Fema Employment
Federal Employment(GS Job)?
Hi, I'm currently in the military and plan on getting out short of the required 20 years in order to become a "GS". The questions I have are: 1) If I get a job, will I be required to move? I lived in europe and was told they have to move every 5 years, no if ands or buts. 2) I will have 13 years in the military. When I switch over to the darkside, how many more years will I have to work before I can retire? 3) How is retirement pay calculated? Same and the military such as 50% at 20 years, 75% at 30? 4) How difficult is it to get a GS job? I'm hoping my time in the military helps me with this. 5) Most important. Is it worth it over a normal civilian job? Thank you in advance. David
Public Comments
- I work with a bunch of GS, I don't know the ins and outs, but they get nothing as generous as the military retirement. You might have to do 20 to qualify for retirement, but you won't get it until your 62. Most of the retired military guys who turned GS tell me, stay in as long as you can...they really miss the military and benefits. Jobs are posted based on where there's an opening. You might have to move and sometimes a position might be done away with. They offer you something somewhere else usually. As a veteran you will get a certain amount of points for veterans preference. More if you are disabled. More if you are war veteran.
- I know a little of your questions. 1) yes, you will have to leave Europe after 5 years of being hired as a GS (keeps folks honest). I have seen people work in the states for a year or two than go back to Europe. 2) your federal years will count but you can't retire until you reach at least 57 (with only a portion of your benefits) plus 30 years of federal service (if you born after 1970, not much different if you were born in the 1960s) 3) Retirement pay is like 1% of you 3 highest paychecks times the number of years of federal service. 4) I found it difficult to get a gs job, my own opinion it is a who-you-know type deal. Most of the time the military knows who they want to hire and writes the job for them. But there are a ton of jobs out there and you just have to apply to all of them all the time. Go to www.cpol.army.mil to apply. Use the job description key words and put them in your resume. Your time in the military can help if the job is related to your duties in the military. Plus you get a very small bonus for vetern's preference if you earned a campaign badge or have a 30% or more disability. 5) I guess it depends on what you consider 'normal'. I am active duty but I only work with GS workers. One benefit is that they receive every federal holiday off unlike regular civilian jobs. You will work among the military so you are used to the culture and work ethics. The 'fringe' benefits are horrible compared to the military something you might not noticed if you worked for a 'normal' civilian job but something you will definity notice if you work with military people. I know my GS workers get frustrated because they don't get training holidays (unless they take leave), shop at the PX (or get gas), or take off during the day to run errands (without being charged leave). They get hours instead of days. The first few years you only earn 80 hours of leave (which is like 2 weeks) but it can be a lot less because you can be nickeled and dimed very easily. Such as if you are a few minutes late you can be charged 15 mins of leave (depends on your supervisor). You can't take off to see a change of command or a friend's promotion ceremony or you can be charged also. You do get sick leave which is the same as regular leave. They do however get comp time and overtime unlike the military (:
