With a firm conviction that the Corporation’s greatest asset is its employees, RCA has long been a leader in employee benefits and services. In addition, on the BMEWS Project, you will enjoy excellent starting salaries, plus added com-pensation for field assignments.
TAX INFORMATION
Since the payment of income taxes is a responsibility of a citizen to his Government, the Company cannot enter into personal income tax problems. Any questions you may have about overseas income tax exemptions are authoritatively answered in the U.S. Government Printing Office publication number 54, “Tax Guide for U.S, Citizens Abroad”.
The Company will not honor Exemption Intent Forms; taxes will be withheld as usual, with your benefits being realized in the form of refund upon completion of your tax return.
EDUCATION
It is the policy of RCA to encourage its personnel to strive for self-improvement and thus prepare themselves for ad-vancement. The concrete expression of this policy is to be found in the Tuition Loan and Refund Plan.
This plan provides for the full or part payment for evening or correspondence courses of instruction which will improve the employee’s performance in his current occupation and/or will equip him to succeed in related occupations. The Train-ing and Organization Development Manager is the final word on a course’s suitability. See your Training and O.D. representative on site for further details. Any member of the Company who is considered a permanent employee may apply for this plan.
When you become interested in making use of this plan you should first consult your supervisor to determine if the desired courses will benefit you in your present job or in a related group of occupations.
In order to obtain permission to participate in the plan, you must prepare in detail, and prior to taking the course, the RCA application for Tuition Loan and/or Refund. The course or courses elected must increase your qualifications in your present job or in a related group of occupations. The $225.00 maximum allowance does not include books, lecture notes, extra fees, etc. After completing the application, you should obtain your supervisor’s signature, sign it, and then forward it to the BMEWS Administrator – Training & Organization Development at Site.
Training may be taken at any accredited resident college or university and the following approved correspondence schools:
If employment is terminated for any reason other than military service, the unpaid balance of the load will become immediately due and payable, and no refund will be made.
EMERGENCIES
In the event of an emergency at your home, such as critical illness or the death of a near relative, your family should contact the Personnel Services Office at Project Headquar-ters. The telephone number is 963-8000, extension PJ 6284, or during non-business hours Area Code 609, 829-7090.
If the emergency is not serious enough to necessitate your return home, the Company, if requested, will make every effort to assist in the situation. If your family should desire such assistance, have them contact the Personnel Services Department at Project Headquarters.
Also, instruct your families that, in the event of hospitaliza-tion, surgery, or any other medical situations covered by your employee insurance, they should direct all insurance claims to the Administrator, Insurance and Retirement, at the PHQ address. This will insure the most efficient pro-cessing and payment of claims during your absence.
HUNTING AND FISHING
Hunting is strictly forbidden due to the scarcity of game and the necessity of preserving the small numbers of Arctic animals for the native Eskimos, who depend upon these ani-mals for both food and clothing. This restriction has been outlined and agreed upon in the Danish-U.S. agreement. However, fishing is permissible, at the nearby bays and fjords in the summer. Fishing parties must consist of two or more persons for safety reasons.
HOLIDAYS AND VACATIONS
The eight approved Company holidays are not observed at Thule and you will be asked to perform your duties on a normal workday schedule, for which you will receive the normal Company pay allowances for working these holidays. In addition, you will receive regular holiday pay for these days worked.
The standard vacation policy will be in effect at Thule. (See page A-7 for further details.)
Each employee whose expected tour of duty at Site I is 18 months is eligible for vacation between the fifth and fifteenth months. (No vacation of less than one calendar week may be taken by a Site I employee.) It is recommended that you schedule two vacations in your 18-month tour, Any unpaid extensions of vacations must have prior management approval. Days of travel to and from Thule are not counted against your vacation.
For those of you who may be interested in spending your vacation in Europe, arrangements can be made for you to make connections at Sondestrom, Greenland. You can pro-ceed to Europe from that point via commercial airlines; however, the commercial flight will be at your own expense. Make certain to arrange with the BMEWS Transportation Coordinator at Site for the flight to Sondestrom and the time for your pickup and return to Site. If you intend to spend a vacation in Europe, you must obtain a passport before leaving for the foreign country. The Department of Defense has also directed that if your vacation will involve travel to or through a Sino-Soviet bloc country you must report such intentions to the Site Safety and Security Administrator 30 days prior to your intended travel. At this time you will receive a security briefing on the potential security hazards involved in such foreign travel.
SITE SECURITY
The BMEWS Project has been designated by the Department of Defense as one of the top priority projects in this nation. and, as such, the security requirements are very stringent. Control of entry of all personnel into designated restricted areas is by the Air Force Installation Commander. Points of entry are manned by Air Police.
Employee badges are issued and controlled by the Air Force on Thule Air Force Base and are the property of the Govern-ment. It is your responsibility to report the loss or mutilation of badge and/or pass to the Site Safety and Security Admin-istrator. You are required to wear your security badge in. plain view at all times while in designated restricted areas. You are required to challenge the presence of any un-authorized individual in your work area and report this presence to responsible military and/or contractor personnel. You must be prepared to properly identify yourself if challenged within restricted areas.
You also have a moral and legal responsibility to report immediately any suspected espionage and/or sabotage to the bite Safety and Security Administrator.
ACCIDENT PREVENTION
High on the list of required activities are those which will keep you from being involved in an accident. The basic principles of accident prevention are common sense, good judgment, and compliance with established procedures.
To prevent injury to employees, damage to equipment, and loss of time due to accidents, RCA has provided safety de-vices, safety equipment, and safe operating procedures. Signs restricting access to certain areas have been placed there for your protection. Unless you are authorized to enter these areas, for your own safety do not attempt to gain admittance. Employees whose assigned duties require them
to enter will be fully trained in the safe procedures to be followed while in these areas.
Arctic hazards can be avoided by following the principles learned during your Arctic Indoctrination. Chance-takers seldom get as many chances in the Arctic as they do in warmer areas.
Radiation hazards have been kept to a minimum through suitable design of equipment and structures. Radiation incidents can be prevented by sticking to established procedures and heeding all posted warnings.
Since a fire at Thule can take on the proportions of a major disaster, the fire prevention program must have the complete cooperation of all participating personnel. During your stay at Thule, you will receive training in the prevention, reporting, and emergency fighting of fires.
All Protective Services personnel are fully qualified fire-fighters. They are kept ready for emergencies by a continuing program in the use of the latest specialized fire-fighting and fire prevention methods.
In the event of fire or other disaster, the BMEWS Protective Services Office are used as the central point for all channe1s of communication.
The safety record at Thule has been outstanding. Since your entire future can depend upon your personal safety during your tour at Site, it is to your advantage to think and work safely, using the facilities, equipment and procedures provided for your protection.