(El Paso, Texas) – Dr. Jerry Icenhower, State Chair of Texas Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, announced that U.S. Congressman Silvestre Reyes, 16th District of Texas, signed a Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve on Tuesday, November 8, 2011.  The signing ceremony occurred at 8:30 AM at the Doubletree Hotel, 600 N. El Paso Street, in El Paso, Texas during “The Patriotic Promise” Veteran Recruitment Symposium.

Congressman Reyes opened the symposium with words of encouragement to the local El Paso employers and human resource professionals in attendance.  “Our veterans of today are great prospective employees for any company or any employer.  They bring loyalty, skills, and a commitment to excellence.  This symposium is important and very timely.”

The Patriotic Promise symposiums are a joint effort between Texas ESGR and the Texas State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management to educate employers on how to better recruit and hire veterans, as well as serving Guardsmen and Reservists.  Among the organizations participating in the El Paso symposium were the Texas Veterans Leadership Program, the U.S. Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, the Army National Guard’s Job Connection Education Program, Texas A&M’s “Tex Vet” Initiative, the U.S. Veterans Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Veterans Commission, and the Fort Bliss Army Career and Alumni Program.  This was the fourth such Texas symposium held in 2011.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
1555 Wilson Blvd., Suite 319, Arlington, VA 22209
800-336-4590  www.esgr.mil