Photo By Aimee Fujikawa | Members of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve committee and employers pose...... read more read more
WASHINGTON — More than 20 employers took flight in front of the D.C. National Guard Joint Force Headquarters Armory and got to view the District of Columbia from the sky. Pilots from the D.C. Army National Guard, 1-224th Aviation Battalion securely fastened passengers into one UH-70 Lakota, and two UH-60 Black Hawks that flew in formation over the National Mall and surrounding areas.
Employers from public and private companies were nominated by D.C. National Guardsmen to participate in the Boss Lift, an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve program that gives employers to observe first-hand what service members do. The intention of the Boss Lift is to gain support from companies that employ traditional Guardsmen; those who have full time jobs and report for drill once a month.
“It’s an opportunity to educate employers and give them insight on how Guard members go above and beyond their duty to support our country,” said Tim Murphy, Esq., ESGR Ombudsman.
Some employed Guardsmen, who have been deployed, may lose their full time jobs or are not given their original position back upon returning from deployment.
Murphy has been volunteering for ESGR for 10 years. He uses his background as tax attorney to help service members get their job or even their seniority back. He intervenes by educating employers about the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act, a law that some companies may not be aware of.
This educational event helps to get the word out to employers and organizations like human resource companies that employers use.
“They get to see what Guard members do, and then they speak to other employers,” Murphy said. “We’re hoping employers see the value in what Guard members do.”
Murphy did not have the opportunity to serve in the military but volunteering to help veterans is his way of giving back.
“It’s very rewarding, especially when I get to see the expression on their faces when they get their job back,” Murphy said.
Passenger Mark McCurdy, chief executive officer of Maryland Auto Insurance, took his first flight in a military aircraft today.
“Some of our employees are in the Guard or are veterans. We know how important it is for them to have some place to come home to while they’re out serving our country,” McCurdy said.
He understands how important it is for veterans to have that safety net - employment and the health benefits. A former employee was injured by an improvised explosive device during deployment and returned to work at Maryland Auto.
Before the employee left, he was a “strong, rock-climbing stud.” But was a different person when he came back; both physically and emotionally.
According to McCurdy, it was visible to see his employee was emotionally devastated by what he had seen and what he had been been through, but proudly continued working for the company. Eventually, his body broke down and had to retire.
Along with the support of 225 fellow company employees, he had his income, health benefits and a retirement.
“Employers can make the Guard and the country strong by that support system, and my employee was an example of that,” McCurdy said. “When we send someone into a combat situation, we’ve got to be there for when they come back.”
In addition to helping employed service members, ESGR helps Guardsmen and Reservists who are unemployed or underemployed find jobs. The staff recruits employers and links them with service members that have specific Military Occupational Specialty skills that employers are looking for.
Service members can nominate their employer for a Boss Lift by contacting ESGR.
ESGR, a Department of Defense office, seeks to foster a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve in the United States. ESGR facilitates and promotes a cooperative culture of employer support for National Guard and Reserve service by developing and advocating mutually beneficial initiatives, recognizing outstanding employer support, increasing awareness of applicable laws and policies, resolving potential conflicts between employers and their service members and acting as the employers’ principal advocate within DoD.
Paramount to ESGR's mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.
For more information about ESGR outreach programs or volunteer opportunities, call 1-800-336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil.
| Date Taken: | 12.18.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 12.22.2015 09:12 |
| Story ID: | 185073 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DC, US |
| Web Views: | 123 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, ESGR takes bosses for a flight over the District, by Aimee Fujikawa, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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