1. Presentation to Reserve Officers Association 6 Apr ‘19
Mr. Reginal “Reggie” Fields l
Good morning/afternoon, I’m__________________________. I’m here today to share some basic ESGR topics with you, particularly your rights under the law for reemployment while you are away on military service.

2. Who Are We?
A Department of Defense agency, established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their Civilian Employers
Advocates mutually beneficial initiatives, recognize outstanding employer support, increase awareness of applicable laws and assist with reservist resiliency
Provide neutral informal mediation for USERRA conflicts between Service member and their employers
The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) was established in 1972 by Presidential proclamation, as an operational committee under the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
In 1978, ESGR was expanded to include a community-based volunteer network. Today, that network has expanded to include more than 4,200 ESGR volunteers in 55 committees – one in each state, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, the District of Columbia, and Europe.
Today, in both manpower and force capability, the Reserve Components comprise nearly half of the Total Force. In response to current world events, Reserve forces are spending even more time away from the workplace defending the nation both at home and abroad.

3. Who Are We?
Made up of more than 3,800 volunteers in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam-Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
Volunteers come from business, civic leaders & patriotic citizens
ESGR is Volunteer Lead
The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) was established in 1972 by Presidential proclamation, as an operational committee under the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
In 1978, ESGR was expanded to include a community-based volunteer network. Today, that network has expanded to include more than 4,200 ESGR volunteers in 55 committees – one in each state, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, the District of Columbia, and Europe.
Today, in both manpower and force capability, the Reserve Components comprise nearly half of the Total Force. In response to current world events, Reserve forces are spending even more time away from the workplace defending the nation both at home and abroad.

4. Vision & Mission Statement
Develop and promote a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees.
Mission Statement
- Gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service by
recognizing employer outstanding support
increasing awareness of the law
resolving conflict through mediation
Facilitate Employment
Assisting with resiliency
USERRA covers those returning from deployment, but also covers many others.
It has implications when you apply for a job, after you leave a job, and as long as you are working.
All employers are covered, even if you are their only employee. Both full-time and part time employees are covered. If you’re not an employee, e.g. partners, owners (independent contractors) than you are not covered.
(State Militia) Guard members on State active duty may be covered by a similar state law but not USERRA. When called up for floods, fires, hurricanes, security (airport/border), etc, and FEDERALLY FUNDED then they are covered by USERRA)
The U.S. Department of Education Adopts USERRA Like Law
The US Department of Education (USDE) recently developed USERRA like regulations in 34 CFR Parts 600, 668, 675, et al, titled General and Non-Loan Programmatic Issues; Final Rule, 29 October This federal regulation officially takes effect on 1 July In effect this regulation/law implements changes to the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA). The USDE adopted USERRA-like protections under Part 668, Student Assistance General Provisions Readmission Requirements for Service members for higher educational institutions as if they never left based on the comparable provisions in USERRA. Secondary Higher educational institutions must readmit the service member if their education is interrupted by military service requirements at the same academic status as if they never left the course or class. The following list highlights some of the protections afforded by this law:
- A five year limit similar to USERRA rules, in which Title 10 orders/duties would not count against this time limit for re-enrollment.
- Flexible advance notice language that does not require any particular format or intent of return to the educational institution, verbal or written notice is acceptable.
- 34 CFR 688, as with USERRA supersedes any State law or other requirement that reduces, limits, or eliminates any right or benefit provided by this provision.
- Requires higher educational institutions to designate a person or department to handle service member’s educational matters.
- Stipulates that higher educational institutions will provide reasonable accommodations military students in order to assist them in program reentry.
Although the law itself is not USERRA, it does offer some USERRA-type protections for service members. This law is administered by the US Department of Education, (USDE). The USDE will enforce this law by communicating directly with the offending higher educational institution. ESGR currently has no connection to the law. Please direct all questions and concerns about this particular law to Ms. Wendy Macias US Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, Phone: (202) ;

