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Can you swap groups within SF?

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 3:58 pm
by Curious
My SF is an AFB and the group I got assigned to originally was changed by my SF according to needs. What I got changed to isn’t a bad option by any means but I feel like I would be happier and would gain more useful experience at the original group. During my contracted time could I swap groups as long as I stay at the same SF or do I have to stay in the group I got changed to until my contracted time is up and then swap? I figure during my internship I’m stuck with what they changed me to but I wanted to know if I could change within my SF? Any advice or help would be well appreciated.

Re: Can you swap groups within SF?

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2019 10:09 am
by pisyphus
It's going to come down to what your current contract defines as your SF. You cannot leave your SF but lets say that your SF is someplace like ARL with hundreds of labs and sites around the country, then you could jump around without any penalty as long as your under the umbrella of ARL. If your SF is listed as something insanely specific that only has 1 group, I don't think there is much you can do.

Per the 2017 Participant Handbook, Section 2.3. Sponsoring Facilities

“The sponsoring facility (SF) is the particular laboratory or agency within the DoD Component that participates in the SSP. The SF is the location at which a SSPP completes internships and the service commitment”.



Section 5.7 SF Sponsorship

“SSPPs maintain sponsorship of the facility as set forth by the SSA. Continued sponsorship of the approved SF is a requirement to maintain participation in and funding under the SSP. Any SSPP communications or actions with the assigned SF that result in loss of sponsorship from the assigned SF (at the sole discretion of the SF) may result in SSPP dismissal from the program. Only the SSP may reassign a SSPP to a new SF. It is extremely unusual for the SSP to assign a SSPP to a facility other than the original SF for completion of the service commitment. In the rare case that a change of SF is considered, it is done on a case-by-case basis and at the discretion of the SSP. If the SSP determines that the match between the SF and SSPP is not viable, the SSP will work with the SL and SF and attempt to find alternative placement for the SSPP”.

Re: Can you swap groups within SF?

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 6:19 pm
by Curious
So I reviewed my contract that SMART has on file and the contract they have says the original group that I was assigned to is my sponsoring facility and not the group that I am currently working with. Should I say something? Will it cause problems down the road with SMART if I stay with this other group since on paper that is not who I am supposed to be with? I'm doing my internship right now because of a weird school schedule that I have instead of over the Summer. Should I say something to switch while in the internship to make the transition to full-time employment easier? I'm just not sure what to do because I feel more and more every day that what they have me in is not particularly what I want to do and is very "hands off." I'll grin and bear it if I have to but if there is a possibility of me being able to go back to something that I feel would be nicer, I feel I should take it. What are your thoughts?

Re: Can you swap groups within SF?

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2019 10:10 am
by pisyphus
My thoughts are that you need to be an adult and decide on your own instead of asking internet strangers for advice on decisions that affect your life. I have no idea what you should do, figure it out.

Re: Can you swap groups within SF?

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 1:43 pm
by Guest
I switched from CHL at ERDC to ITL at ERDC and SMART gave no poops.

Re: Can you swap groups within SF?

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 4:16 pm
by superguest
if it was me, i'd do something like this

1) speak with the manager of the group you would like to move to, find out if they would/could support your move, take notes during this meeting and bring donuts. are there are gaps in that group you could fill? particular projects where your skills could be used? etc.

2) if #1 went well, list the projects/tasks that your potential new group needs done and how your skill set could address those gaps. list the tasks you handle in your current group and possibilities for how they could be reassigned if you were to move. call it a "transition strategy" or something similar so it sounds important and well-planned.

3) speak with your manager to find if they would support a move, present your transition strategy and ask for their feedback. managers like to draw red lines, so bring a red pen, hand it over as you present the transition strategy to them, this makes them feel important. also, bring donuts.

4) at some point someone may tell you no. nod to acknowledge this input. do what you want to do regardless.

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good job taking the initiative in finding the best position for your skill set and abilities to be used, and the opportunity for your continued growth and education.

eat a snickers, pisyphus, you sound hungry. also, try googling "define: forum"

Re: Can you swap groups within SF?

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 10:04 pm
by pisyphus
It's called self sufficiency big guy, you are not going to give him the best advice for his scenario. He needs to figure that out on his own.

Insanely impressive that you came up with that brilliant 4 step plan by the way. Im no betting man, but I'd wager my bottom dollar on that sagely advice you offered based on 8 frantic sentences from the OP. Keep doing the lords work!

Re: Can you swap groups within SF?

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2019 5:50 pm
by anymouse
pisyphus wrote:It's called self sufficiency big guy, you are not going to give him the best advice for his scenario. He needs to figure that out on his own.

Insanely impressive that you came up with that brilliant 4 step plan by the way. Im no betting man, but I'd wager my bottom dollar on that sagely advice you offered based on 8 frantic sentences from the OP. Keep doing the lords work!
Comments such as these have no place here. Ignore poopypants OP. The precedent of participants changing SFs has already been set, and in some cases this was done last minute. It stands to reason that if you stay at the same SF, you should not have a problem. The program is very dysfunctional, hence, the program office is likely to not even notice or care.