U.S. Army Reserve, Customs and Border Protection Launch Jobs Partnership

Partnership to Assist Border Agency in Filling 11,000 Positions

Jason P. Ahern, acting commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (left) and Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, chief, U.S. Army Reserve (right) sign the official Employer Partner Initiative agreement in Washington, D.C. on April 21, 2009. photo by Nick Crettier)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Army Reserve and U.S. Customs and Border Protection formally agreed today to work collaboratively to enhance job opportunities for America's Soldiers and Veterans. The alliance, launched under the Army Reserve Employer Partnership Initiative, will help strengthen the community, support Army Reserve Soldiers and their Families, and contribute to a strong economy.

"This formal alliance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection presents a remarkable opportunity for our some 10,200 trained and skilled Army Reserve Soldiers to potentially achieve their career goals with this federal agency," said Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, chief, Army Reserve. "This formal partnership also sets the standard among other federal agencies and the Army Reserve."

Through the employer partnership, the Army Reserve is collaborating with public and private sector leaders across the country to develop staffing solutions to meet America's industry demands, tackle the issue of work force preparedness and reinvigorate America's human talent to remain competitive in the global economy. Since its inception in April 2008, nearly 300 employers have joined the initiative.

CBP is the first federal agency to join the Army Reserve's Employer Partnership.

"CBP maintains a deep commitment to hiring and supporting the brave men and women who protect and defend America," said Jayson P. Ahern, acting commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. "These Citizen-Soldiers have a well earned reputation as exemplary employees with proven leadership, teamwork, discipline and grace under pressure that are immeasurably valuable to any organization."

With an estimated 11,000 jobs opening in CBP, the partnership will aim to help Army Reserve Soldiers and Veterans find jobs in today’s economy.

Read the article in Tuesday's Washington Post: Border Agency to Hire More Army Reservists.

ABOUT THE UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVE

The Army Reserve is a positive investment for America. Community based and federally directed, the Army Reserve provides trained and ready units to complement the Army, ready to perform their mission during peacetime, overseas contingencies and war. Our Soldiers are highly skilled full-time patriots whom civilian employers share with the Army Reserve. The value the Army Reserve brings to America is embodied in these professional men and women who possess the skills and capabilities that can be used on the battlefield and in the civilian sector.

The Army Reserve is a reservoir of trained and experienced professionals in transportation, logistics, supply chain management, law enforcement and public safety, health care, telecommunications, information technology, construction trades, engineering, civil affairs, finance, legal services and human resources. Army Reserve Soldiers have played a vital role in every American military and humanitarian mission of the past 100 years. Today, roughly 206,000 trained Army Reserve Soldiers in units across the country stand ready to serve the Nation when called upon by the President of the United States. The quality of our force has never been higher. Our Soldiers are one of the best returns on investment American citizens make for the security and freedoms they enjoy.

ABOUT U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION

CBP is one of the Department of Homeland Security's largest and most complex components, with a priority mission of keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S. It also has a responsibility for securing and facilitating trade and travel while enforcing hundreds of U.S. regulations, including immigration and drug laws.

The uniformed men and women of CBP make up the largest law enforcement organization in the nation and take a solemn vow to secure the homeland from terrorists and other threats.

CBP performs two crucial roles in facilitating trade to and from the U.S. and around the globe: securing it from acts of terrorism and assuring that goods arriving in the U.S. are legitimate and that appropriate duties and fees are paid.

Last year CBP safely welcomed more than 400 million people into the U.S., continuing America's tradition of being a welcoming country while also preventing dangerous people from entering.