5. Organization of CA ESGR
Established in 1972
CA Committee has six Area Chairs
280 volunteers (Advocates and Ambassadors)
4 Full-time DoD contractors
2 Volunteer Support Technicians
2 Program Support Technicians
21 Ombudsman: Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) experts
Committee’s primary role to inform and educate
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense (DoD) agency established by Presidential decree in 1972 to gain and maintain employer support for the Guard and Reserve.
ESGR is comprised of 55 Field Committees located in all 54 States, Territories, the District of Columbia, and Europe. The National ESGR Headquarters is located in Arlington, VA with over 58 full-time military and civilian employees.
ESGR assist service members service members by helping to resolve employer related issues/conflicts through informal mediation services offered by trained Ombudsman and through our awards program which recognizes employers for their support. In addition, ESGR also develops and implements numerous employer and military outreach programs aimed at gaining and maintaining support. These programs include briefing with the boss, boss lifts, statements of support, providing employer relations training materials for military units, and many other activities.
Note to Instructor:
Individuals who want additional information on ESGR programs and services should contact their local ESGR Military Liaison volunteer or view the Employer Relations for Leaders briefing which is available on ESGR website at: .

6. California CA ESGR Executive Committee (EXCOM)
Area 1 Chair
Area 5 Chair
Area 4 Chair
Area 3 Chair
Area 2 Chair
Area 6 Chair
California CA ESGR Executive Committee (EXCOM)
Dir MO Coast
Guard Reserve
Dir MO Marine Reserve
Dir MO
Navy Reserve
Dir MO AIR Force Reserve
CA Chair ESGR Committee
Vice Chair, Volunteer Mgt
Dir MO Army Reserve
Dir M O Army & Air Guard
Vice Chair, Ops & Budget
Dir IT/Public Affairs
AREA 1
Northern
AREA 2
Coastal
AREA 3
Inland
AREA 4
Metro
AREA 5
Desert
AREA 6
Border
CA ESGR Ready Reserve Directors
CA ESGR Areas
Of Responsibility
CA ESGR Committee has 2940 Volunteers serving 56,167 Ready Reservists
1ea VST North
1ea PSS North
CA ESGR Contractors North
(Areas 1, 2 & 3)
1ea VST South
1ea PSS South
CA ESGR Contractors South
(Areas 4, 5 & 6)
CA ESGR Area Chairs & Vice Chairs
Full tine Contractors
CA ESGR Structure
California Committee
Area Vice Chairs
Dir Training
Dir Ombudsmen
Dir Volunteer
Mgt
Dir Employment
Dir
Employer
Outreach

7. Two Types of Volunteers: Ambassadors & Advocates promoting the use of resiliency programs to enhance individual readiness…
Reducing stressors… increasing resiliency & improving Individual Readiness
Individual Readiness
Guard & Reserve
Family
Employer l
Individual Readiness
Guard & Reserve
Employer
Family

8. l

9. Uniformed Service Employment & Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
Primary purpose: Protect employment rights of persons who also serve in the uniformed service.
Provide prior notice to employer
Serve under honorable conditions
Return to work in accordance with USERRA guidelines:
That is: protect employees who engage in military service to the same level of seniority, status, pay and benefits that would have accrued, but for the service.
To understand the basic law – service members must be treated exactly like similar employees who are not in the military and never left for service time. In the law, congress’ intent was to ensure service members were not penalized in the civilian employment because of their service.

10. Four types of responsibilities
How Does ESGR Work
Four types of responsibilities
Employer Outreach
Military Outreach
Ombudsmen
Employment Support
These are the ESGR tasks that volunteers perform in assisting employers and service members. We will discuss each in further detail.

11. Employer Outreach (EO)
Educate Employers about their rights and responsibilities under USERRA
Encourage Employers to develop HR policies that go above and beyond the law
Contact employers for participation in the Statement of Support program
Initiate and manage employer events
Recognize employers who meet or go beyond the law through awards
Employer Outreach is the title for all our contacts with employers. It includes conversations, seminars, events, and awards to accomplish the mission of gaining and maintaining employer support and recognizing those employers who go above and beyond.

