Post by dukehoops on Jul 18, 2014 12:13:23 GMT -5
Just do not follow this ALJs example: ALJ FiredDuly noted. |
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Post by workdrone on Jul 19, 2014 21:07:24 GMT -5
It can be done. The US Government is chiefly aware of the process of any US employee serving in the reserves and the possibility of duty and deployment. First, you have the choice when to schedule hearings, so you plan them around the time you will be out of the office, whether it is vacation or duty. Secondly, many ALJs pick up other hearings when last minute changes need to be done. They are pretty good about it. Management doesn't blink twice. Agreed. I have known quite a few ALJs who were in the Reserves during my career with ODAR, and the ones I known were excellent ALJs who ably balanced their two careers. They got 120 hours of military leave every year like all federal employees with Reserve obligation, and taking time off to do Reserve duty is not a problem as long as they planned it around their hearing schedules. One of them even mobilized for Iraqi Freedom and came back a year later without any issue. The bottom line is that as long as you have 500+ dispos a year and don't start cancelling hearings at the last minute to do reserve work, no one in your office will mind one bit. |
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Post by hamster on Jul 20, 2014 5:42:42 GMT -5
It can be done. The US Government is chiefly aware of the process of any US employee serving in the reserves and the possibility of duty and deployment. First, you have the choice when to schedule hearings, so you plan them around the time you will be out of the office, whether it is vacation or duty. Secondly, many ALJs pick up other hearings when last minute changes need to be done. They are pretty good about it. Management doesn't blink twice. Agreed. I have known quite a few ALJs who were in the Reserves during my career with ODAR, and the ones I known were excellent ALJs who ably balanced their two careers. They got 120 hours of military leave every year like all federal employees with Reserve obligation, and taking time off to do Reserve duty is not a problem as long as they planned it around their hearing schedules. One of them even mobilized for Iraqi Freedom and came back a year later without any issue. The bottom line is that as long as you have 500+ dispos a year and don't start cancelling hearings at the last minute to do reserve work, no one in your office will mind one bit. As I said in prior posts, I am well-familiar with the Philly East office, which is where I recall you're going. The HOCALJ is a West Point graduate, if that will set your mind at ease. There's one retired USAFR enlisted SCT, and the helpful, capable, top-notch guy who keeps the time and attendance is a traditional Guardsman or Reservist NCO, can't remember which. Throughout the Agency, there are plenty of ALJs who are retired military, and I bet plenty who are still drilling Guardsmen and Reservists. You won't have a problem. I am a retired JAG myself, and am amazed at the many, many JAGs I recognize in the ALJ Corps, from all the Services. Nobody will give you a hard time about your drilling requirements and your annual tour...which would be contrary to federal law, anyway. Best, Hamster |
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Post by thelonestranger on Jul 22, 2014 13:06:42 GMT -5
OMHA has multiple retired reserve ALJs as well as a few not yet retired. ODAR is the same.
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Post by arkstfan on Jul 25, 2014 13:27:22 GMT -5
I had forgotten the Atlanta story. As everyone is noting, you set your docket 3-6 months out. Just mark your unavailable days on the calendar as soon as you know them then adjust your schedule to fit. Generally you can get hearings covered for last minute emergencies but you won't see many ALJ's taking a "mental health day" or staying home with a common cold when hearings are scheduled because you don't want to impose the burden on others and send them into hearings unprepared.
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Post by hamster on Jul 25, 2014 14:10:21 GMT -5
I had forgotten the Atlanta story. As everyone is noting, you set your docket 3-6 months out. Just mark your unavailable days on the calendar as soon as you know them then adjust your schedule to fit. Generally you can get hearings covered for last minute emergencies but you won't see many ALJ's taking a "mental health day" or staying home with a common cold when hearings are scheduled because you don't want to impose the burden on others and send them into hearings unprepared. I schedule my hearings for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. That way, if I need a "mental health day," I can turn it into a "mental health weekend" and won't need to cancel any hearings. But if one has a bona fide emergency, or one is really sick, and you just can't do your hearings that day, your colleagues will understand. The claimants might get miffed if no one is available to pick up your cases that day, but if you're out, you're out. I've had to cancel just two days' of hearings in 2.5 years, but sometimes there's just no way around it. Again, don't worry about your military commitments at all. That won't be a problem. Best, Hamster |
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Post by dcasea on Jan 20, 2016 14:03:54 GMT -5
Anyone know: is it possible to delay the ALJ hiring process for military leave from one's current federal job without leaving the ALJ process entirely?
