Pay raises, other benefits accrue for Navy reservist serving her country

Photo By Sgt. Jennifer Sardam | QATAR - Hilton Reservations Worldwide gave three meritorious pay raises to a company employee, who is also a U.S. Navy reservist, upon her return from a two-year mobilization that came shortly after 9.11. Yeoman 1st class Marlow S. Kroegel had accrued these benefits based on time and grade with her civilian employer in Tampa, Fla., even while she was away, mobilized to U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base (AFB), Tampa.  

QATAR

02.28.2006

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

By Spc. Jennifer Sardam
CENTCOM Public Affairs/ESGR Forward Team

QATAR - Hilton Reservations Worldwide gave three meritorious pay raises to a company employee, who is also a U.S. Navy reservist, upon her return from a two-year mobilization that came shortly after 9.11.

Yeoman 1st class Marlow S. Kroegel had accrued these benefits based on time and grade with her civilian employer in Tampa, Fla., even while she was away, mobilized to U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base (AFB), Tampa.

Now Kroegel is deployed for six months to another USCENTCOM area of operations in Qatar, where she is the noncommissioned administrative officer for the CENTCOM Protocol Office to support Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

But, she can rest assured that her stateside employer still supports her. "They stand 100 percent behind all of their military affiliated employees," said Kroegel. "No matter what it is, they will fight for the employee. All I had to do was tell them [of my deployment] and bring them orders. My position is there when I get back."

Kroegel began working for Hilton six years ago as a redemption sales representative, working with guests to redeem their accumulated points through Hilton Hotels and its affiliates.

Her hospitality experience has proven equally useful in both careers. Along with her 22 years in the Navy, this customer service background benefits Kroegel in her capacity in Protocol, where she supports three-star generals and higher, up to USCENTCOM commander, General John Abizaid, by providing refreshments and office and communications capabilities for meetings and luncheons.

USCENTCOM, located at MacDill AFB, is the unified command responsible for U.S. security interests in 27 nations that stretch from the Horn of Africa (HOA) through the Arabian Gulf region, into Central Asia. USCENTCOM is one of nine unified commands in the Department of Defense (DOD).

Central Command's mission includes enhancing regional stability and demonstrating a steadfast commitment to regional security. CENTCOM is also responsible for executing the Global War on Terror in its assigned area of responsibility (AOR), which includes Iraq, Afghanistan and HOA. Other important USCENTCOM activities include humanitarian and security assistance programs, as well as combined training and education opportunities for military members in AOR nations.

In the CENTCOM AOR, OEF encompasses two major missions led by Combined Forces Command Afghanistan and Combined Joint Task Force HOA. Combined Forces Command Afghanistan conducts full-spectrum operations throughout the combined joint operations area to defeat Al Qaeda and associated movements, establish an enduring Afghan security structure and reshape its posture for the Long War, in order to set the conditions for long-term stability in Afghanistan.

Combined Joint Task Force HOA is based at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, and its mission is to preempt the broader growth of Islamic militancy among the area's largely Muslim population soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines using civil-military operations, humanitarian assistance and military-to-military training to deny terrorists any foothold in the region.

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, commonly known as USERRA, allows Kroegel and other mobilized military members to retain their rights to return to their civilian jobs following a deployment. Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972. The mission of ESGR is to gain and maintain active support from all public and private employers for the men and women of the National Guard and Reserve. ESGR volunteers provide free education, consultation, and if necessary, mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees.

As the 1.2 million members of the National Guard and Reserve continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions that require extraordinary actions on the part of everyday citizens, ESGR will continue to be the information agency for the employers of America's new Minutemen. More information about ESGR Employer Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities is available at www.esgr.mil, or by calling The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve at [phone].

• Date Taken: 02.28.2006
• Date Posted: 02.28.2006 14:38
• Story ID: 5545
• Location: QA