Freeport’s Military Community Support Lauded with Army Reserve Partnership and Defense Department Award Nomination

March 21, 2024 - Freeport-McMoRan’s commitment to recruit, hire and advance the civilian careers of military personnel recently was recognized with a partnership agreement to support employees in the Army Reserve and nomination for a prestigious award from the U.S. Department of Defense.

The company entered the partnership with the Army Reserve’s Private Public Partnership, P30, in which it pledges to support that organization’s mission of providing meaningful career opportunities to reservists and support them as they balance careers with their military commitments.

During the signing ceremony at the company’s Phoenix headquarters, it was announced that Freeport is one of three Arizona companies nominated for the 2024 Secretary of Defense Freedom Award, the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. It is presented annually by the Secretary of Defense.

Freeport is Arizona’s nominee in the large employer category.

The P30 partnership is an agreement to adhere to employment practices friendly to Army reservists and their families as outlined in the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. Those include such practices as providing the necessary flexibility for them to complete their military training and service obligations, maintaining benefits for their families during deployment and allowing reservists the time to do their military training and service without using their vacation.

Wide range of veteran support

Beyond hiring veterans, the company has a variety of programs to help people with military backgrounds build long-term careers through training and peer support networks.

In entering the partnership, Freeport reiterates its commitment to recruit, hire and retain qualified candidates from all military-connected avenues: active-duty service members transitioning to civilian life, veterans, reservists, Guard members and their families.

The agreement also benefits the company by giving the Talent Acquisition team access to military units in areas where it operates, including Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. Freeport had to demonstrate it had military friendly employment practices in place to qualify for the partnership.

The company has a long tradition of employing people with military backgrounds, said Ryan Niesz, Director of Compensation-Human Resources, who signed the agreement on behalf of the company.

“There’s so much talent that comes out of the services,” Niesz said.

Alecia Grady, P30 Director, said the partnership agreements create a “mutually beneficial relationship” between her organization and employers. By working closely together, companies like Freeport gain access to prospective workers who are well trained, physically fit, possess good work habits and are drug free.

The nomination for the Freedom Award also reflects Freeport’s military-friendly employment practices for members of both the Reserve and the National Guard, said Patrick Kuykendall, Army Reserve Ambassador for Arizona and vice-chair of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) – Arizona.

Each state gets three employer nominees – one large, one medium and one public sector. Freeport was nominated in the large employer category. Those nominations will be reviewed, and eventually the top 30 will be forwarded to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who will select the top 15.

Nominations for the award must come from a Guard or Reserve member who is employed by the organization they are nominating, or a family member.

Almost one-half of the U.S. military is comprised of the Guard and Reserve.

Photo(top right): Alecia Grady, P30 Director, signs the partnership agreement with Freeport-McMoRan. Also shown are Ryan Niesz, Freeport’s Director of Compensation, left, and Patrick Kuykendall, Army Reserve Ambassador.