Brad Triplett had worked for Chart Cooler Services Co. for a few weeks when he received his active-duty orders.

Triplett, a sergeant in the Army Reserves, was scheduled for an 18-month deployment, during which time he would be away from the good welding job he just got.

But he wasn't worried. His bosses said he would have a spot when he got back, and although he was filling in some extra positions before a permanent spot opened, Triplett went right back to work.

"If they hadn't been so understanding, my time wouldn't have been so easy,"
he said.

Support of Guard and Reserve members in their employment is considered paramount for stability and alleviating an already stressful time.

"It's so upsetting for families if they have to worry about their employer; it weighs down the pack," said James R. Gill, Northeast Area Chair for the Oklahoma Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense Agency.

The ESGR Committee works to ensure fair treatment of Guard and Reservist, gain and maintain support from the employers of Guard and Reserve members, helps employers with training and understanding the Uniformed Service Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) which protects the job rights of employees who perform military service.

"When they come back, it's like they never left,"  Jim Gill said.

As of Nov. 22, nearly 90,000 National Guard or Reserve personnel had been activated, including more than 3,400 members of Oklahoma's Army National Guard in Afghanistan and Kuwait. Since 2001, there have been more than 832,000 activations.

Most service members leave their day jobs for sometimes extended periods of time, which creates hardships for them and their employers.

"It's a burden, and we have to schedule overtime," said Steve Harrold, vice president of operations for Chart Cooler Services Co. "But we get around it."

Chart received the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve's Patriot Award on Tuesday for their support of Guard and Reserve members. Chart Cooler Service Company also signed a Statement of Support certificate pledging their support.

Harrold said the level of dedication and hard work the service members and veterans bring to the line is worth the extra burden.

About 8 percent of Chart's workforce is former or current military members.

"We want to make it so they can come back," Harrold said. "It pays off in the long run with the quality workforce we maintain. We've always looked at military service as a benefit for a quality workforce."

Chart's support is something Triplett recognizes and appreciates. His supervisors know his work ethic is high and that he has a big obligation to the Reserves.

"I had no idea how hard it would be to schedule," he said. "I've never had to question my Reserve obligation or how it goes with my civilian work."

Triplett served four years on active duty before joining the Reserves and getting hired at Chart. He said he plans to put in 20 years with the Army, a goal that could be more difficult with an uncooperative employer.

"At a place like Chart, I feel like I can do it without it hurting me," he said.

By the numbers
Oklahoma National Guard and Reserve current activations as of Nov. 22:
Army: 3,433
Air Force: 385
Marine Corps: 60
Navy: 25
Source: Department of Defense
 

Picture:
Sgt. Brad Triplett, Army Reserves presents the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Patriot Award to his employer, Chart Cooler Service Company, Inc, and Vice President of Operations Steve Harrold on Tuesday. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World

By JERRY WOFFORD World Staff Writer
Published: 11/30/2011  2:04 AM
Last Modified: 11/30/2011  8:30 AM