Question about National Guard/drill/due date

Rhenna · April 2012

Anyone out there who's DH/SO is in the National Guard? This baby's due date has just horrible timing for me. I'm due 8/25, DS starts kindergarten 8/27. I'm going to be doing a repeat c-section and I've been told they are usually scheduled a week before the due date. Well that works out great as far as DS's kindergarten, I should be able to make it to his first day of school but that puts the baby as being born during DH's drill weekend! GAHHHH!!! Will he be able to get out of it or are we just kind of screwed? We've never had anything important/emergency type situation during a drill weekend so I don't even know if they ever let people miss them. I would hope for something like this they would but I never know with the Army. I could try to schedule it for after the weekend but I want to be sure I'm well enough to make it to DS's first day of school.

hterry85 · April 2012

I can't say for sure, but my college boyfriend was in the Guard. He used to get out of/switch weekends (I can't remember which) for far things far less significant than his child being born. He obviously didn't do it all the time, maybe 2 times over a couple years.

emoflamingo · April 2012

I'd guess he'll be able to get out of it. My BFF is in the NG and she can get out of drill if her kids are sick and/or she is sick, so your wife giving birth is probably a good excuse. (My brother is in the Army Reserves and he's been able to "reschedule" his drill before too.) I'd tell your DH to go to is C.O and talk to them now to get it on the calendar.

Good luck!

Rhenna · April 2012

Thanks! I guess DH is overly conscious of it lol. I've always been under the impression from him that being excused from a drill or any time he is called up is difficult. I think it is probably him just trying really hard to make the right impression so he can move up quickly. I'll ask him to talk to his CO about it at next months drill. He had me freaked out when I mentioned it yesterday, he should know better haha.

FemShep · April 2012

They generally do not schedule an RCS on the weekend. It's not important that it be exactly a week before your due date, just sometime that week before. So you should be fine.

If baby comes early, have your DH talk to his CO about rescheduling his drill.

Rhenna · April 2012

FemShep:

They generally do not schedule an RCS on the weekend. It's not important that it be exactly a week before your due date, just sometime that week before. So you hooks be fine.

If baby comes early, have your DH talk to his CO about rescheduling his drill.

I was talking to my Dr. before I looked at the drill schedule and we had thrown out the idea of the 17th so that I had the weekend plus all the next week to recover before school starts. Drill starts on the 17th which is a Friday. But it sounds like from other people that he should be able to be there so we'll see.

Rhenna · April 2012

emoflamingo:

I'd guess he'll be able to get out of it. My BFF is in the NG and she can get out of drill if her kids are sick and/or she is sick, so your wife giving birth is probably a good excuse. (My brother is in the Army Reserves and he's been able to "reschedule" his drill before too.) I'd tell your DH to go to is C.O and talk to them now to get it on the calendar.

Good luck!

I just reread this and I wonder if maybe DH's unit is just unusually strict? If he is sick he has to go in anyway and be seen by one of the medics there and then it is up to the medic if he should be sent home. And most of the time the medics just make them rest for a full day there and then see how they are doing the next day. Most people in his unit don't ever get to miss a weekend. But this can't be the first time someone has had a baby on a drill weekend.

Eveanyn · April 2012

Your DH will be able to STA drill with no trouble. If his first line leader gives him difficulties (unlikely), refer him to his EO Representative.

MichelleL1118 · April 2012

My OB only schedules surgery on certain weekdays (Tuesdays and Thursdays). If you're due on a Saturday, the c/s likely won't be scheduled until the following Monday or Tuesday, so your DH should be home from drill already. I'd talk to your OB at your next appointment about scheduling, so DH can talk to the people in charge if they're actually scheduling you on a weekend.

emoflamingo · April 2012

Rhenna:
emoflamingo:

I'd guess he'll be able to get out of it. My BFF is in the NG and she can get out of drill if her kids are sick and/or she is sick, so your wife giving birth is probably a good excuse. (My brother is in the Army Reserves and he's been able to "reschedule" his drill before too.) I'd tell your DH to go to is C.O and talk to them now to get it on the calendar.

Good luck!

I just reread this and I wonder if maybe DH's unit is just unusually strict? If he is sick he has to go in anyway and be seen by one of the medics there and then it is up to the medic if he should be sent home. And most of the time the medics just make them rest for a full day there and then see how they are doing the next day. Most people in his unit don't ever get to miss a weekend. But this can't be the first time someone has had a baby on a drill weekend.

Could be different, depending on the state/unit. Is there National Guard Reserves and then regulars? (I am clueless about NG lol.) I know her H works full-time at the NG unit, but she is a school teacher and only does the 1 weekend a month, 2 weeks a year thing.

graceful8182 · April 2012

I'm usually a lurker, but I thought I could offer an opinion! My DH was in the Army Reserves when we had our DD. He sounds a lot like your DH in that he never missed and always wanted to set a good example for the lower enlisted in his unit. He had drill the weekend after DD was born. He made them aware the month before that I was due in a few weeks and he probably wouldn't be there. He just had to make up the days so they wouldn't be listed as a "U" (basically an absence) on his record. I think it helped that his CO recently had a baby and was expecting another one but I doubt they would flat-out tell your DH he would have to go, say a day or two after you had a baby. Things happen.

Good luck!

Mrs.Jonesy · April 2012

As long as he lets his command know prior to the drill date they will let him go. I was in the Guard myself and had a couple different things (family related) that made me ask for that drill weekend "off". I either came in and made up the weekend that I missed doing paperwork or whatever for them or I just didn't get paid for that weekends drill. Easy Peasy. Generally guard units are pretty close knit unless it's a really large unit and they totally understand that kind of thing happens.

sarahandeddiejune212008 · April 2012

DH was in the guard for 9 1/2 years and they were allowed to miss drill. They just had to make up the days at another time. They may even let your DH make it up early. Ask your OB for your exact c/s date and then have your DH put in his request. It shouldn't be a big deal unless they have AT.

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