U.S. Navy reservist receives morale, support from employer at home

Courtesy Photo | U.S. Navy reservist, Petty Officer 1st Class Joel A. Lorenz, is a customs inspector for the Naval Expeditionary Logistics Support Force Customs Battalion PAPA, in Kuwait.  

QATAR

02.24.2006

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

By SMSgt. Darenda Rogers
CENTCOM Public Affairs/ESGR Forward Team

QATAR " U.S. Navy reservist, Petty Officer 1st class Joel A. Lorenz, may be away from his employer, The Home Depot, in LaHabra, Calif., but he is not forgotten.

Lorenz, who is currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), said his employer, "is very supportive. They pay the difference between my base pay and civilian salary."

This is Lorenz's first deployment which he began in August 2005. When at his home unit in the U.S., Lorenz is a torpedoesman mate based in Coronado, Calif. His job there requires that he check the water (beach) for holes - places where the ocean bottom drops off - and mark them so that when he lands (directs) crafts onto the beach, they will not sink into those holes.

While serving in OIF under U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) in Kuwait, he is a customs inspector for the Naval Expeditionary Logistics Support Force (NAVELSF) Customs Battalion PAPA. As a customs inspector, he is responsible for ensuring that returning military equipment conforms to U.S. Department of Agriculture standards, and that all gear returning with personnel serving abroad under OIF complies with U.S. Customs regulations.

USCENTCOM, located at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Fla., is the unified command responsible for U.S. security interests in 27 nations that stretch from the Horn of Africa (HOA) through the Arabian Gulf region, into Central Asia. USCENTCOM is one of nine unified commands in the Department of Defense (DOD).

Central Command's mission includes enhancing regional stability and demonstrating a steadfast commitment to regional security. CENTCOM is also responsible for executing the Global War on Terror in its assigned area of responsibility (AOR), which includes Iraq, Afghanistan and HOA. Other important USCENTCOM activities include humanitarian and security assistance programs, as well as combined training and education opportunities for military members in AOR nations.

OIF began with the liberation of Iraq in 2003, and has resulted in two democratic elections, a constitutional referendum and the development of a professional Iraqi security force. In partnership with the Iraqi government, the coalition forces are helping the Iraqi people defeat terrorists and build an inclusive democratic state. The coalition forces, to include the Iraqi army, are conducting full-spectrum counter-insurgency operations to isolate and neutralize the former regime extremists and foreign terrorists. Coalition forces organize, train and equip Iraqi security forces, in order to create a secure environment that allows the reconstruction process to continue.

His experience as Assistant Manager of Home Depot allows him to appreciate the reconstruction taking place in Iraq. He is grateful for an employer "who has allowed me to take the time off to serve my country and participate in an incredibly diverse cultural experience of a lifetime." No doubt the benefit of his military experience will improve his service to The Home Depot base of diverse customers.

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, commonly known as USERRA, allow Lorenz and other mobilized military members to retain their rights to return to their civilian jobs following a deployment. Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972. The mission of ESGR is to gain and maintain active support from all public and private employers for the men and women of the National Guard and Reserve. ESGR volunteers provide free education, consultation, and if necessary, mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees.

As the 1.2 million members of the National Guard and Reserve continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions that require extraordinary actions on the part of everyday citizens, ESGR will continue to be the informational agency for the employers of America's new Minutemen. More information about ESGR Employer Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities is available at www.esgr.mil, or by calling the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve at [phone].

• Date Taken: 02.24.2006
• Date Posted: 02.24.2006 13:35
• Story ID: 5498
• Location: QA