New Jersey Reservist has a soft spot for helping people

Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army Reservist Sgt Sternglass, who works for Hunter College in N.J. as a LAN Systems Tech, directs a bus and passenger flow for personnel arriving at Ali Al Salem Airbase, Kuwait.  

KUWAIT

07.11.2006

Courtesy Story

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

By Lt. Col. Martin Moerschell
ESGR FWD Team

KUWAIT - US Army Reservist Sgt. Adam M. Sternglass is currently deployed to Ali Al Salem Air Base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the official name given to military operations assisting in rebuilding Iraq's economic and governmental infrastructure, training and preparing Iraqi military and security forces to assume full authority and responsibility in defending and preserving Iraq's sovereignty and independence as a democracy.

"I like my job and I love helping others and seeing their appreciation makes my day. I do however, miss my wife and kids," Sternglass said in the hot afternoon sun. In spite of the challenge of missing his family, Sternglass said that being here and seeing the changes Operation Iraqi Freedom and The Global War on Terror is making helps make up for the hardships of a deployment so far away from home.

Active duty and reserve component members from all branches of the U.S. armed forces are deployed under the U.S. Central Command to support the war against global terrorism outside the borders of the United States. U.S. Central Command is the unified command responsible for U.S. security interests and assets in 27 nations stretching from the Horn of Africa, through the Arabian Gulf region, and into Central Asia.

In Ali Al Salem, Sternglass serves as a transportation management dispatch coordinator with the 408th Personnel Support Battalion. Sternglass's job is never-ending as he marshals the endless stream of personnel arriving at area 51 and moving them to the main base or sending them to the flight line to catch their next flight to almost anywhere in the forward theater. The sergeant has served in the military for 12 years and this is his second deployment over seas. In his civilian occupation, Sternglass is a local area network systems technician for Hunter College in Penn for 5 years. When it came time for me to leave my civilian employer, my boss Mr. Jim Barry, came to me with a heartfelt handshake and a pat on the back and he told me to "come home safe and don't worry about your job, it will be here waiting for you when you return." Hearing this encouragement and reassurance meant a lot to Sternglass " it allows him to stay focused on the important job he has here and not worry about his employment when he returns home.

Today, more than 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. Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is the primary resource for information about the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, commonly known as USERRA. This federal law allows Sternglass and other mobilized reserve component members to retain their rights, when the deployment concludes.

Established in 1972, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a DoD agency, provides free USERRA education, consultation, and if necessary, mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees. 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. 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].

"My wife Becky totally supports me in what I have been sent out here to do. All things considered, I have an easy job compared to hers " she has to take care of our three children; Abrgail, Elisheva and Joseph all by herself." When it comes to support, Sternglass's family makes sure he is not without, they send him care packages of kosher foods and plenty of loving letters from his children.

Sternglass is the son of Arno and Lila Sternglass who recently celebrated their Golden 50th wedding anniversary. In August, Sternglass will celebrate his twelfth year of marriage with Becky; and he has three children; Abrgail, 11, Elisheva, 9 and Joseph who is 8 years old

USAR, ESGR

• Date Taken: 07.11.2006
• Date Posted: 07.11.2006 15:50
• Story ID: 7149
• Location: KW