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.

What's your creed?

Chad Sowash
Guest Blogger

Can you imagine walking into work on your first day and being asked to memorize the company's creed? Creed? Yea, you know strong belief systems of which the company was predicated.

Where am I getting this crazy notion? Well, one of the very first items a new trainee must learn and memorize when arriving at the Fort Benning Reception Battalion, even before officially starting Basic Training, is The Soldier's Creed.

Here's how it goes ...

I am an American Soldier.

I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.

I will never accept defeat.

I will never quit.

I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage, and DESTROY the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.

I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am an American Soldier. HOOAH!

On the very first day this creed helps trainees (employees) understand what they must do to become a professional Soldier in the United State Army. This creed is more than just a belief for it is a way of living, which includes expectations for all Soldiers to live by after basic training, in combat or even after leaving the military completely.

What's your company creed? Better yet… What's your personal creed?


* Sowash is vice president of Business Development for DirectEmployers Association, an Employer Partner through the Army Reserve's Employer Partnership Initiative. You can check out his column the Chad for more on why employers should hire employees with military experience.

Five More U.S. Companies Join U.S. Army Reserve Employer Partnership Initiative

WORCESTER, Mass. — Fallon Clinic, a large, multi-specialty medical group practice in Central Massachusetts, Friday signed a memorandum of agreement to partner with the U.S. Army Reserve to bring the Employer Partnership Initiative (EPI) to the Fallon Clinic workplace. This initiative facilitates strategic and mutually beneficial relationships between employers and associations to recruit and train soldiers who are interested in securing a position in the growing field of healthcare, while they continue to provide service to our country. These soldiers will be training to fill needs in various healthcare-related fields, such as respiratory therapy, radiology, and physical therapy.

"At Fallon Clinic we believe that our success is directly linked to the quality of the people we hire," said Randi Nichols, executive vice president, Human Resources and Operations Support Services. "By partnering with the U.S. Army Reserve, we will attract and hire dedicated employees who are proven leaders, and also strengthen Fallon Clinic's impact on the success of our country's active military and veterans."

In partnering with the Army, Fallon Clinic has promised to employ or seek to employ qualified members of the Army Reserve and maintain a commitment to hiring and supporting the dedicated women and men who protect and serve the United States. Through this program, the Army Reserve and Fallon Clinic will collaborate on workforce development issues, including training, professional development and credentialing.

"The Army Reserve Employer Partnership is a human capital strategy that recognizes and characterizes the interconnectedness of business America and the Army Reserve," said Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, chief of the Army Reserve, and commanding general, U.S. Army Reserve Command. "My vision is that corporate America considers the Army Reserve the number one source of professional, well-trained and experienced leaders. Just as our nation recognizes the Army Reserve as a good return on investment, my hope is that similarly, companies recognize Army Reserve soldiers as a sound investment in human talent."

It was the end of a great week for Army Reserve Soldiers. Every day a new partner signed an agreement to help build and develop Americans talent with the U.S. Army Reserve. In Michigan a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Ladlas Prince, became a partner Monday. Tuesday, Southwest Airlines landed long enough to join. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center wasn't far behind on Wednesday and Thurday International chemical company BASF Corporation rounded it out.

The Army Reserve is a community-based federally directed force of highly-skilled, patriotic men and women that provides our nation with trained units and qualified Soldiers during peacetime, contingencies and war. Today, about 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.

About Fallon Clinic

Fallon Clinic, a non-profit organization, is a large, multi-specialty group practice in Central Massachusetts. Fallon Clinic physicians and healthcare professionals offer the region’s most comprehensive array of primary care and specialty services, supported with cutting-edge technologies and service-oriented processes. Founded in 1929 by a team of physicians from the Mayo Clinic led by Dr. John Fallon, Fallon Clinic continues to grow and thrive. Based in Worcester, Fallon Clinic has over 1,700employees and approximately 250 physicians who see patients in more than 20 locations, including the Worcester Medical Center. Fallon Clinic accepts a broad range of insurance coverage, including plans from all major Massachusetts’ payers. More information about Fallon Clinic can be found by visiting http://www.fallonclinic.org/.

About Ladlas Prince

Ladlas Prince helps organizations reengineer, rethink and remodel the way they do business by thinking for the people & technology i.e. using its international & local business skills and experience for the betterment of business relationship between technology, information security, business strategies, processes and people. With Ladlas Prince’s established consortium of international partnerships, services are provided on-site, enabling us to apply our complete range of experience, excellent value, high productivity and consistent quality.

About Southwest Airline

What began as a small Texas airline has grown to become one of the largest airlines in America. Today, Southwest Airlines flies over 104 million passengers a year to 64 great cities all across the country, and we do it more than 3,400 times a day. With over 500 aircraft, Southwest has one of the youngest fleets in the nation, with an average age of approximately nine years.

