Commentary - February 2004

Supporting Our Guard and Reserve

A Duty and A Privilege

by Lyle E. Brennan

It seems like every day we hear about more Guard and Reserve units being called up to serve in Iraq, Afghanistan or other hot spots around the world. Other units are being called up to take the place of those serving overseas. As of January 7th, a Pentagon news release stated that 193,959 Navy, Air Force, Marine and Army Guard and Reserve members were currently serving on active duty. Of that number, almost 700 were from Nevada. Sooner or later, this issue will impact most of us, either personally or at the companies we own and manage.

Far too many Guard and Reserve personnel suffer significant financial losses because of their decision to serve their country in its time of need. The military has never been an organization a person joins to get rich. For many Guard members and Reservists, activation means a significant loss of pay and benefits, but the bills and other financial obligations continue. This is just one reason these patriots and their families need the support of their employers and their communities.

One of the most significant worries for the military today is the impact of this increased operational tempo on retention and turnover. Far too many organizations today see their Guard and Reserve personnel as problem employees who are constantly entering and leaving the workforce as a result of increasing call-ups. Even though there are laws, such as the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), on the books to protect the employee and the employer, in many cases Guard or Reserve membership is seen as a negative factor with undesirable impact on the bottom line. We need to remember that whether you agree with the war in Iraq or not, our men and women serving in the military need and deserve our support.

If you are an employer and have questions about your obligations to the Reserve and Guard members in your company, there are many resources available to you. For information, and to find what you can do to support our servicemen and women, contact the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). The ESGR is a non-profit organization funded by the Department of Defense whose sole purpose is to provide linkage between employers and their Guard and Reserve members. Its Web site, esgr.org, contains many useful publications, including details about the USERRA law and Frequently Asked Questions for Employers. ESGR also has a toll-free phone line at 800-336-4590.

The Nevada ESGR Committee can provide information and guidance in the interpretation of the impact of USERRA. All too often, military members are caught between their civilian employers and the military. For example, call-up alerts may not allow the employee to give adequate notification, which can create a hardship for both the employer and the employee. The ESGR, through its Ombudsman Program, works to help resolve these issues and to encourage employers to modify their benefits and compensation programs to make them more supportive of the Guard and Reserve.

The ESGR Web site also has an on-line form I encourage all employers to fill out and submit. By sending in a Statement of Support, your company pledges to support the National Guard and Reserve Members in your employ. You will receive a personalized Statement of Support Certificate for mounting and display in your company offices. The link to this statement is: esgr.org/employers2/onlineForms.asp?c=formSOS.asp. When I last checked the ESGR site, less than 20 Nevada companies had registered their support, which is absolutely free and takes only a few minutes. Let’s change that statistic!

There is also a form on the Web site where Guard and Reserve members can nominate their employer for a Patriot Award. The employer receives a Department of Defense Certificate of Appreciation and a Patriot lapel pin. All members of the National Guard and Reserve are eligible to nominate their employers.

What if your company does not employ Guard and Reserve members? You can still show your support by participating in "Operation Hero Miles", a program created by Congressman C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger of Maryland. It helps troops on emergency leave or Rest and Relaxation (R & R) from Iraq and Afghanistan fly home. Right now troops are flown to airports in Baltimore, Atlanta or Dallas by the Department of Defense and are then required to pay their own way for connecting flights to their hometowns across the country. Individuals or companies may donate airline miles to the program, which are then used to purchase tickets for the service men and women to return home. The following airlines participate in the program: AirTran, Alaska Air, America West, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Midwest, Northwest, PanAm, United and US Airways. Everyone’s favorite (and only) Reno to Las Vegas carrier, Southwest Airlines, participates by allowing Rapid Rewards members to donate free tickets they have earned in Southwest Rewards. For more information, see the Hero Miles Web site at heromiles.org or contact Southwest Airlines Customer Relations at 800-445-5764.

The increased call-ups of Guard and Reserve units are in all likelihood going to continue for the near future. As employers, as family members and as communities, we need to take action to protect those who protect our freedoms.

Lyle E. Brennan Publisher
COMMENTS? email: lyle@nbj.com