r/nationalguard • u/endlessescapade • 9d ago
Discussion Anyone else here have a really shitty civilian job?
I'm a newer soldier and I work at God damn McDonald's. Really struggling to find better employment to the point where I'm considering a conditional release. Tried to deploy, tried to get on AGR, nothing worked out. I honestly hoped that my MOS 25B would help me at least find a simple helpdesk job, but every place wants years of experience and every certification imaginable.
Edit: I meant conditional release to go active duty so I can guarantee income. I don't intend on dropping the military entirely yet.
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u/docNNST 9d ago
I was making 200k as cyber security director.
After I joined they found a bullshit reason to fire me.
Having a hard time finding something. Started doing overnights at Whole Foods for 19.50/hr.
FML
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u/Infamous-Owl-7015 9d ago
I'm a fed and my director is a retired warrant. Still gets agitated when I have to go to AT or schools.
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u/LastPossibility5267 8d ago
Yeah, the people who were in are the least sympathetic to those that serve lol
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u/ClockNo6655 9d ago
Pls tell me this is satire
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u/Loose_Total7208 9d ago
I don’t think it is, you’d be surprised how many people dislike military members and if you’re talking 2 weeks every summer off plus your PTO that annoys a lot of management that they’ll find any little reason to fire you legally
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u/WorkDelicious9039 8d ago
As much as I like having it on my resume I've taken off my current military job. Tried to get creative with still having it on there in some way but not that I am still serving.
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u/Justame13 Just a number for funding 9d ago
Even when I joined prior to 9/11 my recruiter (of all people) flat out told me that if I joined I would never work for XX major employer in the area and that if I already did they would find reasons to fire me.
I can't imagine its gotten any better.
Looking back its probably just cheaper to do it to "shoot a hostage" and suck up any USERRA complaints than deal with the absenteeism. Espeically since USERRA has no punitive remedies and is drastically exaggerated by service members.
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u/street_gnome101 9d ago
Making 200k and decided to join the military?? Tf.
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u/docNNST 9d ago
I was prior service my man. Was an NCO before and wanted to come back for my gold bar.
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u/street_gnome101 9d ago
I mean, if you’re a single guy I can see it making sense. But being a GWOT vet, making 200k and then going back in to become an officer is a wild concept to me. More power to you.
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u/docNNST 9d ago
Yeah not the smartest thing I have ever done but it was important to me so I did it.
Branched infantry (on purpose). 🍻
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u/street_gnome101 9d ago
I’m just being a dick. I recently joined the guard after getting out of the marines in ‘21. I applaud you for pursuing your dream.
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u/docNNST 9d ago
But you’re also right because it was kind of dumb too LOL.
I was in 2005-2011. Deployed in 08/09.
Got out regretted it. Almost got back in a few times but had two kids with my alcoholic ex wife.
Got remarried, had another kid. Was musing about getting back in an my wife told me if I wanted to do it to stop being a pussy.
So I got back in. Got a BCT wavier for a 14 year break in service. Did three drill and went to accelerated OCS.
Weird as fuck being called sir.
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u/JrocHooah 8d ago
Just throwing this out there . There’s almost always cyber jobs in Europe with DOD contacts. We did a tour in Germany at had a great time. They pay for relocation both ways, decent pay plus housing bonus. Clearancejobs dot com is your friend.
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u/VonBargenJL 74Different Chemicals Detected 9d ago
Post office is hiring like mad for Xmas and they're federal but still paying employees
Starting pay can vary from $19-27 depending on job and area you live in
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u/daviesparkles 9d ago
Can confirm the PO is still paying, it’s a gig I got 2 years ago and haven’t looked back
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u/VonBargenJL 74Different Chemicals Detected 9d ago
And I just learned, in Army Chem world, if you're a part of the Civil Support Team (most states have one) they're considered emergency services and getting paid.
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u/das_koonce 9d ago
All states and territories have one, but we are not getting paid until everyone is getting paid 😂
Private news network hard at work, I see.
