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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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 Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:38 am Post subject: |
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| moneyoriented wrote: |
What's the salary & benefits?
Do you have any choice over where you work?
Also, will they help you get the masters degree? Can you get one from DLI itself?
Thanks. |
Sorry for replying so late! I was preparing to depart the Republic of Georgia and return to the US. Anyway, I am back now.
Your primary job is in San Antonio, but you can apply for various locations overseas after you have been here usually for one year. There are no guarantees but you do have several options.
No, DLI does not offer MAs but the federal government does have programs that pay for job-related education although you would have to get approval. I don't know exactly how that works since I had mine before I arrived.
Hope this helps,
Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/
Last edited by Sadebugo on Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:06 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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| Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:48 am Post subject: |
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| gaijinalways wrote: |
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| 13 federal holidays and 13 vacation days your first three years going up to 20 after three years. |
One reason my wife wasn't keen on this job, that and the teaching hours  (6 periods, are those 50 minutes or 1 hour each?).
I also saw a recent federal job posted that sounded a little like what you're doing, traveling with 2 year posts. My wife wasn't keen on it when she saw the places you might be posted to; Bombay, Kabul, Dubai, etc.
Where I saw a federal pension and some interesting places to work, she saw dangerous locations  and longer work hours  , = less vacation time. The less vacation time would eliminate traveling to places that she is more interested in visiting.
I also noticed the starting salary has dropped (used to be 56k, now 46.6k). I make a little  more than that now. I don't know, do they still offer a salary range or is it fixed at 46.6k? |
No job is perfect, but I feel this one is very close. As for variety in travel, I have worked in Slovakia, Japan, Djibouti, Afghanistan and now, Georgia with DLI. These places were quite interesting and I lived in all of them for periods ranging from three-six months. This was a great opportunity to really experience a country without having to take vacation.
Yes, the hours are long and the vacation could be better but this is the reality of working in America. In exchange, you get a secure career and a pension. If you want more freedom, you essentially have to give up the former benefits I mentioned.
There is a salary range with the same opportunities for advancement as with every other government job.
Let me know if you have any more questions.
Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/ |
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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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| Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:51 am Post subject: |
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| jgmodlin wrote: |
| That salary of 46K doesn't include the location allowance. For San Antonio adding this would put the total salary up into the mid 50s. As for being posted in dangerous locations, it depends on whether you accept a permanent position in San Antonio at their main campus or one of the Term Appointee jobs over in Iraq or Afghanistan. The federal government is not allowed to order civilian workers to go to a combat zone so there is no danger of a teacher at the main campus losing their position for refusing to go. The positions in Iraq and Afghganistan are well compensated but not tax free, unfortunately. Also, for obvious reasons, the Iraq and Afghan positions would not allow dependents to accompany you. |
Actually, that does include the locality rates with a new teacher getting $46,625.
Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/ |
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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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| Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:53 am Post subject: |
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| Hadit wrote: |
| I am keeping a potential position with the DOD in the USA in ind, as a job available back home. I am aware also that you got your Masters online from the University of Reading Sadebugo, so that they do not strictly require on campus Masters Degrees. What Master's programs do they like people to have ideally, I would assume those from the US would be most welcome? Do most people have Masters Degrees there? |
Not sure exactly but my feeling is that the majority have MAs but certainly not all. I'm also not sure if my MA was the deal maker since the MA was not absolutely required for being hired. However, they did recognize it. And yes, I'm sure they'd prefer an MA from the US.
Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/
Last edited by Sadebugo on Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:07 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Sadebugo
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 524
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| Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:00 pm Post subject: |
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| gaijinalways wrote: |
jgmodlin posted
| Quote: |
| That salary of 46K doesn't include the location allowance. For San Antonio adding this would put the total salary up into the mid 50s. |
Well, mid 50s is a little better, but not a lot better .
Sorry, I'm still wondering about the teaching hours. How many hours do you teach a week?
| Quote: |
| The positions in Iraq and Afghganistan are well compensated but not tax free, unfortunately. Also, for obvious reasons, the Iraq and Afghan positions would not allow dependents to accompany you. |
As to the job posting I saw, the traveling and work transfers were mandatory.
| Quote: |
| The federal government is not allowed to order civilian workers to go to a combat zone so there is no danger of a teacher at the main campus losing their position for refusing to go. |
Whether it was a 'combat zone' or not wouldn't placate my wife. This other job was a placement through the embassy department, not the DOD by the way. |
At the home campus, it's 25 to 30 hours/week depending on your department with varying times for each period but no more than one hour.
