Will a military deployment negatively influence my hiring?

[UglyMug21B]

First off, if I haven't said it yet, thanks for all that you do, as well as the enormous amounts of advice you give here. I lurk here quite a bit, just reading what other people are asking and your responses, and I've learned quite a lot from it.

Second, I'm in the hiring process with a local sheriff's dept. I passed the initial online questionnaire, went to an interview board and did well on that, and am now in the background investigation portion of the process. I'm not too worried about anything in my background (credit...maybe...not perfect but not terrible either).

I'm in the Army reserves, and am "possibly" being deployed early next year. The deputy conducting my backgound investigation has asked me if I have any plans for early next year, as she's putting together candidates for a late december, early january academy class. I would love to go to the academy, but the way our deployment schedule is looking, I probably wouldn't be able to finish the academy (even at only 9 weeks).

FWIW, they have not asked me if I know I'm getting deployed and I have not lied to them about anything regarding possible deployments.

I guess my questions would be these:

1. Will telling them I'm getting deployed next year prevent them from giving me a conditional offer of employment? Not that I think they would discriminate against service members, but would it cause them to look harder for reasons not to hire me?

2. Will not telling them "I think I'm getting deployed" result in me being fired if I'm given the COoE?

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

[SCSO612]

They cannot discriminate based upon your Reserve status. Take it from a NG member. That being said, they can refuse to hire you for "other" reasons and you'd never be able to prove it as discrimination because they'll never admit to it. Do I think that's going to happen, absolutely not. Most agencies love having NG/RES personnel because of the life experience each member brings. Yeah, they have to sacrifice some, but not as much as we do. Anyway, I wouldn't lie about ANYTHING in the hiring process (or after for that matter). I would, however, make it very clear that nothing is certain until you get your orders.

PS: I'm a 25B in the Arkansas Army National Guard.

[UglyMug21B]

Thanks RDEP. I feel like this department is military-friendly (as I imagine most are), and would be willing to work with me, but I can see how they would frustrated by spending months on putting a guy through the hiring process only to have him taken away a deployment.

I'll send a note to the investigator about the possibility of deployment for reservists, as well as the fact we don't have any such orders currently.

BTW, I'm a 21B in the reserves, doing route clearance, so we're pretty sure we're going somewhere.

[SCSO612]

Thanks RDEP. I feel like this department is military-friendly (as I imagine most are), and would be willing to work with me, but I can see how they would frustrated by spending months on putting a guy through the hiring process only to have him taken away a deployment.

I'll send a note to the investigator about the possibility of deployment for reservists, as well as the fact we don't have any such orders currently.

BTW, I'm a 21B in the reserves, doing route clearance, so we're pretty sure we're going somewhere.

It's always nice to have a military-friendly boss. I'm lucky in the fact that my agency is very willing to work around military commitments. If you do run into an issue (and this is highly unlikely) stand your ground. Don't be obnoxious or rude about it, but don't let them bulldoze you. Hope it works out for you, and thanks for your service.

[PhilipCal]

RDEP pretty well nailed it. The significant difference here is, that you're still in the hiring process. From my admitedly personal point of view, it's imperative that you inform the agency of any impending deployment. Obviously, deployments are not optional, so do have the potential of putting your hiring on hold. Still, a little honesty is called for here. Once your unit's deployment orders are cut, the cat's pretty well out of the bag, and the Department is going to know you're about to be gone for awhile. Give them a "heads-up". Best of luck to you.