Customer service - Commissaries.com

‘‘
initiative. Chris Burns,
deputy director, noted,
“We’ve provided our
zone managers the
information they need
to help them succeed in
this area, including the
latest statistics on our
IWTD employees, listed
by store. As vacancies
occur, DeCA West’s zone
managers and store
directors work closely
with DeCA EEO to help initiate the employment
process.”
Tom Milks, DeCA’s deputy director and chief
operating officer, directed DeCA Europe last year, and
he pointed out that things work differently in Europe.
“While DeCA Europe totally supports the
EEO initiative of hiring employees with targeted
disabilities, there are obstacles inherent to the
overseas theaters that make this a greater challenge
than in other locations.
30 31 decavision 2009!Vol. 18, No. 4
!
I love my job.
Everyone here is
friendly and likes to
help me out. I am learning
things I’ve never had the
opportunity to learn before.
— Manuel George
“When American
personnel are
considered for
overseas transfer,
they’re screened
to ensure any
unusual health
considerations can
be supported by the
limited American
medical facilities in
their duty location,”
he continued. “This
requirement unfortunately limits the application of
individuals with these disabilities for positions in
Europe.”
Although local national employees are not counted
in DoD’s statistics on individuals with targeted
disabilities, DeCA Europe currently has 50 with
identified disabilities who are valued members of its
workforce.
“DeCA Europe also has one U.S. employee
hired under the ‘disabilities’ guidelines, plus 66
U.S. employees and one U.S. student hire with
self-identified medical issues who were not hired
under the disabilities authority,” said Milks. “These
employees contribute greatly to the mission of
serving the American military. They bring a special
aspect to the workplace, making us all more aware
and appreciative of how varied our lives are. We
are grateful to have them on our team and in our
community.”
At DeCA headquarters, Beverly Cannady, chief
of the contract policy and systems division, currently
employs one employee with a targeted disability
and hopes to soon get another. “We’ve seen a severe
shortage of qualified individuals in contracting
and acquisition over the past few years, and the
disabilities initiative has provided an additional
avenue for recruiting,” she said. “It’s been a very
positive experience that helps both the agency and
the employee.”
The initiative has the full support of DeCA Director
and CEO Philip E. Sakowitz Jr. “DeCA supports
the Individuals with Targeted Disabilities program
100 percent, and will work toward meeting and
exceeding the 2 percent goal,” he said. “It only
makes sense that all people have job opportunities.
That includes not only accessible workplace and
equal opportunities in being hired, but also in
opportunities for training and promotion. We’re
going to do everything we can to make sure this
initiative succeeds.”n
Left, Manuel George places a newly arrived load of
items in the chill box at Cherry Point Commissary,
N.C. DeCA photo: Phyllis Black