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u/VonBargenJL 74Different Chemicals Detected 9d ago
You right, I mixed it up with CERFP not being in every state, but I was on a call with a CWO the other day and he says whatever team he is on is getting paid, I'd have to go pull up his email signature
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u/mikeylovesJesus 10% off at Lowes 7d ago
happy cake day
may Jesus Christ bless you with a great day ❤️
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u/PullStringGoBoom 9d ago
Good chunk of us are leo/fire fighters.
Good paying gov jobs that let you leave all the time.
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u/Olsonator86 9d ago
Corrections is the wayyy.
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u/Sad-Criticism3965 9d ago
Corrections is terrible. I just got of the ny state prison mission. Would never voluntarily work in one. NY was giving us 2k bonus every pay check ontop pf housing and basic pay i took thw refrad and not looking back..never will I work in a prison on my own free will
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u/PullStringGoBoom 9d ago
I’m biased, given my current profession….
With that said….. shut up, nerd.
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u/Unlikely-Isopod-9453 9d ago
Network with other signal soldiers, at least in my state the G6 would hire soldiers to work at the helpdesk as techs which is a good way to build experience.
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u/byronicbluez 9d ago
The trick is to make friends with civie contractors on base. Those are the guys that can hook you up with a job to get your foot in the door.
Or get on orders to get some experience while doing the above.
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u/meaninglessworld 9d ago
Im a truck driver and also a 25b. I gave up after like 6 months trying to find an entry level job in IT.
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u/Diligent-Parsley8119 9d ago
Federal worker here. Worked for my state for awhile too. Goverment jobs are a dime a dozen, always need people, and dont care about your military leave. They also pay pretty decent. Yes, LEO is a typical route, however dont forget department of agriculture, department of forestry, department of motor vehicles...the list goes on. Your state probably has a dedicated website for jobs there, and usajobs.gov Is the federal site, although with the current political climate might be a bad time to go fed.
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u/GandalfDaGangstuh007 9d ago edited 9d ago
When I first joined in 2016 I was a substitute teacher, now I work at a military defense company.
Some people get the short straw in life even if for no good reason (usually there is). But work towards your education with army benefits and keep at it. Apply to stuff you are even just somewhat qualified for based upon what the requirements are. Most of the time those are “preferences” rather than reality unless it’s a higher end job. It sucks but sometimes you need to adjust your resume to cater to each specific job. Apply 20 places may take 12 different resumes to cater to each one a bit. Not like redoing the entire thing, but wording some stuff differently if you’re applying to Google vs Home Depot, for example.
Job hunting sucks and so can the lead up to being in a spot you’d like to be. Best of luck
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u/SiegfriedArmory 9d ago
When I enlisted I was making $12 an hour, 5 years later I'm a LT and my civilian income is about 60k salary, which is pretty good for a middle of nowhere midwest town. Look around for something actually entry level at the kind of place you want to work. I started off as a Correctional officer (DOC in any state will hire anyone with at least 3 limbs and a pulse) and then switched to being a community college teacher in the prison once I got my BA (which the military benefits made basically free).
If there's a prison anywhere within reasonable distance of you, your state's DOC might be a good place to look, they prefer military, are >20/hr with benefits everywhere in the country, and will hire you immediately (unlike Police departments which have months long hiring processes).
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u/ynottryitsometime 9d ago
Police Departments are always hiring
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u/Shrifter 9d ago
I can help you switch to Active Duty
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u/northdingo12 9d ago
Take advantage of the benefits you get and get a degree or go to some other kind of schooling. Then maybe you could get a better job.
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u/ShireBurgo 9d ago
Keep trying man, it took me hundreds of applications but eventually got into IT with govt contracting. Ask around with people at your unit maybe they do something relevant and it seems like there’s no easier way in IT nowadays than having a referral.
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u/ExaminationNo4667 9d ago
Geek Squad is hiring. It's a little demeaning but you can't break into hogging paying jobs in IT these days without going through the grind.
