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By Maria N. Reynolds
300th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. – After three weeks of constant labor at Pacific Warrior here, Spc. Dorothy L. Freeman will face additional work at her civilian job when she returns home.
Freeman, a food service specialist from the 394th Combat Service Support Battalion in Fremont, Neb., just started her civilian job as a loan administrative officer when she was deployed for annual training.
While her fellow employees are supportive of her duties as an Army Reserve Soldier, they have to labor harder to cover her responsibilities when she is gone.
"I was concerned they wouldn't understand," Freeman said, noting she will still face a backlog of work.
Such conflicts are common for Army Reserve Soldiers who have to take time off for training each year. While federal law prevents employers from dismissal or predjudicial actions against Soldiers, the concern remains for some.
Warrant Officer Vincent T. Koski, a materiel management officer with the 275th Combat Service Support Battalion from Fort Lee, Va., said he gets actively involved in any work schedule conflicts in his unit.
"Even though the job may not fire you, it's always in the back of their minds when it comes time for promotions or time off," Koski said.
Many have positive experiences with their employers and their national service.
Staff Sgt. Constance A. Oberg, food service non-commissioned officer for the 394th CSSB, works at her local hospital as a department secretary.
Her staff takes care of her job while she is on orders and supports her. Oberg has even been told that if she deploys overseas, she will continue to receive raises and incentive checks.
"My coworkers are really proud of me and they get excited when I have to do things with the Army," she said.
Spc. Leroy McClary, a supply clerk with the 460th Adjutant General Detachment in Florence, S.C., recently joined the Army Reserve. Just this year, he and his father opened a tire shop in their hometown of Florence, S.C.
They balance a hectic schedule of changing tires, car washes and minor repairs, so his father had to find extra help while McClary was gone. Though the summer is the busiest time for the shop, knowing the dates plenty of time in advance helped them prepare, he explained.
"My father was just happy that I came back into the Army, so even though he needed my help, he was understanding when I told him I had to leave for (annual training)," McClary said.
| Date Taken: | 06.23.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 07.12.2008 14:40 |
| Story ID: | 21420 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 375 |
| Downloads: | 356 |
This work, Soldiers go from rent to tent and back again, by SPC Maria Reynolds, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
