Representatives of the Alabama Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Program Briefs Local Group

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Retired Col. Duane Smith and Mr. Jim Adams present a Statement of Support to Angel Scott, Vice President and Gwen Black, Membership Director for the East Alabama Society for Human Resource Management.

MONTGOMERY, AL (10/28/2010)(readMedia)-- The East Alabama Society for Human Resource Management (EASHRM) held their monthly meeting Oct. 13, 2010 at the Saugahatchee Country Club in Opelika, Ala., where representatives of the Alabama Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Program (ALESGR) presented a briefing/program identifying the challenges employers and members of the Guard and Reserve have when these employees are called upon for training or deployments.

The briefing was presented to the EASHRM members on behalf of the ALESGR State Chair, Russell Summerlin by retired Col. Duane Smith and Mr. Jim Adams."This is the right thing to do and the right time to do it," said Smith. "Many of Alabama's employers are uncertain and concerned over their responsibilities to their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve." This informative briefing provided information to EASHRM members to help better understand compliance with the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and gave suggestions on how best to manage their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. During the meeting, a Statement of Support (SOS) was given to all members in attendance. "Since September 11, 2001, more than 771,000 National Guard and Reserve men and women across the United States have left their families and employers to serve on active duty in overseas operations," said Smith. At the present time approximately 48% of the United States Military Forces are members of the Guard and Reserve and approximately 26% of the forces currently serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait are Guard and Reserve personnel.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972. The mission of ESGR is to develop and promote employer support for Guard and Reserve service by advocating relevant initiatives, recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of applicable laws and resolving conflict between employers and service members. ESGR volunteers provide free education, consultation, and, if necessary, mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve members. For more information on the Alabama Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, contact the ESGR office in Montgomery, Ala., at 334-271-7288/7246 or go to the ESGR website at www.esgr.mil.

Photo caption: Retired Colonel Duane Smith and Mr. Jim Adams present a Statement of Support to Angel Scott, Vice President and Gwen Black, Membership Director for the East Alabama Society for Human Resource Management.