Schlumberger in Midland, Texas, supports employee, soldier mobilized to OIF

Photo By Sgt. Jennifer Sardam | Sgt. 1st Class David L. Martinez is a U.S. Army National Guardsman deployed to support the military in the Global War on Terror (GWOT). His civilian job is bulk plant supervisor at one of Schlumberger's Midland, Texas, locations.  

DOHA, QATAR

03.17.2006

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

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

DOHA, Qatar - Schlumberger is a major oilfield services company with about 60,000 employees in 80 nations. One Schlumberger employee, David L. Martinez, currently works in one of those countries in the Middle East, but he's there to conduct worldwide business of a different sort. Sgt. 1st Class Martinez is a U.S. Army National Guardsman deployed to support the military in the Global War on Terror (GWOT).

Although Martinez is deployed thousands of miles from his job as a bulk plant supervisor at one of Schlumberger's Midland, Texas, locations, his civilian employer helps bridge that distance in many ways. According to Martinez, Schlumberger offered to pay the differential between his regular civilian pay and his military pay during the deployment.

Apparently, this is nothing out of the ordinary. Martinez mentioned that Mike, his manager at Schlumberger, has always understood his dedication to the military. "He never complained about having to give me time off for my drills," he said. "He respected it. I"d really like to thank him for that."

Schlumberger has been his employer for the past decade, ever since he first began with the company as a laborer at the plant.

According to Martinez, the usual 18-hour days he works at home helped him easily transition to the 12 to 14-hour days he sees during the deployment. "I'm kind of used to it," he commented.

The days may be longer at home, but he looks forward to reuniting with his coworkers, including his brother, who works at the same location. "I miss the guys I work with over there," Martinez said with a smile. "They're a pretty good bunch of guys."

The feelings in Midland are mutual. "They ask my brother when I am coming back," said Martinez. He credits this camaraderie with his coworkers to the values he keeps as a soldier. "The guys I work with say I treat them with respect, and they give that respect back."

Martinez is a platoon sergeant in his home unit at Battery B, 1st Regiment, 200th Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Battalion, 111th ADA Brigade, out of Hobbs, N.M. As a platoon sergeant, he supervises and trains the platoon on such tasks as basic rifle marksmanship and keeps equipment such as weapons, radios and vehicles in working order.

While he is deployed with the 111th ADA, Martinez is the noncommissioned officer in charge for military port missions in Qatar. "We take equipment from vehicles to CONNEXs (shipping containers) and load it upon vessels," he explained.

Martinez said this is his first deployment in his 23 years of military service. Martinez deployed to Qatar in November 2005 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) under the military command of U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM).

OIF, which began with the liberation of Iraq in 2003, has resulted in two democratic elections, a constitutional referendum and the development of a professional Iraqi security force. In partnership with the Iraqi government, the coalition forces are helping the Iraqi people defeat terrorists and build an inclusive democratic state. The coalition forces, to include the Iraqi army, are conducting full-spectrum counter-insurgency operations to isolate and neutralize the former regime extremists and foreign terrorists. Coalition forces organize, train and equip Iraqi security forces, in order to create a secure environment that allows the reconstruction process to continue.

USCENTCOM, which is located at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Fla., 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, and into Central Asia. Additionally, 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 GWOT 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.

Martinez said his manager ensured that both of them were clear on their legal rights regarding his mobilization. "We went over it before I left, just to make sure I understood and he understood."

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, commonly known as USERRA, allows Martinez 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].

In addition to returning to his job and family, Martinez said he looks forward to spending more time with the newest member of his family, his granddaughter, born just before he deployed.

• Date Taken: 03.17.2006
• Date Posted: 03.17.2006 10:06
• Story ID: 5767
• Location: DOHA, QA