Virginia Coast Guard Commands Formally Recognize
Employer
Support of the Guard and Reserve
PORTSMOUTH, Va. - Five local
U.S. Coast Guard commands held a signing ceremony in December, 2007 at the
Coast Guard Atlantic Area headquarters in Portsmouth, in recognition of the
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).
Special guests participating in
the event included: the Honorable Thomas Hall, Assistant Secretary of Defense
for Reserve Affairs; Col. Thomas Stephen (U.S. Army retired), Executive Director
Virginia Committee for ESGR; Capt. Fred Berck (U.S. Navy retired), Chairman of
the Tidewater Committee for ESGR; and Coast Guard Reserve Rear Adm. John Acton,
Deputy Commander for Mobilization and Reserve Affairs, Atlantic Area; and Capt.
Ronald White (U.S. Coast Guard retired), Chief of Staff and Director of Program
Integration for the National Committee for ESGR.
The local Coast Guard commands
that signed the Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve were: U.S.
Coast Guard Atlantic Area, Vice Adm. D. Brian Peterman; U.S. Coast Guard Fifth
District, Rear Adm. Fred Rosa; U.S. Coast Guard Maintenance and Logistics
Command, Rear Adm. Ronald Hewitt; U.S. Coast Guard Facilities Design and
Construction Center Atlantic, Capt. Joanne McCaffrey; and U.S. Coast Guard
Sector Hampton Roads, Cmdr. Jeffrey Novotny.
As supporting units to the ESGR,
these Coast Guard commands publicly reinforced their advocacy for all Coast
Guard civilian employees who also serve as reservists in the National Guard,
Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or Army, and in signing the Statement of Support
have pledged that: employment will not be denied because of the service in the
Guard or Reserve; employee job and career opportunities will not be limited or
reduced because of service in the Guard and Reserve; employees will be granted
leaves of absence for military service in the Guard and Reserve, consistent
with existing laws; and that the agreement with ESGR and its resultant policies
will be known throughout our organization.
"We recognize that they
continue to provide critical surge capacity for maritime homeland security,
domestic and expeditionary support to national defense, and response to
domestic disasters," said Vice Adm. Brian Peterman, Commander of Coast
Guard Atlantic Area.
Admiral Acton added, "Our
reservists are critical to our mission execution, particularly since 9/11. We
could not do the nation's important work without the active cooperation and
support of those who employ these selfless citizen-Coastguardsmen."
ESGR is a
Department of Defense agency established in 1972. Its mission is to gain and
maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service by recognizing
outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law, and resolving conflicts
through informal mediation.
