USAA's support for reserves nationally recognized

Colorado Springs Business Journal, Aug 19, 2005 by Rob Larimer

Elizabeth Sherbut had only been working for USAA for two weeks when she was notified that the Air Force Reserve was calling her to duty and sending her to Germany.

I was pretty nervous. 'I'm leaving,' is not something you want to tell people at your new job, she said.

Her managers' response shocked her.

They were so supportive. They even said they were proud and told me not to worry, she said.

Management at USAA sent her on her way with a promise that if she made less money while deployed, they'd make up the difference.

And when Sherbut returned from her four-month deployment, she came back to a desk decorated with balloons, cheers from co-workers and thank yous from managers who called her a hero.

I just couldn't' believe it, she said.

The company president, during on a routine visit to Colorado Springs from San Antonio, where USAA is based, even asked to meet her.

Sherbut has received word that she'll be deployed again in a few months, but this time the medical reservist feels more at ease, knowing that she has her employer's support.

That kind of support for reservists won USAA the 2005 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. USAA was one 15 businesses nationally to be chosen for the honor from a pool of 1,500 nominees.

Created in 1996, the award recognizes employers that go above and beyond the call of duty to support the National Guard and the Reserves.

The Department of Defense estimates that there are 1.2 million people enlisted in the National Guard and Reserves, and that 141,390 are deployed.

A federal law enacted in 1994 protects reservists by guaranteeing that they'll have their jobs when they return from deployment.

But we wanted to recognize employers who do more than just the minimum, said Tom Bullock, a spokesman for the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, a national committee that chooses award winners each year.

The list of benefits USAA offers to reservists includes full salary compensation for the first four weeks of deployment, full pay differential for 23 months, full benefits coverage for up to 24 months, and human resources liaisons to answer questions for families during deployment.

The company also offers programs like deployment preparedness kits that have leave checklists, estate planning documents, USAA contact information and a pre-paid long distance telephone card.

There's also Operation Keep in Touch, which sends cards, employment anniversary recognition and a small gift upon the employee's return from deployment.

Fred Fletemeyer is chairman of the local Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve committee. He said several local businesses deserve to be recognized for their Reserve policies.

He plans to nominate Overhead Door Co. next year.

Overhead Door President and General Manager Kevin McGuire said his company honors deployed staff for several reasons.

It's something everyone ought to be doing, he said. But really these guys are all just good workers. They know regiment and responsibility, and they play by the rules.

McGuire admitted that lost employee time adds up to company expenses, but he said that when civilian employees rally to support deployed employees, it creates a common goal and a sense of national duty at work.

McGuire said he's hopeful for next year's award.

It would be an honor, he said.