05/08/2025
Back in the day, I was a member of the Texas Committee for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (Texas ESGR), a DoD agency established to gain and maintain active support from all public and private employers with National Guard and Reserves employees. I rose to be an Ombudsman that would help employers and their employees that serve in the National Guard or Reserves to resolve any issues that may arise from their military service.
As an air defender stationed in Europe, we fired our missiles annually at the NATO Firing Range down on the island of Crete in the Aegean Sea. We were often flown down on C-130 aircraft provided by Air National Guard crews. Their missions relieved active-duty crews while the reserve crews had the experience of flying in the European skies.
ESGR is a volunteer organization operating in all 50 states. They work with employers to educate the business owners and managers on their rights and responsibilities when dealing with employees before, during, and after deployment. They also educate the individual on their responsibilities to the employer and their rights when an issue arises. There is a law – The Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Act (USERRA), that deals with employment and reemployment issues when the Guard and Reserves are call to service.
The fighting has stopped in most places, but the deployments continue. We should all support our National Guard and Reserve units with the same level of support we provide to those on active duty. Future enlistments and reenlistments among our National Guard and Reserve units will be based on how well we support the men and women who stand ready to deploy anywhere when our country calls.
Check out this handheld card that every employer and employee should have in their pocket that explains the basics of the USERRA. For more detailed information on the ESGR or becoming a volunteer, visit the ESGR website: https://www.esgr.mil
For all who serve – and for all that support the men and women that wear the uniform – HOOAH!
There is more of course, there is always more … sin fin …