No?). The Drill Army Reserves are a great way to get training and experience in the Army, but there are some things to keep in mind before you join. Yes, absolutely, get a doctors note so you have backup. This is basically a formal warning letting you know that if you miss another drill weekend, there will be consequences. /lolsob/. 10 points are given just for being in the Reserves, which leaves 14 from AT + 26 MUTA (13 drill days). We never needed to do it more often than that, and I am so thankful we never needed to do any other type of drill. Same with mine; customized by law enforcement but the only customization was Oh yeah all your doors are glass so hiding isnt an option! Ugh. Might as well live to the fullest. Speedy Search & Discovery. You can also request a leave of absence for personal or medical reasons. They just notified me on July 24 of this change. Thats just totally unreasonable. Plus,no one wants to hear the details. (ex. this one never gets old. Or worse, maybe they know its going to happen sometime between those seven hours, but not when. Question regarding missing drill weekend : r/nationalguard - reddit Her lashes arent jet black! Hey [Name], my stomach is not in the best of conditions at the moment so its probably best for everyone if I stay at home this evening. otherwise you are going to end up in a more awkward situation. If the host does not know about your dating life, you can easily go with this one. You are going to cause someone mental anguish for little if any payoff in this situation. (You say you dont have traditional HR, but in a large organization theres probably someone youd go to if you needed to request medical or religious accommodations, report harassment or discrimination, or turn in paperwork for FMLA. Adults with postsecondary qualifications will earn significantly more than those with only high school education, so it is a recognized pathway to a more comfortable life with a stable income. Frankly, its upsetting enough leaving them behind at daycare 4 days a week even though I know they both love it, and they are extremely safe. It was a no-brainer to help them with the very small procedural hurdle to opt out. An excuse thatshuts down anypossible follow up questions. I work in a large hospital. 3. Even if that number never shows up. Attend events and functions, volunteer for leadership positions, and just generally be a positive presence within your unit. Im a teacher and this comment might be where I have to stop reading this thread for my own mental health. -Your job prevents you from attending (you must provide documentation from your employer) I will never, ever attend one of these againit is worth *any* political or professional price I might pay. If there is valuable information being conveyed, I want to know it, but the toll on my mental health if I do this training is going to be immense, and I cannot imagine what content they will be teaching that I havent already heard and internalized many times before. 5) Dont take drill too seriously. Most units require at least a month notice, but the sooner the better when it comes to requesting to be excused from drill. I feel for all of you whove been affected by this, any of this. And its so much worse now than it was then. I escaped HS 2 years before columbine was 8.5 mo preggo during SandyHook. I hope that, some day, no child anywhere will ever have to even think about doing something like that. Im just so tired of worrying. 4k Images Added per Hour. Fast forward to this current moment in your life, (. Sometimes I go through that employee if I really want to raise an issue, but I cant always count on their support. Is college a good excuse for not attending drill? | RallyPoint Thank you! - From a Soldier perspective. Our local high did one that lasted several hours. That way, you have the documentation if you need to go to HR. If youre in the National Guard, youre required to attend one weekend of drill per month. We highly recommend these tried-and-tested tools: The Elegant Themes membership gives you complete access to 87 amazing themes and 3 awesome plugins, including Divi, the ultimate WordPress Theme and Visual Page builder. I have two high schoolers, my spouse is a professor, and I work at a university too. But I like a little theatre. (everything turned out all right and he actually used the time to talk about chemical reactions, Because Teacher, but it was not a happy day for him). You were asked to attenda raging, booze-filled pub crawlon Friday? That said, carrying a concealed weapon is forbidden, and most cops only carry a taser unless theyre dealing with something like a hostage situation. This means that you are no longer allowed to serve in the reserves and will have to leave immediately. If he doubles down, especicially on the threatening to goad a potential shooter to shoot you instead (seriously wtf?!?!?) Ask for Forgiveness, Not Permission: The best way to be convincing when calling or emailing for a sick day is