By Bob Wefald
BISMARCK -- When the Department of Defense began to anticipate the end of the draft, it established an agency to oversee a relationship that would be critical to maintaining an all-volunteer military.
For the past 40 years, that agency -- Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve -- has developed and promoted a culture in which employers support the military service of their employees in the National Guard and Reserve.
The past decade of continuous combat and historic natural disasters has tested our reliance on these service members and employers, revealing both groups' willingness to make extraordinary sacrifices for our country.
In 1972, ESGR developed the Statement of Support, a pledge employers sign affirming they will meet and exceed their legal obligations to military employees.
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The Statement of Support remains a symbol of strong commitment that helps reassure military employees, whose anxiety over military service lessens knowing employers stand behind them.
ESGR's ombudsmen program has helped Guard and Reserve members and employers since 1975. Trained ombudsmen provide free information and neutral mediation to help resolve workplace issues.
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 provides employment rights and responsibilities for Guard and Reserve members, but some still suffer when their employers lack awareness of the law.
In some cases, Guardsmen and reservists find their deployment costs them a pay raise, promotion or job.
Today, North Dakota ESGR has 72 volunteers, including five ombudsmen, to assist our state's Guardsmen, reservists and employers.
Most employers proudly support their military employees. ESGR developed a robust awards program to recognize these employers, as their encouragement is critical to sustaining our military.
Our state's employers are doing their part. Earlier this year, 14 North Dakota Guardsmen and reservists nominated their employers for the Department of Defense's highest recognition, the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, for supportive employers.
North Dakota's own Basin Electric Power Cooperative in the large employer category and Kadrmas Lee and Jackson in small employer category are among the 30 finalists across nation still in the running to receive the 2012 Freedom award.
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North Dakota's economy has remained strong, and the employment rate of North Dakota Guard and Reserve members is excellent. Nevertheless, I encourage all employers to examine their employment policies, consider how they support military employees and look for ways to hire and support Guardsmen and reservists.
North Dakota ESGR stands ready to help in this endeavor. As our nation recognized four decades ago, a strong all-volunteer military forever will rely on our employers' support.
Wefald is North Dakota state chairman for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.
