Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has joined the U.S. Army Partnership for Your Success (PaYS) program. The company will provide job interviews and potential employment to soldiers who select Cooper during their Army enlistment process from more than 500 organizations participating in the PaYS program.
As part of the program, Cooper commits to interviewing the soldiers for jobs with the company following their military service. In addition, Cooper has the option of working with the Army to see that soldiers who select Cooper at enlistment receive specific training during their service that is relevant to future employment at Cooper.
Cooper Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President Roy Armes joined Capt. Jonathan Ogden, commander of the Marion, Ohio, Recruiting Company, and Lt. Col. Scott Bartley, battalion commander, Cleveland Recruiting Battalion, for a signing ceremony on Feb. 5, 2015. The ceremony was held at the Cooper Technical Center adjacent to the Cooper headquarters in Findlay, Ohio.
“Veterans make up about 7% of the total U.S. workforce at Cooper,” Armes says. “That’s a good number, yet we can do better and increase the number of veterans we employ.
“Veterans often possess the kind of skills, leadership and commitment that we are looking for at Cooper, and we are engaging with them in multiple ways to make job connections. The PaYS program is one important way to make these connections and Cooper is proud to be a part of the program.”
Cooper is the 504th organization to sign on with PaYS, according to Bartley. “The Army wants to take civilians, provide them with training and job experience, and bring them back to their communities as responsible, productive citizens with marketable skills. We are pleased to have a connection with Cooper as we expect many soldiers to have an interest in working for one of just two tire companies that are headquartered in the United States.
“Cooper is a well-known and respected brand, and we are excited about the opportunities that may open up to veterans who select Cooper as they enlist in the Army. We thank Cooper for making a commitment to engage with our veterans through PaYS.”
The PaYS program is a strategic partnership between the US Army and a cross section of corporations, companies, and public sector agencies. It began in 2000 as an enlistment incentive for regular Army enlisted soldiers.
In October 2002, the program expanded to include Army Reserve soldiers. The program later expanded to include Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) reserve component cadets and ROTC cadets who incur an active duty commitment. The program is part of the Army’s effort to partner with America’s business community and reconnect America with its Army.
For more information on Cooper and its products, visit www.coopertire.com.
