HUMAN RESOURCES

We invite you to consider joining:

VALLEY FORGE MILITARY ACADEMY AND COLLEGE

We welcome your decision to consider employment with Valley Forge Military Academy and College. We trust that through the information contained on our site and your visits to Valley Forge, you will learn how you can contribute to our mission.

At Valley Forge, we are committed to educating and motivating young men to acquire and develop those habits of character leading to academic excellence and leadership of the highest integrity to enable them to guide our institutions, our professions and our country along the proper paths for generations to come.

We draw on the collective talent and the personal commitment of our staff. Our services offer opportunities for the young men we serve and the people we employ to be recognized as important contributors to a better society.

We are pleased that you are considering the possibility of joining our team.

EMPLOYEE COMMITTEES

Personnel Relations Committee
Recognizing that all employees contribute to meeting the challenges of providing quality services to young men, VFMA&C created a Personnel Relations Committee to support and enhance the work environment at the Forge.

The Committee is comprised of members representative of each division and meets on a monthly basis. The objectives of the Committee are as follows:

• Develop and promote employee activities;
• Develop and promote employee recognition programs;
• Develop and promote an employee suggestion system in an effort to facilitate communication; and,
• Serve as an alternative for dispute resolution among employees.

Safety and Insurance Committee
Understanding that safety is the responsibility of all employees and recognizing the safety of our employees, cadets and guests as a requirement of organizational success, VFMA&C created a safety committee to support and improve the safety at VFMA&C.

The objectives of the committee are to:

• Reduce injuries, accidents and incidents by implementing safety programs that address potential hazards;
• Provide a channel of communication for safety issues; and,
• Encourage employee participation in the safety program.

Health Insurance:
Employees are given a choice of the following two options in selecting a health insurance plan:

• Keystone HMO   $5/10 primary care co-payment;
• Keystone POS   $10/15 primary care co-payment.

Employees are given options with respect to selecting a dental plan

• Delta Dental Basic Plan with a $1,500 calendar year maximum; or,
• Delta Dental Supplemental Plan with a $1,500 calendar year maximum and
  $1,500 lifetime maximum for orthodontia.

Vision Care
Each health insurance product provides for vision care. Benefits include eye examinations at
no cost with participating providers, as well as $100 eyeglass reimbursement every 24-month period.

Flexible Spending Benefit Plan:
Employees have an opportunity to enroll in a flexible spending benefit plan, which allows them to:

• pay for health and dental expenses not covered by insurance with pre-tax dollars;
• contribute to their health and dental premiums on a pre-tax basis; and,
• pay eligible child and dependent care expenses tax-free. 

Under age sixty-five (65) coverage is equal to 100% of the annual basic earnings rounded to the next higher $1000 to a maximum of $50,000.  Reductions apply after age 65.  Under the accidental death and dismemberment portion, employees will be covered for the same benefit as under the basic life plan.  Additionally, benefits are paid for dismemberment on a set percentage scale.

Supplemental Life Insurance:
Eligible employees are provided an opportunity to purchase supplemental life insurance for themselves, a spouse and dependent children via payroll deduction.

Retirement
After six (6) months of service, eligible employees participate in Valley Forge's Retirement Plan. VFMA&C contributes five percent (5%) of an eligible employee's total compensation into the employee's retirement account. The qualified retirement plan is administered through TIAA-CREF. Employees are 100% vested after three (3) years of eligible employment.

Tax-Sheltered Annuity
Tax-sheltered annuity plans are available to all employees, permitting them to set aside a sum of money through payroll deduction on a pre-tax basis. The Vanguard Group and TIAA-CREF administer available plans.

Sick Leave
Full-time employees receive up to ten (10) paid sick days per year. Upon retirement at age 65 or older, an employee is entitled to receive 75% of the past two years' accumulated sick leave.

Long Term Disability:
After one (1) year of service, eligible employees who are deemed “totally disabled” due to a non-work related illness or accident may make application for long-term disability benefits through our fully insured program. The plan provides a maximum of 60% of basic salary up to $5000 per month, after a 90-day elimination period. The duration of benefits is based on status of disability and age at the time of disability.

Vacation Leave:
Full-time twelve (12) month employees receive vacation leave after one (1) year of employment at the following rate:

• 1 year through 10 years of service: 10 days per year;
• 11 years through 15 years of service: 15 days per year; and,
• Over 15 years of service: 20 days per year.

Ten-month and part-time personnel (with the exception of faculty and tactical officers) who work on a regular basis at least 20 hours per week and at least 750 hours per year are entitled to receive annual leave pay in lieu of observed annual leave.

Holidays:
Administrative and staff employees receive up to 14 holidays per year.  Faculty, tactical officers and other employees whose job functions are defined in terms of cadet responsibilities may observe Corps Leaves and certain other holidays.

Professional Development:
Fellowships in areas directly related to an individual’s employment, when approved and budgeted by appropriate department heads, are available to full-time staff and faculty who have completed at least one year of service as follows: 1) up to $1000 per course not to exceed $2000 per year for those enrolled in a graduate program leading to an advanced degree; and 2) up to $500 per year for those taking course or credit-awarding workshops for professional development; both to cover the period from June 1 to May 31 annually. Faculty and staff may apply for funds to attend other conferences, workshops or seminars and for professional research.

College Attendance at Valley Forge:
Subject to available classroom space, employees, spouses and the SROTC staff are permitted to attend the College tuition-free, provided admission standards are met.  Each student may attend a maximum of two (2) courses per semester.

Tuition Remission:
Eligible full-time employees have an opportunity to enroll their dependent son(s) at VFMA&C at a reduced cost.  The remission benefit is equal to 100% of tuition and room expenses. Expenses for uniforms and board are the responsibility of the employee, which may be offset up to 50% by financial aid, scholarships, grants or loans.  All other expenses associated with enrollment at VFMA&C are the responsibility of the employee.

Leaves of Absence:
Employees may be eligible for the following leaves of absence from Valley Forge:

• Family and Medical Leave Act,
• Jury Duty,
• Bereavement Leave,
• Armed Forces Leave, and/or
• Emergency Leave.

Recreational Facilities:
Athletic facilities are available for use by all employees at no charge – i.e., use of tennis courts, gymnasiums, swimming pools, athletic fields, and weight room. The rifle range may be available by special arrangement. The outside swimming pool is operated for employees and their families during the summer months.

Other Facilities:
Employees and their immediate family members may hold dinners, weddings and receptions in Mellon Hall, the Chapel and Eisenhower Hall at 60% of the prevailing rental fees.

Use of Academy Vans and Trucks:
Employees may use Valley Forge trucks and vans for movement of their household goods from one set of quarters on post to another on post at rates that are 30% less than the prevailing
U-Haul basic rental rates.

Uniforms:
An original Basic Issue of uniforms will be provided to all officers at the expense of Valley Forge.  After one (1) year of service, officers will receive an annual uniform allowance of $150
for the purchase of uniform and ancillary items and the routine upkeep and maintenance of uniforms.  Admissions officers, athletic department officers and physical education officers
have the option of applying this allowance to either military, civilian or special work uniforms. Laundering, tailoring, dry cleaning and pressing of officers' uniforms is provided at no charge when performed at VF facilities.

* Information found here is provided by the Human Resources Department of Valley Forge Military Academy & College. Questions about these benefits should be directed to that office.