About UPMC

UPMC is an integrated global health enterprise and one of the leading nonprofit health systems in the United States serving the health needs of more than 4 million people each year. Through redefined models of health care delivery, technological innovation, and cutting-edge medical research, UPMC is improving lives in western Pennsylvania and beyond.

About BASF Corporation

BASF is the world's leading chemical company with about 97,000 employees, six Verbund sites and close to 330 production sites worldwide it serve customers and partners in almost all countries of the world.

Army Reserve and UPMC Join in Employer Partnership

Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, chief, Army Reserve (left) and G. Nicholas Beckwith, III, chairman of the board, UPMC (right) sign the official Employer Partnership Initiative agreement partnering the two organizations at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

Innovative Public-Private Venture Builds Careers and Economy

PITTSBURGH – Yesterday the U.S. Army Reserve and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) joined together in an effort designed to strengthen the community, support Army Reserve Soldiers and their Families, and maintain a strong economy. This effort is part of the Army Reserve’s groundbreaking Employer Partnership Initiative.

From this public-private employment partnership, both organizations will be able to recruit, train and employ talented Army Reserve Soldiers looking to serve both their nation and their community.

“I am pleased to have UPMC become a valued member of our Employer Partnership Initiative year after launching this ground-breaking enterprise,” said Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, chief, Army Reserve. “Our alliance with UPMC is a natural since health care is one of our core capabilities. I look forward to working closely with an industry leader like UPMC to develop our greatest shared asset, our people."

Through the EPI, the Army Reserve is partnering with business leaders such as UPMC to develop staffing solutions to meet America’s industry demands, tackle the issue of workforce preparedness, and reinvigorate America’s human talent to remain competitive in the global economy.

“We are honored to be a part of this historic partnership,” said G. Nicholas Beckwith, III, chairman of the board, UPMC. “The Army Reserve employs some of the most dedicated and talented professionals in the country, and we are eager to utilize their unique knowledge and skills.”

The EPI establishes a process whereby employers and the Army Reserve secure and share the talents of trained professionals. Partners Employers will benefit from the employment of men and women with Army values, experience and proven leadership skills.

Since its inception in April 2008, more than 260 public and private employers have joined the initiative, including Fortune 500 corporations, hospitals, industry associations, state agencies and local police departments.

The Army Reserve provides nearly 60 percent of the Army’s medical capabilities. These Soldiers bring their valuable training and experience from the Army Reserve into the civilian workforce. Correspondingly, they bring their valuable civilian training and skills to battlefield and other Army missions.

Keys to Interview Success

Here are a few keys to interview success that could help reduce your chances of being rejected by a potential employer. Before you go into an interview, maximize your knowledge about:

• The company
• Your skill set
• The abilities needed for the job
  

Use This Online Tool to Determine Veterans' Preference

Determine if you qualify for Veterans’ Preference by visiting the Department of Labor Web site and using the Veterans Preference Advisor online tool.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) administers entitlement to Veterans’ Preference in Federal employment under title 5, United States Code, and oversees other statutory employment requirements in title 5 and 38.

However, the veterans’ preference laws do not guarantee veterans a job, nor do they give veterans preference in internal agency actions such as promotion, transfer, reassignment and reinstatement.

Take Advantage of Veterans' Preference

Since the time of the Civil War, Veterans of the Armed Forces have been given some degree of preference in appointments to Federal jobs. Recognizing that sacrifices are made by those serving in the Armed Forces, Congress enacted laws to prevent veterans seeking Federal employment from being penalized because of the time spent in military service.

By law, veterans who are disabled or who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during certain specified time periods or in military campaigns are entitled to preference over non-veterans both in hiring from competitive lists of eligibles and in retention during reductions in force.

Preference does not have as its goal the placement of a veteran in every vacant Federal job; this would be incompatible with the merit principle of public employment. Nor does it apply to promotions or other in-service actions. However, preference does provide a uniform method by which special consideration is given to qualified veterans seeking Federal employment.

Preference applies in hiring from civil service examinations, for most excepted service jobs, and when agencies make temporary appointments or use delegated examining authorities from the U. S. Office of Personnel Management.

General Requirements for Preference

To be entitled to preference, a veteran must meet the eligibility requirements in section 2108 of title 5, United States Code. This means that:

- An honorable or general discharge is necessary.
- Military retirees at the rank of major, lieutenant commander, or higher are not eligible for preference unless they are disabled veterans.
- Guard and Reserve active duty for training purposes does not qualify for preference.
- When applying for Federal jobs, eligible veterans should claim preference on their application or resume. Applicants claiming 10-point preference must complete form SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference. The SF-15 is available online at: http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf .

TYPES OF PREFERENCE

5-Point Preference

Five points are added to the passing examination score of a veteran who served:

- During the period December 7, 1941, to July 1, 1955; or
- For more than 180 consecutive days, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; or
- For more than 180 consecutive days, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on the date prescribed by Presidential proclamation or by law as the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; or- During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990 through January 2, 1992; or
- In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized, including El Salvador, Grenada, Haiti, Lebanon, Panama, Somalia, Southwest Asia, Bosnia, and the Global War on Terrorism.
- Medal holders and Gulf War veterans who enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered on active duty on or after October 14, 1982, must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty. The service requirement does not apply to veterans with compensable service
-connected disabilities, or to veterans separated for disability in the line of duty, or for hardship.

10-Point Preference

Ten points are added to the passing examination score of:

- A veteran who served any time and who (1) has a present service
-connected disability or (2) is receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or pension from the military or the Department of Veterans Affairs. Individuals who received a Purple Heart qualify as disabled veterans.
- An unmarried spouse of certain deceased veterans, a spouse of a veteran unable to work because of a service-connected disability, and
- a mother of a veteran who died in service or who is permanently and totally disabled.

PREFERENCE IN EXAMINATION

Veterans meeting the criteria for preference and who are found eligible (achieve a score of 70 or higher either by a written examination or an evaluation of their experience and education) have 5 or 10 points added to their numerical ratings depending on the nature of their preference.

For scientific and professional positions in grade GS-9 or higher, names of all eligibles are listed in order of ratings, augmented by veteran preference, if any.

For all other positions, the names of 10-point preference eligibles who have a compensable, service-connected disability of 10 percent or more are placed ahead of the names of all other eligibles on a given register.

The names of other 10-point preference eligibles, 5-point preference eligibles, and non-veterans are listed in order of their numerical ratings.

Entitlement to veterans' preference does not guarantee a job. There are many ways an agency can fill a vacancy other than by appointment from a list of eligibles.

FILING APPLICATIONS AFTER EXAMINATIONS HAVE CLOSED

A 10-point preference eligible may file an application at any time for any positions for which a non-temporary appointment has been made from a competitive list of eligibles within the past 3 years.

In addition, a person who is unable to file for an open competitive examination because of military service may file after the closing date. In either of the above situations, the veteran should contact the agency that announced the position for further information.

POSITIONS FOR PREFERENCE ELIGIBLES ONLY

Certain examinations are open only to preference eligibles as long as such applicants are available. These are custodian, guard, elevator operator and messenger.

SPECIAL COMPLAINT PROCEDURES FOR VETERANS

Veterans who believe that they have not been accorded the preference to which they are entitled may file a complaint with the U. S. Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS).

The Department of Labor's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy and Veterans' Employment and Training Service developed an "expert system" to help veterans receive the preferences to which they are entitled.

Two versions of this system are currently available, both of which, help the veterans determine the type of preference to which they are entitled, the benefits associated with the preference and the steps necessary to file a complaint due to the failure of a Federal Agency to provide those benefits. The Internet address for the veterans' preference program is http://www.dol.gov/elaws/vetspref.htm. (State Employment Service Offices have veteran representatives available to assist veterans in gaining access to this information.)

DISABLED VETERANS AND OTHER VETERAN OPPORTUNITIES

Any disabled veteran can contact the Department of Veterans Affairs, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Offices for information on veterans' benefits and related employment services. Certain veterans may also be considered under special hiring programs for disabled veterans with disability ratings of 30% or more or Vietnam Era Veteran Readjustment Act opportunities. Federal agencies have the authority, by law, to give noncompetitive appointments to any veteran who has a service-connected disability of 30% or more. Like the VRA, this authority is discretionary with the agency.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

To be eligible, you must be a disabled veteran who has a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. The disability must be officially documented by the Department of Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs.

GRADE LEVEL OF JOBS THAT CAN BE FILLED

This authority covers all grade levels and occupations.

REASONABLE WORKPLACE ACCOMMODATIONS

Sometimes it may be necessary or advisable for Federal hiring officials to make "a reasonable workplace accommodation," if requested, in either the duties of the job, or where and how job tasks are performed.

The Department of Defense (DoD) established Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) to eliminate employment barriers for employees with disabilities. CAP serves as the government's centrally funded program to provide assistive technology and services free of charge to Federal agencies that have a partnership agreement with CAP. CAP provides accommodations to individuals who are blind, have low vision, are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a dexterity, communication, cognitive, or learning disability.

Examples of workplace reasonable accommodation include:

- Providing interpreters, readers, or other personal assistance.
- Modifying job duties.
- Restructuring work sites.
- Providing flexible work schedules or work sites.
- Obtaining accessible technology or other workplace adaptive equipment.
- Such forms of accommodation make it easier to successfully perform the duties of the position. - CAP supports Federal employees throughout the employment lifecycle, including; recruitment, placement, promotion, and retention of people with disabilities.

In an effort to make the Federal government a model employer for people with disabilities, it is important that you contact CAP to work together to provide real solutions for real needs.

Additional information on Veterans' Preference is located at http://www.opm.gov/veterans/index.asp