Booz Allen’s Military Activation Policy Addresses Unique Needs of Reservists

Job guarantee, supplemental pay, and team/management support ease transitions before and after deployment.

“Critical to the success of any military deployment is confidence and peace of mind, knowing that your family and career are well taken care of,” says Booz Allen Hamilton associate and reservist Jeffrey Zimmerman.

“What separates Booz Allen’s military policy from those of other companies is the people—the co-workers, managers, principals, and vice presidents who support the reservists during these extended periods of absence,” he adds. In Zimmerman’s case, the absences have meant three to five months of deployment almost every year.

Named one of the nation’s top 50 military-friendly employers in 2006 by G.I. Jobs magazine, Booz Allen is known for providing one of the industry’s most generous leave policies for employee reservists who are called to active duty. With both active and retired military veterans employed across the nation and at its worldwide headquarters in McLean, Virginia, the firm tailors its policy to serve their needs.

Reservists have unique career concerns: The unpredictability of their military schedules can make them vulnerable to lay-offs, and they want assurance that active training time or deployment won’t count against them for promotions or performance evaluations. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) made it unlawful for employers to terminate employees because of their reserve affiliation, and has gone a long way in ensuring the career security of reservists.

But USERRA addresses only the most basic job needs. Booz Allen proactively enhanced its policy to be more responsive to reservists, providing support to ease their transition before and during deployment. Managers and co-workers also help reservists return to being productive employees after their tours are over.

Senior consultant and reservist Jason Cronin was already in the service when he joined Booz Allen in 2003. His first tour of duty occurred January through August 2003. He left again on long-term military leave from January to October 2005, deployed to western Iraq with the II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF).

“Because Booz Allen has many current and former military personnel built into its ranks, there is a strong understanding of the needs and concerns of Reservists and National Guardsmen,” he says. “My transition back was supported both at functional team and home team levels, and management made certain that I was reintegrated into the team and project, almost as if I hadn’t left.”

Transitional Support for Reservists and Their Families

Compliance with USERRA provides the foundation of the firm’s military activation policy: At the conclusion of an employee’s military leave, the firm makes every effort to return the employee to the position he or she held prior to leave. If the position is not available, the employee is placed in a position with equivalent pay, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment. The position restoration provision will continue for up to five years from the commencement of the leave unless otherwise mandated by law.

But Booz Allen understands that job security is only part of the picture, and provides additional benefits that correspond to the circumstances of the military leave.

Whether an employee participates in military leave that is voluntary (e.g., employee-requested training or military activation) or compulsory (e.g., a requirement for the employee to meet reserve obligations, or when the employee is involuntarily recalled as a result of military activation), the firm provides the support needed at an uncertain time.

For example, when a Booz Allen employee is called to active duty (i.e., activation initiated by one of the branches of the U.S. military services), he or she becomes eligible to receive the difference between civilian and military compensation for six months out of each year of active deployment. In addition, employees are eligible to continue certain benefits, such as medical and dental coverage and life insurance, while military active duty orders are in effect.

Military experience is often an asset to both the individual and the firm in other ways. Veterans frequently use the skills they learned in the service in their civilian projects, as well as the self-discipline, work ethic, and core values critical to Booz Allen’s culture. At the same time, reservists use their experience at Booz Allen, including knowledge of best practices and technology applications, to support military assignments.

Cronin says his tour in Iraq made him a better consultant. “When you experience something of that magnitude, you understand the consequences of what you do in your civilian job, supporting DoD and government clients. I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.”

Addressing Numerous Scenarios of Activation

For Cronin, Booz Allen’s Armed Services Forum was an especially valuable resource. “Talking with fellow Reservists, National Guardsmen, and veterans is one of the best things the firm makes available. It helps to speak with those who have gone through experiences similar to yours.”

Cronin joined Booz Allen because of the high level of character and integrity in hired personnel. And the firm has lived up to its reputation. He says, “The firm goes a long way to provide transitional support so you don’t lose rank and time. Supplementing reservists’ pay also provides security and helps maintain our lifestyle.”

In 2005, Cronin was supporting IT operational integration projects for a Department of Defense client. When he returned to Booz Allen after deployment, the same project and role were waiting for him, and his team helped him reengage. Today, his career goals include getting his masters degree while continuing to hone his skills at Booz Allen.

In April 2007, Zimmerman became the Commanding Officer of his U.S. Navy Reserve activation squadron (see sidebar). His service requires frequent travel. “The firm has been overwhelmingly supportive of every aspect of my military assignments. I weighed the pros and cons of accepting a command career track and knew that it would come at the expense of a more expeditious Booz Allen career track. My managers have been totally supportive of finding me work that accommodates the military schedule.”

Zimmerman, who supports IT security for Booz Allen intelligence community clients, says principal Mike Stewart and senior associate Morgan Fowle helped ensure his career did not stall while he was on leave. “Rather than pigeon-hole me in routine duties, I was placed in business development positions that helped expand my professional portfolio.

“Mike’s 20+ years as a Naval officer gives him perspective on the burden placed on individuals and families not just during the deployed periods, but also in the months leading up to the deployment, including training and readiness exercises and detachments across the country. In my case, flying tactical carrier-based jets requires flying several nights per week. Mike and Morgan let me flex my schedule to meet these requirements. Their support and mentorship have been key to my success, and highlight the importance of the ‘people’ aspect to any military leave program.”

In the future, Zimmerman hopes to lead process improvement initiatives to enhance Booz Allen’s business development and bid preparation.

Navy Reserve Squadron Celebrates Change of Command

On April 14, 2007, Booz Allen Hamilton associate and Navy reservist Jeffrey Zimmerman assumed command of Electronic Attack Squadron 209 (VAQ-209), a U.S. Navy Reserve Force electronic countermeasures squadron based at the Naval Air Facility in Washington, D.C.

As Commanding Officer of VAQ-209, Zimmerman is responsible for over 200 Sailors, 30 Naval aviators, and four EA-6B Prowler aircraft that, together, are charged with executing the suppression of enemy air defenses mission through electronic jamming and countermeasures.

“Our job is to protect our coalition aircraft and ground forces through an array of radar and communications jamming that prevents the free flow of information to adversaries on the battlefield,” Zimmerman explains.

A Naval Flight Officer, Zimmerman has logged over 2,500 flight hours and flown more than 150 combat missions totaling 654 hours. His personal decorations include eight Strike/Flight Air Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, four Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and numerous unit awards and campaign medals.

Prior to assuming command of the “Star Warriors” of VAQ-209, he served as the squadron’s executive officer (XO). As XO, he led an extensive pre-deployment site survey team responsible for the design and build-out of new expeditionary squadron spaces at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, allowing the squadron to successfully complete 310 combat sorties totaling 1,500 flight hours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

During the Change of Command ceremony, Zimmerman acknowledged Booz Allen’s support, which has enabled him to continue his Navy career that included over 30 extended training detachments and eight three- to five-month deployments since he joined the firm in 1997.

“The real power of the firm’s military activation policy comes from the ability of reservists like Jeff, who brings his experiences as a war fighter and consumer of intelligence products back to our intelligence community clients,” says Booz Allen principal Mike Stewart.

“As an information security consultant, Jeff is responsible for helping to enhance those very products and intelligence sharing throughout the community. The importance of this unique level of insight—coupled with the increasing strain placed on our reservists—requires Booz Allen to ensure our policy provides exceptional support to both reservists and their families.”

story posted June 11, 2007