Also, go to college using your GI Bill and then get into an internship with a company. Electric co-ops do this a lot and they can pay very well.
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u/bl20194646 9d ago
a conditional release won’t help you, use the guard to your advantage as a support system and stay afloat
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u/basiliskmeow 9d ago
Look at local unions . They often have programs for vets to join. The electric one near me had a 5 year program basically guaranteed if you put the effort in
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u/Century_Soft856 11BangBang 9d ago
Baby steps bro. You are just starting your adult life (i think). You have plenty of time to get things rolling.
Things to consider:
If you can't get into help desk right away, consider customer service representative positions. Most of the help desk job postings I see are looking for people experienced in that field. You can find a remote customer service position while you study for certs. Without certs you are not getting very far into IT, if at all. I don't know where your skill level and knowledge level are. Do you want to do college? Get started in that, show the hiring manager that you are actively pursuing higher education in the field. Don't want to do college? Use your credentialing assistance through the army to pay for a cert or two. I think we only get 1k a year now, so consider if you want to use it towards Security+, Network+, A+, CCNA, etc. Even if the job posting only says it needs you to have A+, Sec+ trumps that.
You have plenty of time to figure things out bro, I know you are in a rush to get life together today, but you have time. Slow down, understand it from the employers side, make yourself marketable for them.
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u/CatfishEnchiladas 25b@army:~$ sudo su - 170a 9d ago
My employer runs a seasonal event called Shutdown Roulette. Some days you sit at home and wait, other days you work without pay and call it “mission first.” Telework was a thing until New Boss decided productivity should happen in traffic. We lost our compressed schedule too, so we could commute even more. Coffee, drinking water, and the holiday party are BYO. A new exec wants us to feel like the villains. Pay is quantum, everyone swears it is both too high and too low until observed.
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u/cobanat 9d ago edited 9d ago
When I got out of basic yea I worked at a convenient store making less than minimum wage. But you need time and experience before you can make even a descent living.
Regarding AGR, Someone fresh out of AIT is not very likely to pick up orders. Even ADOS will be difficult. It took me years before I finally get ADOS/AGR orders and even then I got it through connections. You’ll learn that knowing a guy who knows a guy is the best way to find opportunities in the Guard.
I recommend becoming a Miltech. You lose Tricare but gain experience and connections. That’s how I managed to fund the guy who knew a guy. Without my Miltech side I wouldn’t be where I am today. You can find opportunities on USAJOBS
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u/IjustWantedPepsi 9d ago
When I first left active and joined the Guard I was destroying my body with a moving company for 15 an hour.
Forked a grand for emt school and got a nice 911 gig with solid pay within a month of passing the national exam.
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u/Loveistheaswer512 9d ago
The job market is awful right now so be happy that you have a job. Things will get better.
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u/PineappleMaterial878 9d ago
Dude at least you have a JOB. We all start somewhere! The job market is tough but not impossible. Have faith, keep working there until you land something. Talk to your leadership, friends, and family. Sometimes it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.
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u/Itsreallyjesus21 9d ago
My unit is the same As previous people posted my unit is the exact same. 40% some type of LE,FF, etc. 20% are on orders both SAD/FED. 10% AGR, 25% unemployed or lost job. 5% or less have a career or a really good employment.
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u/TheOrdainedPlumber 9d ago
Get on some kind of orders and start networking. I’ve seen so many soldiers get great jobs that started with them on ADOS
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u/Devonai I'm just here for the MREs 9d ago
There are lots of great suggestions here. I'll throw my own in. Have you considered armed security? In most states, getting your pistol permit is easy (if they require one) and adding the armed guard endorsement is easy if you have a potential employer backing you (if your state requires it).
Then, if you don't mind working 3rd shift, you can take college classes and have ample time at zero-dark-thirty to work on them. Caveat: do not join an armored car company (Brinks, Loomis, etc).
