Employee earns family readiness award

Posted July 9, 2009
By Brittany Brown
Norfolk District Public Affairs

07/09/09 - NORFOLK, Va.—A Norfolk District computer engineer earned top honors last week for her support to employees, family members and friends affected by overseas deployments.

Jerri Wehrle, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employee for 18 years, is a co-winner of this year's Family Readiness Individual Excellence Award, which recognizes her tireless service as the district's family support coordinator.

"Being a military wife, I know what the home front goes through with being both parents and holding down the fort," said Wehrle. "I could sympathize with families and be there to support them because I have been in the same shoes as them."

Wehrle started the initiative five years ago with encouragement from Glenn Seay, a district facility manager. Seay served in Iraq as a project manager more than $23.6 billion in projects and recognized the district's need for a support program based on his experiences as the district's deployment coordinator in 2003.

As family support coordinator, Wehrle provides support and assistance to deployed personnel and their family members by arranging video conferences, making phone calls, sending emails, purchasing birthday gifts and sending flowers or cards on special occasions.

Wehrle and a group of district employees also collect donations for care packages two to three times each year. With support from district employees and personal contributions from Wehrle, the Family Support Group sent twelve care packages to employees in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait -- just in time for the holidays last November.

Deputy District Commander Michael Darrow commends Jerri on her tireless service saying "Jerri makes herself available at anytime - nights, weekends, holidays - to make sure families at home are doing well and have an outlet if they needed anything. Although she has not personally been deployed, the role she plays as the district's family support coordinator is just as important as other missions here in the district."

Wehrle credits the support of her son and husband as an important factor in the success of the program. She plans to continue to provide support to deployed district employees, family members and friends with the help of Norfolk District's Welfare Council. Wehrle states, "This award belongs to the Norfolk District. Without their generous donations, support and assistance, I could not have achieved this award. I am just the person putting it together and organizing the family support."

Wehrle shares the award with Robert McCoy, who works at the Corps' Walla Walla District in Washington.

In addition to individual awards, the Corps' Alaska District earned Family Readiness Outstanding Team Award.

Corps officials will recognize the contributions of Wehrle, McCoy and the Alaska District at a senior leader conference scheduled for August.