Arizona Army National Guard Capt. David Callaway of the 1st Battalion, 180th Field Artillery out of Mesa, Ariz., is currently deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the official name given to the military operation which is 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.
Although this field commander and his unit had to sacrifice their passion as artillery men to fulfill the needs of the Army as military police, Callaway indicated that being part of Operation Iraqi Freedom helps make up for the challenges his unit may encounter.
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.
While Callaway's training and passion is as a field artillery battery commander, he is acting as a military police company commander with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 180th Field Artillery in Baghdad, Iraq. As the commander he is responsible for the health, welfare, safety, discipline, morale and combat readiness of every soldier. He is also responsible for the planning and coordination of all company combat operations and mission success.
In his civilian job, Callaway has served as the director of government and commercial sales for Daniel's Moving and Storage out of Phoenix, Ariz. for about three years. He is responsible for developing and fostering contractual relationships with government agencies and commercial businesses.
Callaway's loyalty to his employer, no doubt, is a result of support from an employer who has been through two deployments with him in the three years he's worked with him. "I was on an Air Force mission for 22 months from September 2003 to November 2004," Callaway explained, 'then I came home for five months and we got notified of this deployment." With conviction in his eyes, he stated, "a position in sales requires relationship-building. Both times I had built the relationships to the point that we could negotiate, I was deployed — which means I had to start all over again when I returned but my boss believes in me and stands beside me in service to our country."
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 Callaway 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.
Callaway is proud he has been able to once again serve his country. He expressed gratitude for an employer who is always there for him. "My boss believes in what we're doing," Callaway affirmed, "He is very supportive of the military."
Callaway and his wife of eight years, Tami, call Phoenix, Ariz., home. They are the proud parents of Reece, 7 and Ella, 1. Callaway is the son of David and Laurel Clark of Stockton, Iowa.