Former Alabama Army Guard Colonel to Chair State ESGR

MONTGOMERY, AL (03/28/2011)(readMedia)-- Dr. Bill Kringel of Theodore is the new state chairman of the Alabama Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. A retired colonel from the Alabama Army National Guard, Kringel was installed during the committee's recent annual conference in Mobile.

He succeeds Russell E. Summerlin, of Delta, who had served in the post for the past five years. Kringel has been a member of the state committee for seven years. Summerlin said Kringel was "one of the best and most dependable district chairman in the state," while serving the district that encompasses southwest Alabama for the past three years.

The National ESGR Committee was established by the Department of Defense in 1972. State committees were authorized and organized in ensuing years. The ESGR mission is to recognize outstanding employer support, increase awareness of applicable laws and resolve conflicts between employers and Guard or Reserve members through mediation.

The work of the committee is critical because almost half of the current U.S. military strength is in Guard and Reserve units. A major thrust of the committee is performed by a group of specially trained ombudsmen who serve as neutral mediators for employer/employee conflicts. Kringel has been active in this ESGR program and has been successful in mediating numerous cases.

All ESGR members serve as volunteers. Most served in the military and many are retired from a branch of military service.

Kringel is retired from the State of Alabama where he worked as a psychologist with the Department of Public Health. He is currently teaching one course at the University of South Alabama.

Posted Monday March 28, 2011 at 05:15 pm by Alabama National Guard
Last Updated Tuesday March 29, 2011 at 09:28 am