ARLINGTON, Va. (October 19, 2009) – The Pentagon’s chief civilian officer for Guard and Reserve affairs joined top military officials at the Pentagon on Wednesday, October 14, 2009, to pledge their support of the nation’s employers of Guard and Reserve members. Dennis M. McCarthy, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, was the first to sign the Statement of Support.

Sponsored by the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), the Statement of Support outlines a commitment to furthering support of the nation’s Guard and Reserve members in every segment of society and increasing public understanding of the essential role Guard and Reserve members play in national security. Military officials who pledged their support to the nation’s employers of Guard and Reservists collectively hold 26 stars or equivalent.

All attendees committed to honor and enforce the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), an act designed to protect the civilian employment of non-full time military service members in the United States called to active duty. In additional, attendees pledged to provide the tools necessary to foster strong working relationships between Guard and Reserve members and their civilian employers. By signing the Statement of Support, leading military officials formally committed to abide by the same standards of support asked of employers of Guard and Reserve members.

“We traditionally ask employers to sign these kinds of certificates, but it’s really important that [Reserve Component] service chiefs representing the military leadership express their support as well,” said McCarthy at the ceremony’s conclusion. “It’s clearly a mutually supporting relationship that we need, and so this signing reflects that.”

All attendees pledged to continually recognize the outstanding support civilian employers provide their Guard and Reserve employees. Last month, ESGR honored 15 organizations with the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the government’s highest honor given to employers who provide exceptional support of their Guard and Reserve employees above and beyond USERRA law. By signing the pledge, ESGR officials bolstered the important ongoing relationship with employers of the nation’s Guard and Reserve members.

Navy Vice Adm. Dirk J. Debbink, Chief of the Navy Reserve, hosted the ceremony and called on Reserve Component members to keep employers current on upcoming deployments and other military duties. Good communication between Reserve Component members and civilian employers “is absolutely the key,” he said.

About ESGR
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972 that seeks to promote a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees. ESGR recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of the law, and resolves conflicts through mediation. More information is available at www.esgr.mil.