ESGR helps reservists in workplace

The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, celebrates 40 years in promoting the cooperation and understanding between civilian employers and their National Guard and Reserve employees. The ESGR's New Mexico State Chair Ray Battaglini answered questions about the ESGR and its importance in military society.

• What is the history of the ESGR and what role has it played in Eastern New Mexico?

The ESGR was founded in 1972. All of the states and territories were asked to identify leadership that could be nominated and appointed by the Secretary of Defense to act as a representative of the Department of Defense and assist businesses and citizen solders in addressing a congressional law called the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (USSERA), which protects the rights of both the business and citizen solder.

• Marking its 40-year anniversary, how has the ESGR grown? What is its impact today?

It has a major impact on both business and the citizen solder as there is a need to fight wars and mobilize the reserve military forces. It also mandates that employers release Reservists and National Guardsmen for military duty. The USSERA law was in play, protecting the citizen solder and the businesses involved. ESGR plays a role in education, counseling and protecting rights, under the current USSERA law.

• What are some of the major conflicts Guard and Reserve members face with civilian employers?

Unemployment, education and return to civilian life; the many adjustments to being normal and not being shot at.

• How does the ESGR work to resolve those issues?

We have two major programs to address issues of employment. First is our Ombudsman program of education and mediation regarding employment issues both from the business and citizen soldiers. We offer to investigate the problem and offer solutions. If that doesn't work then the problem is referred to the Department of Labor for action. The second is working with a statewide group of professional human resource managers to council, mentor and help prepare the citizen soldier for job hunting and success.

• What is the future looking like for the ESGR?

Busy! We continue to recruit volunteer ESGR members to help with our mission and as the military downsizes and more Reservists and Guardsmen are released from active duty, the role of ESGR becomes more important and busy.