Photo by SFC David McCrary, ESGR Forward Team
Story by Lt Col Martin Moerschell, ESGR Forward Team
QATAR. U.S. Army Reserve member, Sergeant Godwin Barley, from Tobyhanna, Penn., is a member of Bravo Company, 392nd Signal Company and currently deployed to Forward Operating Base (FOB), Sykes, in Tal Afar, Iraq.
SGT Barley is supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, 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.
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 Global War against 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 FOB Sykes, Barley serves as a Microwave Antenna Operator with the 842nd Signal Company out of Milton Fla., Barley is responsible for setting up and marinating microwave antennas which provides vital communications links for both the 3rd Armored Cavalry Division and 1st Armored Division.
SGT Barley has served in the military for nine years and this is his first deployment as a reservist. In his civilian occupation, Barley is a Registered Representative with Guardian Life Insurance where he has been employed for the past five years. "My employer has done a fantastic job of supporting me during this deployment and they have made my time her much easier just knowing they are all behind me".
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 Barley 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.
"From this experience, I have learned valuable leadership skills which will help me in both my military and civilian capacity" said SGT Barley. "My experience here has brought to my attention how important our efforts are in supporting our nation's efforts toward the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT)."
SGT Barley's sister, Jackie is also in the Army Reserve where she has served for eight years and is very proud of her brothers" commitment to America's stance towards the GWOT.
ESGR USAR
| Date Taken: | 06.21.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 06.21.2006 08:47 |
| Story ID: | 6900 |
| Location: | QA |
| Web Views: | 170 |
| Downloads: | 85 |
This work, From Guardian Life to guarding life, SGT Barley is there, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