12. Statement of Support: Employers Agree:
We fully recognize, honor and enforce the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
Our managers and supervisors will have the tools they need to effectively manage those employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve
We will continually recognize and support our country’s service members and their families in peace, in crises, and in war
Meeting with employers on their signing of Statements of Support gives us a chance to discuss the USERRA law, the education their supervisors need to support the law, and the HR policies that should be in place to protect everyone.
The SOS statement basically says that the employer
Knows there is a law
Is willing to obey it
Will give managers and supervisors the support they need to manage G/R appropriately.

13. Military Outreach (MO)
Brief service members on USERRA & ESGR, particularly just prior and just after deployment
Gain & maintain relationships with area reserve leaders and units
Send direct mail on USERRA / ESGR to reserve Service members
Encourage SOS signings among military leadership
Work with public affairs to place information in military/civilian publications, web-sites and newsletters
The ESGR folk you are most likely to see are those in Military Outreach.
The MO people visit unit locations, brief deploying units before and after deployment, participate in some other unit events.

14. Ombudsmen
Assist Service members and employers resolve USERRA employment related problems
Are confidential, neutral participants in all efforts
Provide information and answer questions
Serve as a mediator on USERRA issues between Service members & employers
Resolve over 80% of cases received, most within 14 days
Are qualified by National ESGR after intensive training
Ombudsmen are trained ESGR committee members at the local, State and National level who help service members resolve employer related problems.
Ombudsmen provide information to service members and to employers regarding their rights and requirements under USERRA. They are available to answer questions and clarify the law (USERRA).
Are authorized to work with both parties to mediate conflicts between service members and their employers due to military service.
Ombudsmen help to resolve over 80% of the employer related issues they receive. Their objective is to eliminate misunderstandings and resolve difficulties in a spirit of cooperation at the lowest level possible.
Employers and service members can call the ESGR hot line to ask questions. ( )

15. Facilitate Employment
Work for Warriors (W4W)
Unemployment can effect readiness.
Service members unemployment and under- employment is a retention issue.
Department of Defense has tasked ESGR to set and engage in activities to assist service members and Family members opportunities in the civilian workplace.
Facilitate and market employment training/opportunity to prepare unemployed and under-employed service members and family members to be competitive in the job market.
Enable all effort to our service members into the public and private workforce in jobs that reflect and reward their talent and dedication, and their commitment to the United States and its best values.

