The New Jersey Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve held its annual State Conference June 12-13 at the Officer's Club at McGuire Air Force Base. Brigadier General (Ret) Robert S. Dutko, Sr., ESGR State Chairman and approximately 150 volunteer members met to discuss issues and concerns affecting the estimated 20,000 citizen-soldiers serving in Guard and reserve units throughout the Garden State. ( ESGR represents all seven (7) branches of the Reserve Component: Army National Guard; Army Reserve; Marine Corps Reserve; Navy Reserve; Air National Guard; Air Force Reserve; and Coast Guard Reserve.) The Honorable William Donnelly, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (New Jersey), senior Commanders of the New Jersey Army and Air National Guard to include Colonel Maria Morgan, Deputy Adjutant General of New Jersey and Major General Craig Cosgrave, Commander, New Jersey Air National Guard, were joined by Brigadier General Wayne M. Erck, Commander, 78th Division (Training Support), US Army Reserve as well as representatives of the other Reserve Components to brief the group on significant activities and operations of their respective organizations.

Three civilian employers were recognized with the presentation of the ESGR State Chairman's Award at a special awards luncheon on June 13: Chief Kenneth Adams, Northfield Police Department; Chief David Paquette, South Brunswick Police Department; and Florine Alexander, Director of Family Services, NJ State Supreme Court (Atlantic City). These employers were honored for their outstanding support to employees serving in the Guard or Reserve. The Chairman's Award acknowledges the sustained support that goes far beyond the requirements of federal law. The Honorable William Donnelly, recently invested as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for New Jersey was the featured speaker at the Awards Luncheon and assisted in the award presentations.

Major General Craig Cosgrave was the recipient of a Special Appreciation Award for his personal support of ESGR during his tenure as Commander, NJ Air National Guard. Cosgrave will be retiring on June 22nd of this year and in addition to personal participation in many of the group's events and activities also has provided outstanding logistical support for ESGR conferences, airlift support for "Boss Lifts", and has been an outspoken advocate for the Air National Guard and its increasingly important role in both Homeland Defense and Homeland Security.

When presenting the awards, Dutko pointed out the importance of employer support. " The Governor signed an executive order extending benefits and protections to all state employees mobilized for service following September 11th. Fortunately, many Civilian employers followed his example and have gone well beyond what is mandatory. It's only appropriate that we as an organization do whatever we can to publicly recognize this outstanding support and salute the important contributions made by civilian employers to our national security."

According to General Dutko, "New Jersey's volunteer ESGR members constantly strive to maintain a good working relationship between the patriotic members of the Reserve Component and their Civilian Employers. With the continued downsizing of the active component, reliance on the Reserve and National Guard has increased dramatically since Desert Storm."

Following the terrorist attacks against the Pentagon and the World Trade Center, more than 1,700 Army and Air National Guard soldiers and airmen have been on extended active duty as part of Operation "Noble Eagle." Additionally, significant numbers of New Jersey Guardmembers and Reservists have been mobilized for overseas deployments to participate in and support the ongoing war against terror as part of Operation "Enduring Freedom."

Dutko added, " America can't go to war without the Guard and Reserve. And, in time of national emergency, America's security can not be guaranteed without the full participation of our National Guard and Reserve."

"Traditionally, members of the National Guard and Reserve are required to perform military training for a minimum of 39 days per year; 15 days of annual active duty training and the one 'drill' weekend per month. That has all changed. Especially with the Guard. Reservists can only be called up in a "federal" emergency.

The Guard can be activated by the President for federal service and by the Governor, who serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Guard, for "state active duty." This state service is usually associated with natural disasters, floods, storms, and other domestic emergencies. However, following September 11th, the Governor mobilized members of the National Guard to provide additional security at Hudson River bridges and tunnels, major airports, and the state's nuclear facilities."

"This increased reliance on Guardsmen and Reservists combined with increased numbers of extended deployments have placed additional burdens on both the families and civilian employers. Family Support Programs at every level of unit organization help to address some of this impact. ESGR's mission is to help address employer concerns resulting from their employee's prolonged active duty military service."

ESGR is an organization formed more than 25 years ago which operates under the aegis of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. The 54 separate state organizations ( 50 state, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) with assistance, funding, and support from the National Committee conduct ongoing outreach programs which include a Speakers Bureau, "Boss Lifts" (wherein employers have an opportunity to actually visit their employees during their military training activity), and an Ombudsman Program that attempts informal resolution of any conflicts between employees and their civilian employers.

Anyone seeking additional information about the mission, organization, or activity of ESGR may contact Colonel (Ret) Carmen A. Venticinque, Executive Director, NJ ESGR at (609) 530-6910; via e-mail: carmen.venticinque@njdmava.state.nj.us; or by visiting our web site: www.njesgr.org.