to TELL them you're ill and cannot come in, rather than asking if it's okay. then you can divert questions with details also to the oh no, im afraid its a private matter, they asked me to not divulge all the details, hey mom, would you like to have an emergency where you slip and fall and twist your ankle next tuesday. Read More 7 Common Types of Spam Emails and How to IdentifyContinue. CLICK HERE to get your copy from Book Depository. Get involved in your unit. Stuff like this is why Im glad I always bring up early in any employment situation my chronic history of migraines; its true, but its also a convenient excuse as needed if not used too often in that fashion. If you have the sick time I would call in sick the day before the training as well. Theres a difference between practicing things so you can do them in an emergency, such as CPR, and traumatizing people so theyre more likely to panic when confronted by real danger. At most, this should be a 2 hour training. I HATED that we had to do these trainings it felt like being given a band-aid for a hemorrhage. So long that the lights went out. You dont owe anyone any explanations. 4 is not just a valid option but a truthful one. From my recollection, they never talk about peoples legit reactions in the moment. Good for you for advocating for yourself. Call in sick and dont ever apologize for it. Its about 80% victim-blaming) with an actual drill, andI would not be able to. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Is there a way to get the instructional content without going to the most triggering parts, which I cannot imagine will outweigh the psychic cost this is going to take on me? Dont they do drills and practice?. This whole topic is not funny in the least, but I have to admit I snort-laughed when I read about that factory worker. If you feel you need to address it with your boss directly, you could do that while being vague. The OG excuse. They're royalty-free and ready to use. Save yourself the heartache and the stress. I can not imagine what possible justification there is to spend an entire workday on this. Like, the drill should be a relatively calm way to practice and build some muscle memory to rely on in case the thing happens. Jenna Guillaume, 9 Foolproof Excuses To Get Out Of Your Weekend Plans, All The Funniest Reactions To Facebook And Instagram Shutting Down For Six Hours, Dominic Perrottet Is Officially NSWs New Premier So Heres Everything You Need To Know, All The Hidden Clues In Squid Game That Pointed To That Twist Ending, All The Best Squid Game Memes For Those Still Reeling After That Twist Ending, Everyones Crying Over Adams Poem From Season 3 Of Sex Education, Heres The Correct Way To Binge The Marvel Cinematic Universe In Chronological Order. The site ate my previous post, so Ill do a shorter version. what about people who cannot lift a chair? Hey [Name], sorry I can't make your party tonight. We havent been told what it will entail, but its seven hours long and weve been instructed to wear comfortable clothing. If he again says something ridiculous like asking if you "wouldn't be able to take it," you could say . Here are some tips to help you make the most of your experience in the Drill Army Reserves: Boo yeah! Like what was really scary about the drill at the time was the impression that if it did happen, not only would we be dead, but worse than that it would be our own (collective) faults. This means that a significant proportion of the volunteer labor force comes from people who are already occupied with paid labor elsewhere. Nope. Likenever mind the snowflakes, what about the combat veterans? In addition to being traumatic for employees, it also seems like a poor use of time. Im so sorry and I hope that things can change, because this is so cruel and unfair to OP, to the kids, to you, to everyone. It involved bringing in all the relevant gov/emergency departments that would get called if the situation was real (so chemical spill scenario was complete with fire trucks) and we didnt have the agenda ahead of time because it was being externally coordinated. :D, https://www.fox4news.com/news/officer-shot-during-active-shooter-training-forest-hill, https://www.kios.org/news/2022-08-25/arrest-follows-active-shooter-drill-gone-wrong, https://www.securityinfowatch.com/healthcare/news/21277863/three-more-nurses-sue-adventhealth-over-faked-active-shooting. The fact that there is no apparent option besides hands-on training is deeply concerning, as is the length of the training. Even though we always we given advance notice of a drill. When my grandkid was 5 their school was involved with an active shooter, luckily, it was resolved fairly quickly, but thinking about how it could have happened still makes me shake. Everyone knows how to call 911. Generally youre not asked to disclose why youre opting out. Yeah, plans with MYSELF to do nothing but LIE ON THE COUCH with a family size packet of LIGHT & TANGY CHIPS. This will help you be more alert