by Lt. Col. Martin Moerschell
Employee Support of the Guard and Reserve Forward
BAHRAIN -- Booz Allen Hamilton employee Bradley Tatge, a Petty Officer 1st Class in the U.S. Navy Reserves, is currently deployed to Naval Central Command in Bahrain in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the official name given to military operations from Afghanistan to the Horn of Africa in support of the Global War on Terror.
"Being away from my home and family has to be the single most difficult part of being deployed," Tatge said. In spite of these challenges, however, Tatge said that being part of Operation Enduring Freedom makes up for many of the hardships he encounters.
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.
At Naval Central Command, Tatge serves as a logistics manager in the Navy supply department. He manages the budget, processes supply requests, places orders through various vendors, coordinates shipping requirements and transfers supply material to units' accounts within the theater.
The Petty Officer has served in the military for 17 years and this is his second deployment; his first in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
In his civilian occupation, Tatge is a contract supervisor for Booz Allen Hamilton where he has been employed for one year. "Booz Allen Hamilton has been very supportive of my commitment to serve my country. They constantly encourage me to be safe while I am away and they all look forward to me returning to the firm when I finish my military commitment," Tatge said.
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 Tatge 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 (800) 336-4590.
"I have a wonderful family and my wife, Aletha has the role of keeping the family running smoothly from day to day," said Tatge. "I am so proud of my family and of the sacrifices they make to allow me to do my part in supporting America in the Global War on Terrorism," Tatge said.
Tatge, who calls Beaver Creek, Minn. his home, is the proud son of Betty Lou Tatge, also from Beaver Creek, and has two children: Conrad and Duncan.