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General Dynamics supports the men and women in uniform each and every day by providing mission-enabling products, services and solutions. In addition, some of our employees are military reserve personnel. General Dynamics has put in place a military employment policy that goes beyond the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) to ensure that all covered/eligible employees who are called to military active duty are afforded appropriate compensation, benefits and job protection. Our policy is beyond USERRA because we not only protect their jobs, we protect their income by continuing to pay any difference between their service income and their income from General Dynamics.

General Dynamics also supports a number of organizations that benefit service men and women. For example, in 2008 General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products participated in the second annual Honor Flight Program in Nebraska. The Honor Flight Program offers World War II veterans the opportunity see their memorial in Washington, D.C., at no cost to the participants. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products’ facility in Lincoln, Neb., worked with its local VFW to provide a donation to the Honor Flight Program as part of its overall contributions strategy. On the Lincoln flight, 116 men and one woman veteran, ranging in age from 80 to 93, traveled to the World War II Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and the Korean War Memorial. All participants had the opportunity to meet Nebraska’s U.S. Senators Ben Nelson and Chuck Hagel and to receive a word of gratitude from First District Congressman Jeff Fortenberry.

Participating in the United Way program “Serving Those Who Serve”, 33 Electric Boat volunteers joined together to conduct a thorough Spring clean-up at the home of an Electric Boat engineer who is serving on active duty.  Among the tasks completed were: a screen slider fixed, deck stripped and stained, trucks of leaves taken away, 15 new donated trees planted along with other plants, more than five yards of mulch spread over the gardens, a new mailbox pole installed, gutters cleaned, and a fieldstone walking path installed.  The crew left behind a happy homeowner who saved thousands of dollars that would have been spent on labor and materials.

For the past four years, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems has shipped care packages to men and women of several branches of the military serving in Iraq and Afghanistan during the 4th of July and the winter holidays. These packages contained items in response to wish lists received from the troops (e.g., cotton socks, razor blades, stocking caps, zip lock bags, etc.) but also included fun items to remind the warfighters of home, namely footballs, home-baked cookies, board games, stationary, books, magazines, special gifts targeted to the women in the unit, and a signature gift – a 3-foot remote-control truck.  In response, the 532 Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron in Iraq sent the following message upon arrival of the packages:

Ms. Jeanette Reynolds,

Thank you so much for all the presents you and folks of General Dynamics shared with us. We were absolutely blown away by the number of items provided to us.  Everything from books, snacks and of course the remote control car really picked up the spirits of the men and women of the 532 Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and could not have come at a better time.   I understand putting those packages together was no easy task but we really do appreciate the love and care that went into bringing a little bit of home to us here in Iraq.

We are a Security Force Air Force Unit of about 400 people strong and we are tasked with ensuring Balad Air Base stays safe.  We do so by guarding the perimeter and sending patrols outside the base to interact with the local Iraqis.  It’s a highly dangerous mission and it’s the first time the Air Force has operated outside the base in this fashion since the Vietnam War.  Please pass on to the people of General Dynamics my heartfelt thanks for thinking about the troops during the Holiday Season.  Their efforts directly contributed to the morale of the troops which in turn helps us effectively Win the War!

Lt Col Anthony Maisonet
Commander, 532 Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron

Some of the servicemen with their care packages are shown below.

Similarly, General Dynamics Land Systems’ Employee Association runs an Adopt a Unit program. Land Systems employees donate items according to the list provided by the Dragon Company, 1/3 ACR. Items include non-perishable food, magazines, books, medical supplies/kits and other essential items the soldiers need during their tours of duty overseas. Land Systems sends these donations to the troops via large cargo shipping crates on average five times a year.

In the United Kingdom, the charity Help for Heros was launched in October 2007 to raise £6 million to help provide a swimming pool and gym complex at the Tri Service rehabilitation centre at Headley Court. SSAFA Forces Help is a forces charity which helps look after service men and women and their families both during their service and for the rest of their lives. This year General Dynamics United Kingdom’s employees supported these charities through a number of sponsored events, including a parachute jump by employees, a Rugby Challenge Match and Mercury’s March.

As part of General Dynamics United Kingdom’s commitment to helping the Armed Forces, a contribution is made each year to the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF). The ABF is the soldiers’ charity and provides financial and practical support to soldiers, former soldiers and their families in times of need. It identifies and investigates eligible cases in real need, and provides them with financial support.

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