and less grumpy during drill. Seven hours?! I know the whole flight/fight/freeze thing. If their is no way to get internet or their would be no time they could complete their assignments, i would approve the SUTA - I started out enlisted in MNARNG and have two AC/RC assignments. We watched a couple videos at my office, and had some PowerPoints. theres nothing we can really do about it, We can, but we wont, because US Americans generally refuse to take responsibility. Where the repetition is frequent, not annually at best. Laughing about that is wrong on so many levels, regardless of whether youre in hearing distance of someone or not. Just send me the information I need to know and dont make me go through it all again. Im 38 now and I still think about that day with anxiety and sadness. And WTF is a pencil going to do against someone with an AK47. My former workplace put us through a fairly intensive and realistic training, with one of the trainers shooting off a fake gun. For one we were on lockdown. This scenario sounds like the boss just wants to live out some of his first-person shooter video games and wants to drag everyone along with him, regardless as to their comfort level with shooting games. I skipped out a couple times for various reasons, then had to go in at night, or serve with another unit. Many many pointed questions would be asked, if they are going to make me go through that kinda nonsense Im going to insist that they are asked as many uncomfortable preparedness questions as possible. As a side comment, if you have not yet sought out a mental health professional who is experienced in dealing with PTSD, you may wish to explore that at some point. I found out by accident that our in person Non Violent Intervention training at another facility was PHOENOMENALLY triggering for me and I am keeping all of these in mind because I would have to get an accommodation. As someone whos been in pretty much that exact situation, your 2-for-1 euthanasia comment made me CACKLE. That sounds much more similar to fire drills and tornado drills which can still be scary for kids (I was definitely the kid crying while hunched like a turtle in the hallway of my elementary school a few times) but are generally not long-term traumatic. Id either lean into something genuine and chronic (back pain? Id feel the same way. Workplaces do need to do security training, but it should not be hard to provide training that is specific and actionable without turning our offices into a badly-planned cop LARP. Your friend doesnt know who that guy is but man, do they hate em. They told the older members what to do. I will have to miss 1.5 days of the conference to make it to drill on time. It was brief, watch the video and discuss. Theres probably a very long, very poorly formatted slide deck theyll go over for at least several hours. The employer would be viewing and treating it like drills for other types of emergency. https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/employee-relations/pages/workplace-shootings-research-.aspx, https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/436994-active-shooter-training-fails-because-it-relies-on-fear/, https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2019/05/23/teachers-active-shooter-trainings-ineffective-stressful-column/3754113002/, https://www.insider.com/young-school-shooters-grew-up-doing-active-shooter-drills-experts-2022-6, https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/blog/advocacy/active-shooter-drills-harmful-or-helpful/. In two weeks, my workplace is hosting an all-day active shooter training, conducted by law enforcement. that just sounds unrealistic. Well,we got one for you too. According to the National Guard, these circumstances include but are not limited to: So I can see the value of having people exposed to, and not react to, something like a helicopter or other distraction. The five most popular were: golf, basketball, baseball/softball, soccer, and running. Assuming I cant get additional details about the itinerary or assuming I do, and it includes a simulation or other modules that I know will be extremely triggering to my mental health what do I do? Im Amy, and Im the person behind Never the Right Word. My 1st grader and her classmates knew all the hiding spots in their school and when they built a model school classroom as a project, insisted they put several into their creation. Next time you see them, just say it was a false alarm and it got better all of a sudden. On a serious note this post and the sheer volume of responses speaking to this issue as being so common scares me so much. Say you have cramps and start launching into period talk. College is not a good excuse for not attending drill. BUPERS Instruction 1001.39F. Im actually a SME in this area and you are so unbelievably incorrect. SEVEN HOURS of active shooter training? But its a good skill to have that will serve you well in your career. We then had a staff meeting to discuss their