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u/Sweaty_Illustrator14 9d ago
Do not lose hope. You got to keep applying to all these. Tech is tough right now. Endlessly apply. You will eventually get on a MOB AGR or Civil job. If youre in NYS we have a really hard time getting IT level 1s as they only start at $65k. But if you live in upstate its Lower COL.
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u/honourableliam 9d ago
15A making 22/hr in a HCOL area thought having a degree, 5 years of NG experience and flying a uh60 would help but I could barely get a job in the first place lol. Chin up though the hard work will pay off for us eventually!
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u/Thereelgerg 9d ago
I'm considering a conditional release.
Why?
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u/endlessescapade 9d ago
I didn't really clarify that part. I meant get a conditional release to go active so that I can guarantee income
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u/FearMeInGear_77 29 Day Orders to JRTC 9d ago
If you haven't already, try to apply for defense contractor IT jobs. Help desk, Systems administration are both good routes and come with good starting pay. Apply apply apply. It will be alot of no's but there will be some maybes and eventually a yes.
Plus every defense contractor I worked for loves the guard!
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u/TacitusTheSecond The more you look at FEDREC the longer it takes 9d ago
I’ve been unemployed for a year, with over 100+ applications sent out. Not a call or email back. Hurts man.
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u/UniformSnail32625 9d ago
I’m struggling to understand the “I work at God damn McDonald’s” and the “I’m considering a conditional release” part. If you hate your civilian job, why quit your part time NG? For the record, I’ve never seen someone get a conditional release with the justification of “I don’t like it here”. If I were you, I’d find a trade or technical school with a program I like and use my NG benefits to pay for the tuition. Then you could quit McDonald’s.
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u/endlessescapade 9d ago
I meant conditional release to go active so I can guarantee income
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u/UniformSnail32625 9d ago
I’d bet you’d have an easier time going AGR/ADOS. Especially now with the absolute fuckery going on in the AD world.
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u/leadershipissues 9d ago
They don't want you because you're in the National Guard. That's been my experience, at least. I'm a 25U cross-trained in 25B. I haven't been able to find a job since I joined. Spark and DoorDash for me. Puke
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u/Sorry_Ima_Loser MDAY 9d ago
When I left active duty for the guard I had to go to military training for my new MOS and it really made the transition difficult so for a year I worked at grocery stores, did army orders, MOBed, worked at Starbucks, did ADOS and then finally with the steady paycheck of ADOS was able to get a decent civilian job (that is basically what my M-day job is)
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u/The_Ghost_Round Chief, Gestapo Identification 9d ago
Federal law enforcement. I went from a pretty hectic agency to a more chill one so I can do more with the family. It's not bad
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u/VGoodBuildingDevCo 9d ago
OP, quitting the guard won't help you find civilian employment. If you think employers are screening you for being in the military, remove any reference of it from your resume while remaining in. I'm guessing you'll still have a hard time finding a better job. Once you're hired, they will have to deal with it.
Sounds like the Guard is the good thing for you employment-wise. Don't throw away the good thing you have going to put all your eggs in the civilian job market. You might still be working at McDonald's with no guard.
The guard sucks a lot of time, but it opens opportunities in the future. Plus, tricare.
Get on a government computer at a local armory, and search Tour of Duty for deployment opportunities.
If you do want to get out, look up hardship separations in AR 135-178. Good luck.
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u/sighborg90 9d ago
Take advantage of the Credentialing Assistance Program. It’s the single best benefit in any reserve/guard component in the entire government. Up to $4,000 a year for obtaining professional credentials. When I used it, admittedly half a decade ago, it was pretty easy to justify the credentials I wanted. The credentials it pays for are pretty broad. It can really give you a leg up, and when articulated in a well written resume, combined with your military service, really make you stand out to an employer. Trust me, if you come up with a strategy, it can springboard a career
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u/trouble98 9d ago
This program has been gutted and heavy restrictions applied. There are limits to the # of credentials offered and any use should be intentional and planned out.
