NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
28 May 2003

CITY JOINS U.S. ARMY’S PaYS PROGRAM; VETERANS TO RECEIVE EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATION, OPPORTUNITIES

Harrisburg, PA — U.S. Army veterans reentering the workforce after their military service comes to an end will have greater employment opportunities in Harrisburg, Mayor Stephen R. Reed today noted during an official signing ceremony that formalized Harrisburg’s participation in the U.S. Army’s Partnership for Youth Success(PaYS) Program. The Mayor was joined by Brigadier General Leslie Fuller of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command in formalizing the City/Military partnership.

Reed said the PaYS Program is a unique recruiting initiative developed by the United States Army Recruiting Command to appeal to young people interested in obtaining a quality civilian job after their military service ends. A part of the U.S. Army’s efforts to better meet the needs of their recruits, PaYS Program civilian partners agree to provide returning veterans with preferential employment consideration and opportunities.

“The young men and women who serve in our Armed Forces and put themselves in harm’s way so that we may live in freedom, deserve our support both during their term of military service and when their service is completed,” said Reed. “In most cases, they will come to us better trained, more disciplined, more responsible and stable, and experienced in the teamwork that is so vital to getting anything done.”

Reed said the City’s participation in the PaYS Program does not guarantee that the veteran applicant will automatically get the job, but rather will receive special consideration and rating for the positions they apply for.

The Mayor said the City benefits from the program by gaining employees who have developed professional work habits and have been held to the highest standards. “They are professionally trained and experienced, which therefore save us money by their being able to quickly get up to speed in their given tasks.”

Brigadier General Leslie Fuller lauded Mayor Reed’s signing of a formal Memorandum of Agreement with the City: “Harrisburg is in the forefront of our Nation in its treatment of and opportunities for our U.S. Military veterans. The partnership we formalize today is but a continuation of what has been a long and admirable record of service by the City of Harrisburg for our service personnel.

“The Mayor is one of the few chief executives in the nation who, by Executive Order, ensures that when city employees are activated for Guard or Reserve deployment, they continue to receive their full salaries, making up whatever difference there may be between their normal annual pay and that which they receive from the military during their service activations. This can make all the difference in the world as it means there is no economic or financial hardship for the soldier and his or her family.

“Harrisburg also provides full health and seniority benefits for employees called into military service, ensuring that no family member goes without normal healthcare coverage. These are important issues which, unaddressed, can dramatically affect the military readiness and commitment of our young soldiers. Mayor Reed’s and the City of Harrisburg’s commitment to our military service personnel helps give them the peace of mind and security they need to be fully focused on their military service.”

Reed said the city’s participation in the PaYS program means that, in addition to veterans’ preferences for open positions, city employment opportunities will also be posted on the U.S. Army’s internet employment pages, which can be viewed by service personnel around the globe. “This will significantly increase the talent pool for city jobs,” noted the Mayor.

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