concerns and a number of my staff expressed anxiety about mass shootings, workplace shootings, and what their kids went through with drills at school. Which could be related to all the drywall replacement weve had to do after the fire sprinkler floods. this isnt an Im calling my lawyer so I can sue knee-jerk thing, its consultation on employment law and options when the obvious ones are made inaccessible for one reason or another. Hide in your house or go to goat yoga or whatever helps you. To enhance the dramatic effect, you can fill up your voice with tears and can have a catharsis you were longing for. This is especially true if you have school-aged children. Id almost respect that he said the quiet part out loud, except that the quiet part is so thoroughly and totally repellent. Not because she is a cold person (quite the opposite) but because its as common in the States as hearing about a traffic accident in Australia. No one is filling the hallways with smoke and heating door knobs during a fire drill. Theres just not that much to cover. I totally get the desensitisation though; Its a self-preservation measure. If you have an awkward situation that youd like example templates for, request a topic here. In my city, people would probably worry (justifiably) that the helicopter was there to shoot and/or deport them. My supervisor (largest waste of space ever) still talks about how much fun she had getting shot at with foam disks. Also want to say: I hear that there are differences between younger folks experience and us middle aged people who grew up prior to mass school shootings being so frequent. There you go. If your employer doesnt want you to opt out of the subject matter entirely, they can provide alternatives to a shooter simulation like reading training materials or creating an individual safety plan. and our - Short answer, no. https://www.everytown.org/solutions/active-shooter-drills/. But theres no reason why you cannot ask in advance for a weekend where youre not rostered on. We also dont call it an active shooter drilll, because wed have lockdown for any intruder. You can report an ad, tech, or typo issue here. Not only was it bad in general, but he had a dumb smile on his face the whole time, using military and law enforcement terminology to make his points. (Like Alisons proposed it wont be possible.). The good news is that shameless excuses exist. If the host does not know about your dating life, you can easily go with this one. and stick to your story. 1) Wont happen herewe are nowhere near the big city where these things happen. All The Hidden Clues In Squid Game That Pointed To That Twist Ending It doesnt matter whether youre needed to babysit your grandchildren, godchildren, or your best friends fur babies, lending a hand when its needed is a fundamental part of living in a caring society and being a good friend. About two months later I quit that job, but because I really liked most of my coworkers, I sometimes went there and bought a sub or a burger on my way home from college. Looking to become a digital publisher like us? I know your boss is a big influence in your life/career now but he wont be there forever. But if you dont know what the siren sounds like, how are you going to know what it is? Alternatively, its too difficult to talk about also works. When I commented to occupational health or whomever mandated the training with feedback about this needing an alternative, a trigger warning or both I was also brushed off). One got a note sent home from school because they were fidgeting and whispering too loudly during a drill the kid was 6 at the time. by As the first step in run-hide-fight, you totally should call in sick, say you are running. Im so sorry you had to go through that. They cant ask to leave them alone at home nor do they. Literally had preschool orientation for the older one the month after to the day. But hes a nice guy . No one will ask an explanation for this one as we all know how severe it hits. Im sorry you have to deal with this. Im older woman, early 50s, white, living in Texas where no permit is needed to carry a gun. But it might be helpful to do so. People in hiding should expect to be there for hours. Three cups of black coffee and a gas station burrito will do the trick, too. Hey [Name], Im going to stay home tonight as things just ended with [Insert Your Partners Name]. I still have really distinct memories of what I can only imagine was my elementary schools first-ever armed intruder drill after Virginia Tech. Im so sorry. Copyright @ Azentek Online Inc | All Rights Reserved, How to Convince Your Wife to Get Breast Implants, Talk to your commander about your concerns, They may be able to work with you to find a solution that doesnt involve attending drill weekend, If you have a medical condition that prevents you from participating in drill weekend, provide documentation from your doctor to your commander, If you have a family emergency or other pressing engagement, talk