I'm about halfway through my MG training program. I joined mostly for the camaraderie and the volunteering. For the most part, the program is great and I've made a point of socializing with as many different people as possible during breaks in training. There is one thing though that's really been bothering me.

On one hand, there are little pins that can be earned for performing extra hours of service each year yet I've been getting more DIScouragement than ENcouragement about putting in hours. When I contacted folks in charge of different work areas, a few have admonished me for trying to sign up for "extra" hours so that there are, "enough opportunities left for the veterans who need the hours." Why have the extra hour award pins if you don't want us to put in extra hours?

I'm hoping this is just a temporary problem and that once I'm a veteran I can sign up to my heart's content. It's really demotivating.