10:42 a.m., July 23, 2010----When members of the National Guard and Reserve are called to active duty for whatever reason, it helps for them to know that their employer and coworkers are providing support to them and also to the families they have to leave behind.

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The University of Delaware has a long history of such support. Recently, Dennis Flockerzi, a manager in Information Technologies-Network and Systems Services, and the University were publicly honored for their support of employees who also serve as citizen soldiers by the Delaware Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve organization.

“The University of Delaware is committed to supporting our men and women in the armed services, who are providing an important national service, and is proud to have been honored by Delaware Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve,” said Jennifer “J.J.” Davis, UD vice president for administration.

Flockerzi received a Patriot Award for his efforts as a supervisor providing support to Robert Wardell, a network technician in Information Technologies-Network and Systems Services and a chief warrant officer in the Delaware National Guard. Patriot Award recipients are nominated by their military employees.

The University was presented an Above and Beyond Award for its support of members of the armed services.

Both awards were presented at the Delaware Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve annual banquet held June 18 at Bella Vita at the Cavaliers Country Club in Newark.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a U.S. Department of Defense agency with a mission to gain and maintain employer support of Guard and Reserve service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law and resolving conflict though mediation.

The federal Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 establishes rights and responsibilities for Guard and Reserve members and their civilian employers. Affected areas include employment, reemployment, employment benefits and retention in employment when employees serve or have served in the uniformed services.

Christine Kubik, Delaware ESGR executive director, noted in a press release that supportive employers such as UD are a critical component in maintaining the strength and readiness of America's National Guard and Reserve units.

“Delaware ESGR was honored to select and recognize the University of Delaware with a 2010 Above and Beyond Award for its strong and exceptional support of our armed forces,” Kubik said. “As an employer, the University of Delaware sends a clear message to its military employees, that while they are serving their country, they do not have to worry about their civilian jobs.”

Kubik added that “with numerous military employees, the University of Delaware has had three different supervisors who received a Patriot Award in the last year. The organization [UD] is recognized for being highly supportive of National Guard service, even when military employees are called to duty on short notice. The University outwardly recognizes its military employees as a special asset because of their military service.”

Support of military employees by UD include:

• Providing continued funding toward health and dental insurance for employees on military leave for up to 24 months, with employees having to pay their individual premium contributions;
• Providing compensation by making up the difference between military pay and an individual's pay at UD;
• Retaining eligibility of employees and dependents who are eligible for tuition remission and fee waiver benefits; and
• Participating through UD Cooperative Extension in Operation Military Kids, a nationwide initiative designed to work through individual states to provide sustainable support services to youth in military families before, during and after family members are deployed.

Maureen Querey, a manager in the Human Resources Classification and Compensation Office who represented UD at the ceremony, said that the Above and Beyond and Patriot awards recognized the continued support UD provides to National Guard and Reserve members who are deployed or are fulfilling their two-week annual active duty requirements.

“The experience made me proud to work for an institution that values their employees and their commitments to serve our country,” Querey said. “It was a very humbling event.”

Article by Jerry Rhodes
Photo courtesy Delaware ESGR