to your commander about getting excused from drill weekend, In some cases, they may be able to accommodate your request, If you absolutely cannot attend drill weekend for any reason, talk to your commander about the possibility of being placed on inactive Reserve status, This would exempt you from attending future drill weekends until you are able to reactivate your Reserve status. Send her home before she kills us all with her germs!. Oh god. Michelle Rennex, Culture My apartment building fails fire drills because we have false alarms EVERY GOSHDARN WEEK. 10 Reasons Why You Should Work From Home Today! The active shooter training was a short part of the overall agenda. So, maybe next time? Again, be sure to notify your commanding officer as soon as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Others believe that you should use your weekends to relax and recharge. Here are some valid excuses for missing drill: 7 hours is ridiculous Id definitely call in sick. The fact that we landed on lets continually traumatize victims as a preventative measure enrages me. Our wallet holdsall ofour important things, including cash, id, and credit cards. But if you feel all roads lead to a conversation with your boss, this is the best way to handle it. (Id clue in a coworker who could text when that part is over. My sons had fire drills, but no active shooter drills. One of our locations had had an employee shot and murdered in the block between the facility and the bus stop: another experienced a shooting in the street while an adjacent outdoor facility was full of children and families. None of it was tailored to our facility. A lot of resources on everytown.org if youd like to read more: Because lets be honest, who does not want to have a hot mug of coffee on the terrace while watching the rain pouring onto the glass of your windows, making a thud sound and yet so calming? I had to listen to 911 calls, crying children, the lot. And if that fool makes another joke, look him in the face and say Did you just try to joke about me being murdered to save yourself? There is no generational excuse. There are many good reasons why you might not want to work on the weekend. Scripts & Templates for Lifes Uncomfortable Conversations. (And get a pizza delivered to your address. Im so sorry. It's almost perfect. Thanks, Onward. My friend DID die. Ive always thought stomach flu was the best excuse. Survivor of gun violence here. The closest thing we have is the second-most senior employee, who has an easier time taking up issues with him because of their long-standing relationship. See, thats what I wonder about. Heres where it gets a little morally ambiguous. I do not feel safe. Christians, similarly, typically attend church on Sundays. Practicing locking doors/closing windows, leaving the building like in a fire drill, knowing how your employer sends out emergency info and the basics of what to do are perfectly sufficient and are applicable in many situations. Then laughed. This individual lived through a civil war in their country of origin and understandably was not keen on the idea of triggering difficult memories in a professional setting. So our poor security guard is stuck with trying to clear the error before the fire department responds. I work in a clinic that serves LGBTQ+ patients and I live in a state that is very second amendment and extremely not LGBTQ+ friendly. It gives me hives. excuses to get out of drill weekend - shantisrl.com Jesus. Im sure Id feel differently if I had kids who were being repeatedly traumatized at school this way. If you are in the military, or a reservist, there are times when you will be required to attend drill. If you are in the National Guard, you may be wondering if you can skip a drill weekend. Im almost 24. Worst case is the unit will code a SM an "A" for excused. If its that long Im going to insist that they outline their full plan for workers compensation, life insurance beneficiary process etc in the event of an active shooter situation. All rights reserved. When I was in high school my best friend died in a car crash. I could have written this post myself. It took maybe 30 minutes total. I doubt random company is coordinating with outside agencies. We still have not done a full security training or, to my knowledge, incorporated safety training into new hire onboarding. Im going to put out there that people often laugh in situations like this to diffuse discomfort and emotionally distance themselves from the situation. What Not to Say: "I miss my spouse." What to Say: "That sounds like so much fun, but unfortunately, I have a date night scheduled. Hey Im really sorry I cant make his evening. Wanted to add that I agree the real problem is in the proliferation of guns and the lawlessness favored bycertain politicians. Federal law and regulation have the greatest protective impact on a "veteran" who is now attending school . I would not be able to control my instinctual reaction to a fake shooter.