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PictureBruce Lemmon, Indiana Department of Correction commissioner and Indianapolis Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Michael McLendon sign the memorandum of agreement for the PaYS partnership.
Army Service PaYS Off In Indiana
Story and photo By Joe Jobin, USAREC, Indianapolis Battalion
April 16 2015

The Indiana Department of Corrections became the Army’s 534th  PaYS partner April 8.

“This is an important step for us and a huge step for the state of Indiana,” said James Basinger, IDOC’s deputy commissioner of operations.

With more than 6,400 employees, IDOC is Indiana’s largest state agency, supervising almost 10,000 parolees across the state and more than 28,000 incarcerated adults.

“What we offer here at the department of corrections is a career,” said Basinger. “The PaYS program gives us individuals that are highly qualified through the military, can think on their feet, and understand a command structure.

“Some of the advantages of hiring a veteran is a shortened learning curve and the ability to not just take orders, but to also give them. These are very important traits in this line of work and are not easily obtainable  off of the street.”

“The Army is committed to helping our Soldiers achieve a lifetime of success, becoming Soldiers for Life,” said  Lt. Col. Michael McLendon, Indianapolis Recruiting Battalion commander. "Working with partners like the IDOC gets us further toward that goal. As Soldiers for Life, troops remain strong by staying connected to the Army, reintegrating as civic leaders and role models in our communities, and forming the link for communities back to the Army."

PaYS has been forging relationships with corporate America for 15 years placing thousands of former Soldiers in jobs.