Chrysler Earns Top Employer-Support Award

American Forces Press Service ^ | John J. Kruzel

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2008 – Defense officials have chosen Chrysler to receive the department's top employer-support award for providing exceptional financial and emotional support to its employees who deploy as National Guard or reserve members.

Chrysler will receive the Freedom Award along with 14 other companies in a ceremony Sept. 18 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center here. The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to recognize exceptional support from the employer community.

The automaker provides pay differential and full benefits for up to 48 months of military service for all its Guard and reserve employees.

“The fact that Chrysler made up my pay was a huge help, because I don’t think I could’ve made it financially without them,” said Navy Reserve Petty Officer 2nd Class Theresa Jones, a Chrysler employee who has spent two years away from work fulfilling reserve duties.

In addition to providing pay and benefits, the Chrysler Veterans Committee regularly collects items and sends comfort packages to deployed employees and other servicemembers.

“It was so nice to receive care packages from my colleagues at Chrysler while I was serving in Iraq,” Jones said in a news release. “They even sent me a microwave so we could pop our own popcorn!”

Robert Nardelli, Chrysler’s chairman and chief executive officer, signed a military support agreement in May that pledged the company’s commitment to supporting employees who are called into military service.

“I just want to thank all the men and women who give of themselves, who are apart from their families, who are enduring tremendous hardship to maintain the freedom, the democracy on which this country was founded,” Nardelli said at the May 5 signing of the ESGR 5-Star Military Support Agreement.

Meanwhile, Chrysler is sponsoring an ongoing program called “Freedom Calls” to allow families of deployed troops to participate in a video-teleconference with their loved ones in Iraq.

The Freedom Award recognizes U.S. employers that rise above the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.

As shown by testimony from Air Force Tech Sgt. Robert Langlois, who has spent an average of 100 days a year on security-force tours in Germany, his national service likely wouldn’t have been possible without Chrysler’s exceptional support.

“If not for the incredible support of Chrysler, both financially and emotionally, I don’t think I could’ve stayed in uniform serving this country,” he said in a statement. “I’m so very thankful to them.”

Related Sites:
National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

Related Articles:
America Supports You: Chrysler Kicks Off Military Appreciation Month

[homeguard]

To bad their vehicles suck.....

[American_Centurion]

2002 Dodge Dakota Quadcab 4x4 176000 miles, the only problem I’ve had is wheel bearings, had to replace them at 125,000. Service life is 100,000. So I have to say I disagree with you.

Now as for gas mileage......(crickets)

[homeguard]

Almost bought one of the Dakota’s...but they cost as much as a full size....

[decimon]

Could be the Cerberus factor. Feinberg was Airborne.

[decimon]

Or, I’ve read that he was Airborne. A web search reveals only ROTC.

[American_Centurion]

Yes they do, but the mileage is slightly better and they fit in my garage without the doors banging the wall or my car. However when I bought mine, it was the same price with all the options as the Full-size at base + 1 or 2 options, so it was a pretty easy choice for me based on those two things.

It’s been almost bullet proof....knock on wood.

[rom]

Makes me feel better about the 2008 Town and Country we bought this year. Excelsior!