Deployed reservist to face adjustments back home

Published June 11, 2009
By Lt. Col. Rich Curry
507th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Reservists who deploy face many challenges when they return home, including the prospect of not having a job.

Maj. Bill Pierce, a public affairs officer in the 507th Air Refueling Wing here, is not getting his old civilian job back because he's been promoted. The Board of Education in Putnam City, Okla., voted unanimously to hire Major Pierce as principal at Kirkland Elementary School for the upcoming school year.

Major Pierce is currently the 332nd Expeditionary Wing public affairs officer at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. He will return home later this summer.

"I had no idea I was going to be named principal," the major wrote in an e-mail. "I interviewed over the phone last month (May) along with everyone else competing for the position. I work with a lot of very qualified administrators. I consider it an honor to be associated with them."

Last school year Major Pierce was the assistant principal at Wiley Post Elementary School. Before going to Wiley Post, he served for one year as an administrative intern at Western Oaks Elementary School and two years as newspaper and yearbook adviser at Putnam City High School.

He holds a master's degree in business administration from Oklahoma City University and a bachelor's degree in journalism and advertising from the University of Central Oklahoma.

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA, 38 U.S.C. § 4301 - 4335 ) is a federal law intended to ensure people serving in the Armed Forces, Reserve, National Guard or other "uniformed services" are not disadvantaged in their civilian careers because of their service; are promptly reemployed in their civilian jobs upon their return from duty; and are not discriminated against in employment based on past, present, or future military service."

Major Pierce said he was notified of his promotion in a text message from the school superintendent June 1.

"I am privileged to work for such a great district and honored to be named Kirkland's principal," Major Pierce said. "I am looking forward to serving the students, parents, and teachers."

The major said his goal when entering the education field was to teach and then go into elementary administration.

"The Putnam City school district was my number one choice," he said.

He said he realized the first part of his dream in 2005 when he joined the district as a teacher.

"The other part of that wish became a reality June 1," he said. "I am very lucky to have such a wonderful district standing behind me, my Air Force career, and especially my family. My staff, co-workers, and leadership have been nothing but supportive of my military deployment."

After his deployment, Major Pierce plans to go home, reunite with his family and get to work in August.

"I'm looking forward to getting back to the States and meeting the students, staff and parents," he said. "My Air Force career has prepared me to lead. I get to live and teach the Air Force core values everyday to my staff and students. It's going to be a great year."