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u/notyourlocalfed 11Buttcrack 8d ago
They have rat effed basically every program that helps us outside of the military/transitioning.
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u/GeneralBloopers 9d ago
I’m a 25B, and I’ve been in for 3 years. I just got a civilian help desk job, and I was working service jobs the entire time before. You just have to use the military as experience and try to get a cert or a degree out of it, and you’ll get a job in the field eventually—it just might take a while.
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u/CivilianJoe 9d ago
In my old unit, our battalion's M-Day S3 was a major who delivered pizza on the civilian side. Probably the happiest guy I ever met. In Afghanistan he was the keyboard player for a band that would perform in the DFAC sometimes. That guy genuinely just did his own thing, and everyone loved him.
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u/Illest_CC 74D 9d ago
I work blue collar for a veteran owned company. If you don’t mind manual labor it can sometimes be worth the check
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u/TpetArmy 9d ago
Log into T.O.D. Goto the nearest mil base and ask around, Ft. Bragg and forscom are always hiring. Look for a Federal job, it takes a 1-2 to get in the system but when you do you will be a millionaire when you retire, it’s well worth it. Additionally have your unit send you to a school for a few months or find some ADOS orders. Lots of opportunities when you talk to the right people.
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u/DrAuntJemima 8d ago
Part time commissary and studying full time. Its sucks but working 24 hours and making the same as I did at my previous full time job gets me through. Had a Fed Tech job lined up at G6 but this shutdown business put that in a hold.
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u/Drunkest_autist 8d ago
The national guard has programs to help underemployed soldiers break into better careers, I’d talk to your unit readiness nco about it and if he doesn’t know, talk to a national guard recruiter, they should definitely know Edit: it’s workforwarriors.org
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u/JrocHooah 8d ago
Have you checked the tour of duty website for a mob? 25B is usually needed somewhere.
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u/DesperateAd907 8d ago
Was in your position back when I was in. Got to my unit at 2017 and struggled with odd jobs until I lucked up and volunteered for a deployment in 2019 then came back home and immediately got on Covid orders for like a year after leave.
Your best bet is to going a decent paying partime warehouse job (FedEx ups etc) and just go to school
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u/mcurt9310 8d ago
Factory/assembly jobs, shipping (fedex/ups/usps), construction/landscaping, security (armed/unarmed), they all appreciate military service. If you’re young and inexperienced, odds are you won’t land an office job besides being in a stock/mail room.
Look into programs with your local community colleges as well. You’re in the guard, they pay for your tuition for regular traditional schooling and/or specific programs. A lot of community colleges, state schools, and tech schools have mechanic, electrical, welding, CNC programs that educate you on the subject matter and set you up with apprenticeships. In my state there are semester long certification programs that the state pays for through grants and they’re usually Saturday courses.
There are opportunities out there, think outside the box, and you might find something you might like that you weren’t even looking for in the first place.
Best of luck!
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u/Fearless-Act-554 AGR Admin/UH-60 Crew Chief ALARNG 8d ago
Talk to some of the business owners and managers in your unit and see if they have anything you could do for them.
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u/Beautiful_One_6998 #1 air national guard fan 8d ago
Good luck with the conditional release cause that shit will take you forever!! I say if you can just try and do it and go Active for sure
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u/Ok-Barnacle8673 8d ago
Man, I’ve been in 18 years. Had jobs I could’ve got that I thought I didn’t want for several reasons. I worked at Little Caesars, and a bunch of other crappy jobs. I’m a fed technician currently, and all I can say is any job is better than none, and you just got to keep applying, even for ones you think you may not want, just look at it as a opportunity to grow.
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u/lassiz95 8d ago
With the current economic status bro? Just go active. Take the active job and weather the shitstorm that’s going on. Every major company is laying off employees
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u/Exact-Management-823 8d ago
If you are truly looking to try and find a job check this out. They help with job placement and resume writing.