When you're hired at DLI, you sign a mobility agreement that requires you to travel at the government's need. As for combat zones, I'm not sure if employees can be forced to go or not. I've heard both from others but nothing official. Anyway, I've never been ordered to go anywhere, I've always volunteered.
The other job you're referring to I believe are English Language Officers working with the State department. The hiring process is similar to the one for Foreign Service Officers and extremely competitive. Therefore, I wouldn't worry too much about what they do or don't offer unless your wife has a PHD and years of experience in educational policy.
Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/ |
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cangel
Joined: 12 May 2003
Posts: 74
Location: Jeonju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 5:32 am Post subject: |
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| Someone stated that you receive 13 vacation days a year for the first 3 years and then 20 per year after... If a new hire was former military, say for 4 years, would they start at 20 days? What about housing? Are new hires offered any type of housing such as on-base housing? I assume new hires go out and find an apartment or rental on their own... This certainly does sound like a great ESL job. Thanks for the information. |
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jgmodlin
Joined: 01 Mar 2006
Posts: 120
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:57 am Post subject: |
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Prior service whether it be active military or other federal employment does count towards calculating vacation time. If you already have 4 years of prior military then you would start accumulationg vacation at 6 hours every two week pay period instead of the 4 hours per period those with less than 3 years would get.
They don't provide any housing, so you would be on your own there. If you are accepting one of the term appointee positions in Afghan/Iraq you would be given the opportunity to stay on base at billeting during your 6-8 weeks of initial training, but it would not be reimbursable. Naturally, once you get over to Afghan/Iraq everything is paid for (lodging, food, medical). You could do as I plan to do and write off the cost of billeting as a business travel expense on your taxes. |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2009 7:38 am Post subject: |
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| You could do as I plan to do and write off the cost of billeting as a business travel expense on your taxes. |
That's assuming you were around to do that!  |
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jgmodlin
Joined: 01 Mar 2006
Posts: 120
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2009 10:55 am Post subject: |
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| Hey, gotta love TurboTax. You can do your taxes online anywhere you've got the internet. |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 10:32 am Post subject: |
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Even from the grave  ? |
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jgmodlin
Joined: 01 Mar 2006
Posts: 120
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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 Well, I am here in Kabul right now and plan on coming back in one piece. Got a wife and son to come back for. I got to tell you, my hat is off to the NATO folks here who roll off the base in convoys everyday out into real harm's way. I am in the rear with the gear... |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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Dear jdmodlin,
If it's anything like Vietnam (and I suspect it is,) there really is no "rear."
All the best.
Regards,
John |
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LoPresto
Joined: 27 Oct 2009
Posts: 87
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 2:43 am Post subject: |
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If someone has a checkered 'criminal' past would that preclude them from being assigned to a high risk zone?
I once tried to join the Army and was denied because of previous ganja possession and DUI offenses. |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 6:31 am Post subject: |
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LoPresto posted
| Quote: |
If someone has a checkered 'criminal' past would that preclude them from being assigned to a high risk zone?
I once tried to join the Army and was denied because of previous ganja possession and DUI offenses. |
Actually in that case, some countries wouldn't allow you in ...in the first place (never mind employ you ). I know, picky, picky...  |
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jgmodlin
Joined: 01 Mar 2006
Posts: 120
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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Dear jdmodlin,
If it's anything like Vietnam (and I suspect it is,) there really is no "rear."
All the best.
Regards,
John |
Yeah that's true. Some of the explosions in the recent past have been heard easily on base. There is also the ever present potential for people infiltrating the base who are supposedly the "good guys".
It is rewarding teaching the Afghans. They have been through so much and are eager to better themselves, which shows in the classroom. Literacy rates here are really low and it is a challenge to teach. The Afghans that I have met are genuinely nice and are a good bunch to teach.
As for getting on with the DLI with a checkered past, it can be done but remember they will put in your application for a secret security clearance after you begin working for them. If you have had DUIs and credit issues they can be mitigated by the passage of time. Just remember to not conceal anything and show a clean recent past. One of the requirements of the Afghan/Iraq jobs is that you be able to hold a secret clearance and not have any domestic violence issues which would preclude you from carrying a weapon (9mm). |
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