Let’s say I take a contract for 90 days with AMO. I really need to get off that ship at the end of 90 days due to active duty orders. How does getting relieved work on an AMO contracted ship? Is there a possibility I could get stuck on the ship? What happens if I straight up quit while on the ship to meet my obligation with active duty? Can AMO or the shipping company dock my pay like vacation pay?
The military is a scam.
Go AWOL.
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You are protected by USERRA. Make it very clear to the company/union that you have orders and be able to prove it. As long as you are able to fulfill the contract as required, in this example 90 days, there’s nothing they can do to you. If they can’t get you relief, that’s a they problem, not a you problem.
In fact, if the company insinuates punishment of any kind, I’d immediately report it to your chain of command. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable can direct you on how to report it so USERRA can be lawfully enforced. The union should also be familiar with it so you could go to them as well. There is a cohort of merchant mariners commissioned into the navy IRR so it’s nothing new to the union.
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What takes priority if he signed foreign articles? Because if he quits foreign on articles he can get in some legal trouble.
But yeah, I’d call the union if you’re concerned about not having a relief and the company/captain isn’t providing any help
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The common sense answer would be to work with your command to create a buffer time between the end of your contract and the start of your orders.
if you want to go about it from a technical standpoint though inform the master AND the office both IN WRITING that you had orders coming up and invoke USERRA, which reserves your rights to go on orders AND be re-employed if applicable. Trust me they will get you off the ship.