ESGR educates, informs service members, employers

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Anna-Marie Wyant
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Reservists and their loved ones from the 920th Rescue Wing gathered on base for the wing's annual Family Day picnic to participate in outdoor activities, eat lunch, listen to live music, and enjoy camaraderie in a casual environment June 6. Several organizations attended and supported the event, including the Florida Committee of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, commonly known as ESGR. 

ESGR is a Department of Defense office that promotes cooperation and understanding between Reservists/Guardsmen and their civilian employers and assists in resolving any conflicts that may arise from an employee's military service. More than 4,700 volunteers in 54 committees across the nation support ESGR, whose mission is to develop and promote "supportive work environments for service members in the Reserve Components through outreach, recognition, and educational opportunities that increase awareness of applicable laws and resolves employer conflicts between the service members and their employers," according to their website.

Retired Army Lt. Col. Roger Trout, the Florida ESGR committee's training director, said he enjoys attending events like the wing picnic because it's a great venue to inform Reservists about their legal rights pertaining to military service and civilian employment, answer questions, and teach them about ESGR's many recognition awards for supportive employers.

"We want to help Reserve personnel understand there are laws that protect them," Trout said. "We're here if they need help with anything related to their employers, and we can even help them find jobs." 

Trout said there are approximately 100 ESGR volunteers in Florida, plus many other part-time ombudsmen. He said if Reservists have a problem with their employer pertaining to military duty, ESGR personnel will work as mediators.

"We resolve over eighty percent of cases," Trout said. "Most cases result from a misunderstanding."

On the flip side, ESGR also has programs to award employers for taking care of their Guard and Reserve employees. Most common is the Patriot award, which is awarded to civilian supervisors nominated by their Reserve component employees for, "the efforts made to support Citizen Warriors through a wide-range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence if needed," according to ESGR's website.

Other awards include the Spouse Patriot Award, Seven Seals Award, Above and Beyond Award, Pro Patria Award and Extraordinary Employer Support Award. The top award is the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, which according to their website is "the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their outstanding support of employees serving in the Guard and Reserve."

"We encourage Reservists to nominate their employers for these awards because we want to reward good employers and recognize their efforts," Trout said. "It's always good to have positive reinforcement." 

ESGR was established in 1972 and has a committee in each of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To learn more about ESGR, nominate an employer, find your local ombudsman and more, visit their website at http://esgr.mil.