Employees 'going the distance' to work at DCMA

CHESTER, VA, UNITED STATES

03.03.2011

Story by Jo Adail Stephenson 

Defense Contract Management Agency

CHESTER, Va. - Some are “going the distance” literally to be employed by, and to stay employed with, the Defense Contract Management Agency.

Vanpooling may be one of the agency’s best kept recruiting secrets because it gives DCMA employees options of living farther away or staying in the location where they are living and still working for the agency. For potential DCMA employees, it also gives them the option of taking a position with the agency and either not having to move or having a larger geographical area from which to select to relocate.

Vanpooling is good not only for some employees but also for organization hiring officials who can draw from a larger pool of qualified candidates for jobs.

Advantages for vanpoolers include less personal money spent on gas for driving to and from work, less wear and tear on personal vehicles, less stress making a long drive to and from work every day, being able to check e-mail, catch up on reading, relax, sleep, etc., while commuting.

Vanpool commutes usually average between one to two hours one way and have several pick-up and drop locations depending on the vanpool routes. Vanpoolers usually drive a short distance to catch their van. Travel times take about the same amount of time if the individual drove the distance in their own vehicle.

To be a successful vanpooler, it’s not just about location, location, location; it’s also about communication, communication, communication.

Vanpool etiquette is usually dictated by group consensus. It centers around common courtesy and respect for fellow vanpoolers when using cell phones and talking while commuting and communicating with van members if a rider is running late or not taking the van at all that day.

Current vanpooler and DCMA employee Eric Claud said he works his home schedule around the vanpool schedule and does drive to work some days.

“I’m thankful to be in a vanpool. I am loving it,” said Claud who has also vanpooled before. “With technology (Blackberries and cell phones), I can leave and call back in to meetings and check e-mail while I’m commuting in the vanpool.”

To learn more about vanpooling, check out the Transit Subsidy Benefit Program information in the DCMA New Employee Handbook on the agency home page at https://home.dcma.mil/DCMAHQ/dcma_HC/index.cfm under Employee Resources/Human Capital/My HC Guides & Information/New Employee Handbook and visit www.militaryvanpool.com.

• Date Taken: 03.03.2011
• Date Posted: 03.03.2011 10:00
• Story ID: 66399
• Location: CHESTER, VA, US