By Vic Cox

The Department of the Army telegram arrived in late February when Joe McLain was at work at UCSB. His wife, Kim, read it to him over the phone. Six years after completing his Army active reserve requirement, the computer technologist was ordered back to duty.

“It was a tremendous shock,” McLain remembered, to hear the summons that would probably send him to Iraq, but not a total surprise. In 1997-98, while in the active reserve, he had spent the better part of a year in Bosnia with a civil affairs unit. He also knew that due to the war on terrorism he had a chance of being recalled.

“It was way in the back of my mind,” he said. And his circumstances had changed since Bosnia. Now he and Kim were the parents of a daughter, who turns six this month, and two younger sons.

In an interview before departing last week for Fort Jackson, South Carolina, McLain said he regrets he has to leave his family for 18 months. But he is thankful he is a career employee of the University and has more than five years of service.

Under UC military leave policies, he will be paid a salary supplement if his Army pay is less than what he would’ve earned as a computer technologist III for the Biological Sciences Division. Federal law mandates that the same or a comparable job await those who return from military duty.

Not legally required is the University’s extension of benefits to McLain’s family in Lompoc while he is away. They will receive the same medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage—and UC’s contributions—as before. He will also continue to accumulate retirement credits while on military leave.

With three small children and their mother carrying double duty, benefits “was a huge issue for me,” said McLain. “It’s a great weight off my mind,” thanks in large part to guidance from Human Resources benefits analyst Steve Pulliam.

For details on UC military leave policies, go to <http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/employees/ policies/policies/supplement.html>.

McLain said that some colleagues in the core support system for the two biology departments have also volunteered childcare time. Everyone passed the hat to help financially with the transition. More than $1,400 has been collected so far, reports Cathi Arnold, management services officer for biological sciences.

At the urging of molecular biologist Dan Morse, Dell Computers promised the tech one of their laptops to help him keep in touch with family and friends. It will be the first laptop McLain has ever owned.

“The whole department has been extremely helpful,” he said gratefully. “It was just a tremendous response.”

Two other UCSB staff employees have preceded McLain in being recalled to duty. If an employee needs more details on military leave policies, contact benefits analyst Pulliam (x2489).