FederalDaily - October 16, 2006
RAND: Activated Reservists See Earnings Increase
Most U.S. military reservists see their earnings increase when they are called to active duty—contrary
to the common belief that the earnings of reservists fall when they are activated, said a study published
by one think tank. The study, published by RAND Corp, examined reservists who served less than 30 days
on active duty in 2000 and more than 30 days in 2002 and 2003. It found that 83 percent of reservists
did not lose earnings when activated. Only 17 percent experienced a drop in earnings. The average earnings
of the activated reservists increased by 32 percent or $13,539, the study said. “Typically, these
reservists are people in their mid-20s to mid-30s, with some college but not necessarily a bachelor's
degree,” said David Loughran, a RAND economist and lead study author. “Generally, military
pay is quite good for this group.” To see the study, titled “Activation and the Earnings
of Reservists,” go to: www.rand.org/news/press.06/09.20.html
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Group Commends EEOC Drive for Disabled
A disability advocacy group praised a new initiative by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC) which it says will provide a fresh avenue of hope for the severely disabled workforce. United
Cerebral Palsy on Oct. 12 applauded the EEOC’s LEAD Initiative—Leadership for the Employment
of Americans with Disabilities—intended to increase the number of disabled individuals in federal
employment. In the United States, 70 percent of people with severe disabilities are unemployed and
according to a recent EEOC report, people with severe disabilities currently comprise less than 1 percent
of the full-time federal workforce. “The LEAD project will help federal hiring officers recognize
the often untapped potential of people with disabilities,” said Stephen Bennett, president and
CEO of United Cerebral Palsy. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires that federal agencies take steps
to provide equal employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. To see more, go to:
www.ucp.org/ucp_generaldoc.cfm/1/9/10020/10020-10020/6903
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Corps of Engineers Civilian Pleads Guilty
A former U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civilian employee pleaded guilty to corruption charges as part
of a cash-for-influence scheme while working at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. Gheevarghese Pappen, 62, a
retired U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employee, pleaded guilty Oct. 12 to charges of soliciting and
accepting nearly $50,000 in illegal gratuities. The scheme took place while he was detailed to the
U.S. Army Area Support Group, Host Nation Office at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait—which supports U.S.
military operations in Iraq, the Justice Department says. While working in Camp Arifjan securing apartments
for Army employees, Pappen accepted money from a Kuwaiti realtor for assisting the realtor in obtaining
contracts with the Army, the indictment said. Pappen faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison,
three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. To see more, go to: www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2006/October/06_crm_697.html
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