emery@gypsy.UUCP (01/31/86)
/* Written 5:56 pm Jan 29, 1986 by scottp@tekig4 in gypsy:net.jobs */ >Have you ever heard of the United States Army? 40 hours is hardly what >they expect (although one might argue that the army is 0 hours of work >and all the other hours of putting up with ********). The army does not >require your knowledge to send you somewhere. Also, if you have ever heard >an army recruiter (no, not all recruiters, just the ones I was dumb enough >to listen to), you know that verbal lies dont bother the conscience of them >as long as they get their quota. And they are telling them to primarily >young (age 17-19) folks (cant get much less experienced than that). It's >not that I'm against the army, I just enjoy drawing the analogy. What's worse >is that you (and I) are paying for them to do this. Oh well....... NOT (meant to be) A FLAME... The Army is recognized, by law, as a special case. But, a few notes are in order anyway. The Army gives everyone (from the recruit to the Chief of Staff) 30 days paid vacation. In addition, most units recognize the notion of Compensatory Time. Additionally, most units wind down, and work half days from about 20 DEC through 3 JAN. I guess I averaged 8-9 hour days when I was on Active Duty. The additional time comes in when you go to the field, when you spend 24 hours/day 'on the job'. The Army tells you to get all promises in writing. This is sage advice for any situation. If the Army cannot meet your employment contract, you can get out. On the other hand, the needs of the Army must come first. (Would you really want it any other way?) My experience with the Army was that the hours you worked weren't bad at all, when taken as a whole. But I did have problems with the personnel system, that persisted in pounding square pegs in round holes. This is part of any large organization; but it's more obvious in the Army. Dave Emery CPT, FA. Army Reserve Siemens Research ...princeton!siemens!emery
scottp@tekig4.UUCP (Scott Phillips) (02/04/86)
<my original posting in reference to the "company"> > > NOT (meant to be) A FLAME... > > The Army is recognized, by law, as a special case. But, a few notes are in > order anyway. The Army gives everyone (from the recruit to the Chief of > Staff) 30 days paid vacation. In addition, most units recognize the notion > of Compensatory Time. Additionally, most units wind down, and work half days > from about 20 DEC through 3 JAN. I guess I averaged 8-9 hour days when I > was on Active Duty. The additional time comes in when you go to the field, > when you spend 24 hours/day 'on the job'. Compensatory Time as the army calls it, is quite interesting in the European Field Artillery...we spent 279 days one year in the field. If one applies a "fair" system of one hour off for each two hours of additional time, we arrive at the following figures: 279 days * 2 (2 additional eight hour "shifts" per day) / 2 = 279 days. This is mathematics that even a Pvt. would understand. Of course, on this basis, we (the 2/81st FIELD artillery) would have gotten the next nine months off. However, instead of that, we had an IG inspection. Europe does NOT work half days (unless you are assuming a 24 hour workday) between the 20th of December and the 3rd of January. > > The Army tells you to get all promises in writing. This is sage advice for > any situation. If the Army cannot meet your employment contract, you can > get out. On the other hand, the needs of the Army must come first. (Would > you really want it any other way?) > Yes, they do tell you to get all promises in writing. AFTER YOU'VE SIGNED THE PAPERS!!!!!!!!!!!! Also, the fine print about the army meeting your employment contract is quite general....("If the moon is full and your feet stink, we are under no obligation if another need arises..."). > My experience with the Army was that the hours you worked weren't bad at all, > when taken as a whole. But I did have problems with the personnel system, > that persisted in pounding square pegs in round holes. This is part of any > large organization; but it's more obvious in the Army. > > Dave Emery > CPT, FA. Army Reserve > Siemens Research > ...princeton!siemens!emery Yes, I saw many rounded square pegs. But, I guess that is what happens when you get people from parts of the country that offer a young deliquent the choice of going to prison or into the army..... J. Scott Phillips SGT, 2/81st FA (Retired) ^^^^^^^ Thank God!----||| ps: No Flame intended. pss: Seriously!