(Bedford, MA) Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Massachusetts was the setting for The Massachusetts Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), to participate in a Pre Deployment Family Day Brief for Members of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Twenty Seven (NMCB-27).

According to Bill Napert, ESGR Public Affairs Director for Massachusetts, more than 350 Seabees and their family members attended the day long Pre Mobilization Brief sponsored by the battalion and chaired by the Battalion Family Ombudsman, Brenda Doiron. Mr. Napert, a retired Seabee Equipment Operator and plank owner of MCB-27 and Mr. Joseph Ryan, MAESGR Executive Director, briefed the gathering on their rights under USERRA. However, Mr. Ryan and Napert stressed to the Seabees their responsibilities as employee/reservists to their employers prior to their deployment.

MCB-27 will be deploying a majority of their Sailors to the Middle East in the near future. The Seabees will be relieving other Navy Construction Men and Women and carry on their long tradition of "Can Do" excellence in various assigned building projects for the Navy and their largest customer, The U.S. Marine Corps. The Navy builders will also continue to do civic action projects repairing and building schools and hospitals, drilling water wells, restoring water systems, electrical and communication services.

As the 1.3 million members of the National Guard and Reserve continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions with America’s borders and beyond, ESGR will continue to be the resource for the employers of citizen warriors. ESGR provides education, consultation, and if necessary mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees. More information about ESGR Employer Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities is available at www.esgr.mil.

For more information on ESGR, please contact Beth Sherman at (703) 380-9717.