Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, The Honorable Dennis M. McCarthy and the Assistant Secretary for the Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) at the U.S. Department of Labor(DOL), The Honorable Raymond Jefferson, met today to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between VETS and Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

Both VETS and ESGR are fully committed to active coordination and cooperation to ensure that protected persons are accorded their statutory employment and reemployment rights, and  employer concerns are addressed.  Such coordination and cooperation are particularly critical in light of the nation’s increased reliance on  Guard and Reserve service members.

The MOU describes the roles and responsibilities of VETS and ESGR in support of National Guard and Reserve members, as well as military veterans, particularly relating to employment and reemployment rights provided by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) of 1994.  This MOU articulates current procedures for sharing communications, operational trends, public information, and other materials designed to inform the public, employers and persons protected by USERRA.  It also clarifies procedures for the management of mobilization and demobilization briefings in conjunction with activations of National Guard and Reserve personnel, while establishing guidelines for handling technical assistance, information requests, and USERRA complaints.

In the photo:  The Honorable Dennis M. McCarthy and The Honorable Raymond Jefferson sign the MOU between VETS and ESGR.