For example, if one is on the register, but is on military leave at the JAG officer basic course when a cert is pulled and so can't interview, can the interview be rescheduled in 2 or 3 months' time? Or, is on the register, on a cert, but can't interview... or has interviewed and is offered an ODAR position, but can't start in a month's time?
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Post by sealaw90 on Jan 20, 2016 17:00:44 GMT -5
Anyone know: is it possible to delay the ALJ hiring process for military leave from one's current federal job without leaving the ALJ process entirely? For example, if one is on the register, but is on military leave at the JAG officer basic course when a cert is pulled and so can't interview, can the interview be rescheduled in 2 or 3 months' time? Or, is on the register, on a cert, but can't interview... or has interviewed and is offered an ODAR position, but can't start in a month's time? dcasea, those are all separate situations and the answer can vary. I will take great creative license with your abbreviated fact pattern, so here goes:
1) JAG A is a federal employee who is on military leave to attend the basic course in beautiful Charlottesville, VA (If your in Newport RI now, I feel sorry for your cold feet crossing the bridge every morning. If you're in Montgomery, well, you're in Montgomery, I'll leave it at that). While checking his phone, he see an email from ODAR letting him know he's on a cert for the following ____ cities. Of course, you knew this would happen because your buddies on the ALJ Board had spoken about the tentative hiring dates in advance of the actual date of the notification that you made the cert. ****here's the important point*** Having already known that ODAR would be conducting a hiring on approximately X date, and knowing when the JAG Basic course was going to be (the schedule is set a year in advance) you would know whether you should suspend yourself from the ALJ register BEFOREHAND. You should contact OPM and ask to be suspended from the register. You can ask to be placed back on the register at any time within 1 year from the date you ask to be suspended.
2) JAG B makes a cert, come out to Falls church, interviews and is offered a position, but they can't start in a month. Well, it depends. Is the reason you can't start because you are on Title 10 orders, or just drilling, or going to a cool class on military leave from your employer? Think voluntary verses involuntary. If you are on active duty, I have had friends who got two different responses - one was told by ODAR that they basically had to turn down the offer, although it wouldn't really be held against them. Another friend was allowed to delay the start date so didn't need to turn it down. When the friend who had to turn down the first offer was offered another ALJ position several months later (in a different city because that city was now crossed off the list) they were told by ODAR "take or leave it, this is your last chance". They took their 24 hours as given by ODAR to decide, asked the PTB and, LO AND BEHOLD, that military branch of the US armed forces magically released them from active duty (retirement) in record time! It can be done!!
3) I have never heard anyone being able to reschedule their interview, but there are wiser people on this board who may know more.
4) You can either deal with OPM or you can deal with ODAR. There are threads on this board that talk about suspending yourself from the register for short or long periods of time. Try to search for those. If you have a truly unique situation, you can always pm me to discuss.
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Post by dcasea on Jan 22, 2016 13:34:28 GMT -5
This is all extremely helpful, as either scenario A or B might come about depending on exactly when the next set of NOR's come out and the next cert after that, vs the next FY 16 JAOBC or the one after that. Thanks!
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Post by sealaw90 on Jan 22, 2016 13:43:21 GMT -5
This is all extremely helpful, as either scenario A or B might come about depending on exactly when the next set of NOR's come out and the next cert after that, vs the next FY 16 JAOBC or the one after that. Thanks! glad to be some help. Use the OPM process to your advantage and stay tuned to this board so you can time your suspensions from the register (if needed) without harming your ALJ prospects and military duty. |
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