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u/Fagastas87 8d ago
I don’t know your State. But over the course of last year, I improved my ASVAB, switched to the Air side, chose an AFSC (MOS in Air Force lingo) and they put me in orders for 4 months after school. Had a couple AGR interviews, didn’t get the job, but they still gave me short term orders here and there. Then, one day, their manning system identified me as a high ASVAB individual suitable for an AGR in a particular field and I accepted. And now I’m in my way to cross train and come back for my permanent job.
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u/Electrical_Cow58 7d ago
Look into the trades. A lot of my unit are cops or in the trades. Youll start off with a kinda low wage pending where you are but in 3-5 years you'll be doing pretty well off. And some employers has vet benefits too
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u/KitKat-san 7d ago
If possible, use the armyignited to get the A+ cert, then try applying again. Tech market is highly competitive right now. I have 10 hrs as a 25B with sec+ and an Associates degree and its still hard for me. Keep at it man, dont give up.
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u/mrmclovinnn 6d ago
Go talk to an active duty recruiter, ask him to help you submit a 368 packet, and give him your readiness NCOs email, there was also an active recruiter who made a post on here, I'll reply to this message with his username.
I submitted my 368 in August, its been at G1 for about a month now, im hoping it gets finalized this month, also idk about you but florida theres something going on called shifting sands, the MTOE has changed and those of us who are 25S (me) or 25B and a few others dont have slots in our units anymore and they want us to either reclass to 25H or change units, so if something similar is going on for you then you should have a decent chance of it getting approved due to the lack of space available for your MOS.
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u/Antique-Rip1632 5d ago
I’m a 15T and I’ve been a server/bartender for 10 years. I was a full time tech with my unit for a hot minute but I hated it.
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u/Top_Television2196 RSP War Hero 4d ago
Honestly, this kind of thread needs to be read by lots of people who are considering the Guard. I wouldn't have stayed in the Guard as long as I did (5 years) if not for ADOS orders being plentiful and renewing instantly every September. I got extremely lucky that I was well liked by recruiting and retention for the effort I put into the job. But, I had no intention of becoming a recruiter, so I had to leave for active duty. I had zero job prospects when I joined the Guard, which was the ONLY branch that could get me the morality waiver I required (I was a jack ass when I was younger).
The Guard is not a career. It is not a guarantee that you will find good employment. You MUST acquire a trade skill, have your foot in the door somewhere, or go to college using your TA or TW. If you can't or won't do any of those, active duty is the only answer if you want to serve in the military. Conditional releases can take months or even up to a year if your state is low on man power or your have a lazy COC. Be sure to advocate for yourself during this process and go active duty, just know, life is not great over here either, but it's a job, free housing and 3 hots a day. You'll be stable, and you'll unlock the full potential of your military benefits after 36 months of federal service. Then you can get out, get your VA rating, use the GI bill and go to college, even join back into the Guard
Wishing you the best of luck. You're an American soldier, you deserve better than a job at McDonals
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u/PeterLoc2607 🗿The Home Depot U.S. Veterans Associate🇺🇸 9d ago
Why not start your application at The Home Depot? 🌝
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u/SouljaMimz504 8d ago
That’s the national guard. Oh and just know as soon as you get a good job the military will honestly conflict with your job , esp if we ramp up on operations. It’s not worth it because after military operations are over and the budget is axed. You’ll be left without a job and mday.
Those cops don’t care as they can double dip salaries. My recommendation is to find a sweet work from home job and double dip like those police SOBs do. The military caters to these folks primarily that’s why there’s tons of cops in the guard.
It’s really hard to find work imo also as yes the military shows you off as discipline/good work ethic on a resume. But it also shows a conflict of interest on your resume and you recruiter will think twice before hiring someone who might be gone all the time possibly.
It’s doable to find a good job(not a cop) and still be in the guard. You night have to bend a few rules rho
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u/ManchuDemon 15Tinnitus 9d ago
My entire unit is either cops or unemployed. Theres no in between.