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| Heroes Wanted MITRE Reservists Report for Duty May 2002 When President Bush ordered a partial mobilization of the Ready Reserves on Sept. 14, Michael Minter didn't hesitate. I immediately volunteered, and they asked me ‘how fast can you get here?'" said Michael Minter, who works in Field Intelligence Systems at MITRE's San Antonio, Texas, site. A major with the Air Force Reserves, Minter is working with the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in Tampa, Fla., as an air intelligence officer, work similar to what he does for MITRE. "That's why they wanted me so fast," he said. "I am a better Reservist because of the work I've done at MITRE, and I'll make a much better contribution to our MITRE work when I get back." The separation from family has been hard, but, because Minter is stateside, he was able to see his children during their Spring break. "Be sure and mention how great the people both in San Antonio and at the site here in Tampa have been to me!" he said. "Our client in San Antonio was very understanding about MITRE's commitment to supporting the Reserves, and the MITRE office here has been very gracious, letting me use the fax and their computers to check my e-mail and get to the MII. It's like having a bit of home away-from-home." Minter is one of more than 30 MITRE reservists who, after Sept. 11, put aside their civilian clothes and donned their uniforms to join the fight against terrorism.
Joe Morrissey, a captain with the Massachusetts Air National Guard, was called up to active duty in February, about eight months after his youngest child was born. He is now working 12- to 14-hour days, six days a week, on an island off the coast of Oman in Southwest Asia. His office mates, both Air Force and MITRE-ites, in Global Air Traffic Mobile Command and Control at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts sent him cards, jokes, notes, baked goods, and assorted candies. Jelly beans for Easter, along with lots of Snickers. "They're his favorite. I bet he has trouble getting them where he is," said coworker Carol Morris. "Since the terrorist attacks and the mobilization, there has been a tremendous outpouring of employer support to the National Guard and Reserves," said Maj. Hunt Kerrigan of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves in Arlington, Va. "Many of the Fortune 500 companies, in particular, have been very generous in supporting their activated employees." In February, MITRE and employee Steve Wagner were presented with the Department of Reserve Affairs "My Boss Is A Patriot" award for exemplary support of the National Guard and Reserves, in particular for the sacrifice made in assisting Joel Reed, a member of Wagner's staff, in his extended deployment supporting Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom. Said Reed, "Steve was absolutely super. His only words to me when I explained that I was being recalled to active duty were ‘Just go and do your duty; don't worry for a moment about what we need or how we'll cope without you.' It makes my military duties so much easier with this kind of support from my employer." "We owe an obligation to all of our mobilized employees," said Bill Albright, director of Quality of Work Life & Benefits for MITRE. "By law, their jobs are protected while on active duty. But MITRE promises all those who are called into a crisis their usual salary, offset by their military pay, for the equivalent of eight weeks (320 hours), after which they are placed on Part-Time-On-Call." Albright reports that many Reservists and Guardmembers who are deployed still have managed to log in MITRE hours "telecommuting" from their work sites around the world during their free time. "I was surprised when my manager called me to notify me of my MITRE promotion, 11 days after I left," said Minter. "But we may all be here for the long term. We are doing a job that needs to be done—both those of us in uniform, and those of us who are serving in our contracting roles. I can see every day how important this is, and how MITRE is doing great things for our country." Robert Boston is an Air Force Reserve major who left his MITRE position in the Center for Integrated Intelligence Systems to serve for 179 days in Southwest Asia working for CENTCOM Air Forces as chief of Intelligence Support and Special Projects. He returned to MITRE in January and worked for the Air Force Directorate of Operations in the Pentagon until March when he returned to Southwest Asia as a MITRE engineer. "Most of my friends are what we call Combat MITRE. Folks who get out with the customer and sweat, strain, and live with them while we do system implementations and integration work," said Boston. But although MITRE people are on the scene during military exercises, it is still abstract. "Deep down they want to be with the team when they go into the real game," he said. Boston reminds all of his MITRE coworkers, "Keep focus; we are not done yet. We need strong minds and applied experience from you to do this." Joe Morrissey added, "And I ask that all keep in mind the men and women of the U.S. military serving around the world every day. Pray for those who are placed in harm's way, and God bless America!"
Page last updated: May 7, 2002 | Top of page |
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