"We believe that the promise of technology has never been greater to help people realize their dreams. This thing we call 'technology' is really a constant backdrop in people's lives, at home, at work, on the road, and literally in the palms of their hands," says Brian Dunn.
This could not be more true for our Military families. While a loved one is stationed overseas it is important to keep the family and friends connections going. Best Buy realizes this and can help offer the right technology solution for the person who remains in the U.S. and for the one who is overseas. The special Rocketfish™ HD Webcam offer is evidence of this commitment to keep loved ones connected. But there are other ways in which Best Buy supports the military – either its customers or its employees.
Best Buy actively supports members of the U.S. military and their families through a variety of activities and donations. The Company's support of national military programs, such as Fisher House, the progress of Military Initiatives work and employee engagement projects help make a difference.
Military Support
- Best Buy is proud to provide support to the military community.
- Best Buy is committed to enhancing both the employee and customer experience through partnering with the military community, promoting awareness within Best Buy of the needs of our men and women in the armed services and being responsive to the needs of individuals and their families.
- Best Buy is diligently working on a comprehensive program for its employees in the military before, during and after deployment that includes product vouchers, pay differential, career counseling and cultural orientation upon return.
- Best Buy is working directly with military personnel on product design and expanded assortment.
- Best Buy stores near military bases often host special shopping events for military personnel and their families.
- Best Buy is partnering with the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Program.
- Best Buy is a proud supporter of the ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve)
Fisher House
As part of the nation's Memorial Day celebration, Best Buy honored U.S. troops through support of Fisher House, a "home away from home" for service members receiving medical care and their families. Fisher House is a not-for-profit organization that operates 43 houses across the U.S. and overseas, and has served 120,000 families, saving them more than $100 million in lodging, food and transportation costs.
Teammates Answering The Call: Best Buy In The Military
As the U.S. military continues to defend freedom around the world, more and more Best Buy employees are answering the call to duty. Many of us know or work with someone serving overseas but few realize that nearly 1,000 Best Buy employees are now on military leave or deployment around the world. The personal sacrifices being made by these soldiers and their families are enormous – the average length of employee military leave is more than 10 months – and local Best Buy communities can make a huge difference in the lives of those teammates.
Blue Shirts On the Ground In Iraq
For every Best Buy employee called to serve, there is a story. Tony Cubus is back to being a Home Theater Installer, now working out of store #7 in Roseville, MN. However, from February 2009 to February 2010, he was Anthony Cubus, Infantry Specialist attached to the 34th Infantry Division’s “Red Bulls” serving in Basra, Iraq.
Needless to say, patrolling Basra in an armored HUMVEE is very different from installing a home theater system. “Serving on the ground in Iraq was a truly scary experience,” Tony said. “I had no idea what to expect. Three people from my unit were killed while I was there, which is still hard to accept. Staying connected with friends and family back home is huge in an environment like that. People literally run to the phone after a patrol to call home.”
Tony is especially grateful for the support received from Alan Giddings, a Master Home Theater Installer now based at the Mall of America store. “Alan stuck with me the whole time I was gone,” says Tony, who was able to stay in contact with his fellow Geek via e-mail and Facebook. Alan also partnered with Jeff Stading, then General Manager of Richfield store #281, to assemble a “care package” of DVDs, CDs, rechargeable batteries and an iPod dock, all gently wrapped in Geek Squad t-shirts for shipment to Iraq.
Alan shrugs off the compliment. “Tony is one of us. He’s my partner, my co-worker and my friend. We asked him what we could do to help him feel at home and he suggested a few things like movies and music. I just tried to get him as much stuff as possible. We are Best Buy, after all. It’s what we do.”
Tony agrees and urges others to do the same. “Having been through that experience, I would love it if Best Buy got more involved in helping people who are deployed. The merchandise that Alan and Jeff donated to my unit made a big difference and laptops are another huge need. I didn’t have a laptop when I landed in Basra and had to buy one over there, where it was super expensive. A lot of guys don’t have the money for a laptop and are cut off from people back home because of it. It would be great to see Best Buy do something about that and get its name out there.”
So, what’s it like to be back home and at Best Buy again? Tony’s return to the States has been an adjustment on many levels, but he credits Best Buy for helping with that transition. “As excited as I was to come home, I was also really nervous,” he said. “What am I coming back to? What changed while I was gone? Thankfully, Best Buy kept my position open and didn’t push me when I got back. I was able to slowly work my way into the job again. I appreciated the way they allowed me to do that.”
Best Buy’s Military Employee Business Network
In addition to customer facing support of the military Best Buy has an employee business network focused on the military. Their mission is to provide support of our Best Buy service members, veterans, their family members and the military community. We are committed to enhancing the employee and customer experience through partnering with the military community, promoting awareness within Best Buy of the needs of our men and women in the armed services and being responsive to the needs of individuals and their families.
Want to show your support for Best Buy employees in the military? Have a story to tell or an idea for how the power of the Connected World can make a difference? Get in touch with the Military Employee Business Network at Military-EBN@bestbuy.com.
Visit the Military Page on BestBuy.com
Best Buy employees, you can view the military employee story here.
