Army reservist discharged from Donaldsonville plant after returning from deployment

DONALDSONVILLE – A U.S. Army reservist was fired from her job after returning home from deployment.

Crystal Haynes was employed by CF Industries from 2014 until her deployment in 2022. She told her employer that she intended to return to work, but was informed that her position was no longer available.

Lt. Gen. Russel Honore said he couldn’t believe this company would do this.

“One of the largest fertilizer manufacturers in the world, which sells its products around the world, would do something so egregious against a soldier mobilized to defend his country,” Honore said.

He said soldiers do not have to fight for job security after serving their country.

“It is disheartening for other people who remain on the reservations to serve our country. Over half of our military is in the Reserves and National Guard. “Without the Reserves and the National Guard, we couldn’t defend the country,” Honore said.

Honore said this was a violation of the Uniformed Services Employment And Re-Employment Rights Act. This law guarantees that reservists and National Guard members cannot be discharged for military service.

He said even if her original position had not been available, they should have offered her a comparable position.

“If that soldier was deployed and was making $40,000 a year in the Army and they were making $80,000 at CF Industries, they paid the difference, that’s how they support soldiers,” Honore said.

Honore said he hopes government officials will step up and speak out against this situation.