Reservists and their employers: building an atmosphere of mutual support

  • Published
  • By Col Karl McGregor
  • 452 AMW Commander
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  To the 40 employers of Air Force reservists and Air National Guardsmen who are visiting March this weekend for our employer orientation: welcome! I appreciate your taking the time from your busy schedules to come to the base and experience a little of what your employees do in their second lives as military servicemembers.

Employer orientations are an important tool for fostering a strong and supportive employer base. The orientation program is used to demonstrate to Reserve employers and potential employers the importance of Reserve forces. It also provides an opportunity for employers to communicate directly with representatives from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense organization established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment.

March servicemembers: thank you for nominating your employers to join us today. After the flights and presentations are concluded, I encourage you to take them to your shop and show them around. Introduce them to your Air Force supervisor. Talk to them about what you do at March during your UTAs and annual tour, as well as what you do when you deploy.

Remember, just as you and your family make sacrifices when you deploy, your employer sacrifices, too. One way to thank your employer is by nominating them for local, state and national level ESGR awards. Open season for Freedom Award nominations (the highest award given by the U.S. government to an employer for their support of employees who serve in the Guard or Reserve) begins in two weeks and runs through Jan. 17.

In our local area, Freedom Award winners include the City of Irvine Police Department (2010) and the Santa Ana Police Department (2009). It doesn't matter how large the  company or organization you work for is, if they provide exceptional support to you as a reservist and go out of their way to make it easy for you to fulfill your military responsibilities, take the time to nominate them.

Of course, we all hope for an award-worthy relationship with our employer, but sometimes there's room for improvement in that relationship. The ESGR website (www.esgr.org) is packed with information and tools for reservists and employers and it is well worth your time to explore. Below is an excerpt from a fact sheet on their website that shares tips on the things a servicemember can do to promote a positive relationship with his or her civilian employer.

Most employment conflicts can be avoided by being candid with your employer about your obligations as a member of one of the Reserve components. Don't take your employer's support for granted. Keep your boss informed about what you do in the military and when you do it.

Let your boss know the vital mission that is supported by your participation in the Reserve or Guard. Let your boss know how your military experience and training will make you a more capable civilian employee. Take time to recognize the sacrifice your boss and co-workers make when they support you.

Talk to your boss

No matter what your military assignment or specialty, tell your employer about it. Many people hold down military jobs that relate directly to their civilian careers. If yours is one of them, your boss would be pleased to know that you are learning and practicing military skills that can pay off on the job.

Even if what you do in the military is different from your civilian job, sharing the details can impress your boss. You are using your spare time to participate in a second career  that is of great importance to your community and the nation. That is a strong indication to people at work that you are the type of person who seeks out-and can handle-serious responsibility.

Federal law

Experience has shown that members of the National Guard and Reserve, as well as their employers, do not always have a clear understanding about employment and reemployment rights for Reserve component members. Federal law guarantees the right to take time off from work to attend to your military responsibilities. The more that you, your boss and your personnel office know about the federal laws and legal  precedents that spell out Reserve reemployment rights, rules and obligations protected by the laws, the less chance there is for misunderstanding.

UTA schedule

Don't make your boss guess about your Reserve duties. The more you share with the boss--and the earlier you share it the better--about UTA schedules, annual training plans, reemployment rights and rules and any extra time-off requirements, the easier things will go. Remember, you must give your employer advance notice of any military service, including UTAs, annual tour, non-training active duty and activation for emergency and contingency operations. When schedule changes occur, notify the employer as soon as you know about them.

Extra training

When you or your unit needs additional training, or you are scheduled to attend a service school, let the boss know about it. Giving employers the maximum lead-time enables them to make plans to accommodate your absence. To the extent that you have control over the scheduling of additional training, try to minimize any adverse impact your absence will cause from the civilian job. Show consideration for your boss and your co-workers when you volunteer for nonessential training.

Reward the boss for supporting your service

The Department of Defense will send your boss - through your unit commander - a personally prepared certificate of appreciation and lapel pin if you, the Reserve or National Guard member, just apply for it. The certificate comes mounted in a handsome folder, bearing the DOD seal embossed in gold. Take time to do your best to "brag" about your boss.

The stronger your boss's support (as shown in the application you complete), the greater the likelihood that he or she will also receive a higher award.

Each state ESGR committee presents plaques to their six most supportive employers each year. The ESGR National Headquarters sponsors the prestigious PRO PATRIA  award, presented each year by each ESGR committee to their single most supportive employer.

The Secretary of Defense presents the highest awards, the Employer Support Freedom Award, to the most outstanding employers for the year--one national winner and four regional semifinalists. Application information is available on the ESGR website, www.esgr.org.

Reprinted with permission from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve