I would also agree with those that say not enough can be said about their sacrifice and patriotism. Similarly, this comment rings true for another group of volunteers that assist our Guam Service members in the Guard and Reserve component. This group is the Employer Support to Guard and Reserve, or ESGR.
ESGR is a group of volunteers dedicated to ensuring the employment rights of the Guard and Reserve service members are respected while away serving their country. Their goal is simple: ensure the members of the Guam Guard and Reserves and their respective employers understand the letter and spirit of the Uniformed Service member Employment and Re-employment Act, or USERRA. Much of their volunteer time is spent educating employers on the intricacies of USERRA. When ESGR’s education and mediation efforts are unable to yield an appropriate outcome, then the Guard and Service member has the full weight of the U.S. attorney general’s office to assist them. Although there have been several instances on Guam where the U.S. attorney general has had to rectify a wrong done to a local Guard or Reservists, such instances are the exception not the rule. This is a testament to the hard work of the volunteers of the Guam and Saipan ESGR organization.
The low number of cases can also be attributed to the sacrifice and patriotism of the Guam and Saipan employers. This group of unsung heroes has also had a positive effect on our Guard and Reserve components’ ability to maintain the current operational pace. Without a doubt, the loss of human capital has a devastating effect on a company. Most companies do all they can to protect itself from the loss of an employee; particular one that possess the attributes of a typical Guard and Reservists — integrity, intelligence, ingenuity, and selflessness. Imagine, therefore, being told your best employee is going to be unavailable for six months to over a year. Meanwhile, you still have to deliver your service or product on time, make do with a personnel shortage, receive little or no outside help and execute a profitable business plan within a budget. That’s the type of challenge our Guam employers (from private industry, federal and local government) have always had to endure while a Guard or Reservists was deployed or off island serving a military commitment.
Over the last several years, the “operational Guard and Reserves” has broken the mold of the “weekend warrior”. The old training requirements of the weekend warrior have long been replaced by demands that are on par with our active duty brethren. More so, what was once perceived by employers as a temporary absence morphed into long and repeated deployments by the Guard and Reserve components. The all-volunteer Guard and Reserves have eagerly accepted and answered that challenge. It has been the sacrifices of our Guam and Saipan employers that have allowed our local Guard and Reserves to successfully meet those increased responsibilities.
Having recently returned from the Guam/Saipan ESGR training conference, I came away completely impressed by the level of commitment of the ESGR volunteers to our service members in the Guard and Reserve. More importantly, I came away with a greater appreciation and admiration of what our employers have also had to sacrifice during the past eight years of increased military operations. This group of patriots epitomizes the definition of “unsung heroes.” So, on behalf of my fellow Guard and Reserve Commanders, let me publicly say “thank you,” “si yuus masse” and “salamat po” for all that you do and have done for our the brave men and women that make up the local Guard and Reserve component.
PAUL D. CRUZ
Tamuning, Guam
