ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - The New Jersey Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve will conduct 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 150 of the organization’s volunteer members will meet to discuss issues and concerns affecting the estimated 25,000 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.)  Senior Commanders of both the New Jersey Army and Air National Guard as well as the other 5 Reserve Component organizations are scheduled to address the group.

The Honorable William Donnelly, recently invested as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for New Jersey and Major General (Ret) Bobby G. Hollingsworth, USMC, Executive Director, National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve also will be in attendance.

ESGR is an organization formed more than 25 years ago which operates under the aegis of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs.  New Jersey’s volunteer 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.”  Additional 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.”

According to General Dutko, “ 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 bridges and tunnels, 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.

A number of civilian employers will be recognized with the presentation of the ESGR State Chairman’s Award at a special awards luncheon on June 13th.  These employers have demonstrated outstanding support to employees serving in the Guard or reserve and the Chairman’s Award acknowledges the sustained support that goes far beyond the requirements of federal law.  Dutko added “ The Governor signed an executive order extending benefits and protections to all state employees mobilized for service following September 11th.  Fortunately, many Civilian employers have followed his example and 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 their contributions to our national security.”

ESGR conducts an extensive and ongoing outreach program which includes 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.