16. Empployer Awards
Employer Recognition Awards are initiated by Reserve Component Members’ or family members’.
Patriot Award-First of sequential and progressive employer awards program.
Above and Beyond
Pro Patria
Seven Seals
Freedom Award- Annually awarded by the Secretary of Defense; Top 15 in the nation
ESGR AWARDS PROGRAM, this program will enhance opportunity for both employment and reemployment positioning. Four awards are currently utilized by ESGR field committee (FC) members. ESGR is a Department of Defense agency that seeks to promote a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees. It remains the conduit to nominate deserving employers for various levels of recognition for outstanding support.
 PATRIOT AWARD: Patriot Award is the first of the sequential and progressive employer awards program. It is intended for the recognition of individual supervisors, not the employer organization as a whole. Patriot Award nominations may come only from the reserve members or their spouses, processing employer recognition and awards originate through the ESGR website ( under the programs tab. Total processing time is accomplished within 15 days. Nominators may indicate where the certificate and award are to be sent (i.e., to the nominator or to local FC of their state). The nominator may choose their local FC as the recipient. The certificate is mailed to the requesting FC member for the Program Support Specialist (PSS) to coordinate presentation of the award.
 ABOVE AND BEYOND AWARD: Above and Beyond Award honors employers of the reserve members who go above and beyond the requirements of the Uniformed Service Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Examples of Above and Beyond support from employers of reserve members include continuation of benefits, providing pay differential and assisting with childcare. This award is given by the individual ESGR FC. Processing: the Above and Beyond Award is requested by the FC chair, or upon approval by the FC chair, by the Executive Director/PSS. 15-day processing time is required. Presentation of the award follows the same guidelines as the Patriot Award.
PRO PATRIA AWARD: The Pro Patria Award is the highest award that an ESGR FC may present employers within their state. Eligibility: employers who are previous recipients of the Patriot Award, Above and Beyond Award, and have signed a statement of support are eligible to receive the Pro Patria Award. Each calendar year, FC may present one Pro Patria Award to an employer in each of the following categories: public sector, large private employer, and small private employer. Each state chair is allotted three Pro Patria Awards per calendar year.
SEVEN SEALS AWARD: Seven Seals Award is the only ESGR award that bridges both the employer and ESGR volunteer recognition award programs and is not a sequential and progressive employer award. Eligibility: award is presented at the discretion of the FC chair in recognition of significant individual or organizational achievement, initiative, or support that promotes and supports the ESGR mission. 15-day processing time is required. Presentation of the award follows the guidelines as for the Patriot Award.
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE EMPLOYER SUPPORT FREEDOM AWARD: The Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and reserve. Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is presented annually to the top employers in the nation who have demonstrated exceptional support to their Guard and reserve employees. The selection process seeks to identify those employers of Guard and reserve personnel who have committed acts that go significantly above and beyond that required by USERRA in support of the ESGR mission. Process: nominations shall be submitted via the Freedom Award Web site: Nominations must come from a Guard or reserve member who is employed by the organization they are nominating or from a family member. The Freedom Award is presented annually to the nation’s top 15 most supportive employers. The nomination season opens the first day of November and closes 1800 EST on the third Monday in JanuarySECRETARY OF DEFENSE EMPLOYER SUPPORT FREEDOM AWARD: The Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and reserve. Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is presented annually to the top employers in the nation who have demonstrated exceptional support to their Guard and reserve employees. The selection process seeks to identify those employers of Guard and reserve personnel who have committed acts that go significantly above and beyond that required by USERRA in support of the ESGR mission. Process: nominations shall be submitted via the Freedom Award Web site: Nominations must come from a Guard or reserve member who is employed by the organization they are nominating or from a family member. The Freedom Award is presented annually to the nation’s top 15 most supportive employers. The nomination season opens the first day of November and closes 1800 EST on the third Monday in January

17. Why is ESGR Important?
Nearly 50% of military forces are now in Guard or Reserves
30-45% of the Selected Reserve are self employed or work for small companies
3% of our employers have had an affiliation with the military
Increasing OPTEMPO for reservists
38,446 Guard and Reserve members on active duty throughout the world currently (01/08/2019)
Over 968,927 activated since 9/11 (01/08/2019)
30% of our Selected Reserve leave Military Service due to employer conflict
3% of our employers have had an affiliation with the military:
Details: Of the 3% that have been in the military, they recall what it used to be like. We have to educate our employers of what the role is NOW for the guard and reserve.
Increasing OPTEMPO will be explained in detail on the next slide.
30% of our reservists/guardsmen leave because of employer related conflicts.
BOTTOM LINE: ESGR and the programs that make it up are our tool for Attrition and Retention Management.

18. CSMR/CA ESGR Ambassadors deliver:
Participate in Conduct Employer Events such as BossLifts & Statements of Support signings
Recognize & Educate Employers Refer Troops who need to Mediate Employer Conflicts
Provide Yellow Ribbon Support
Assist Guard Families with employment
Provide Information Center each quarter
& Update CEI
Briefings

19. ESGR Volunteer Individual Readiness Centers
Find a Career
Recognize your Employer
Refer employer conflicts to mediators
Update CEI provide
Provide family assistance referrals
ESGR Volunteer Individual Readiness Centers

20. Questions? Volunteers?
Good morning/afternoon, I’m__________________________. I’m here today to share some basic ESGR topics with you, particularly your rights under the law for reemployment while you are away on military service.