GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Montana Air National Guard (MANG) 120th Airlift Wing Commander Col. David Smith recently signed an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Statement of Support (SOS) certificate. An SOS provides a formal process to allow employers to publicly proclaim their support for their civilian employees in the National Guard and Reserve, as well as their families. Employers signing a statement of support pledge that: • We fully recognize, honor, and comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. • We will provide our managers and supervisors with the tools they need to effectively manage employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve. • We appreciate the values, leadership, and unique skills Service members bring to the workforce and will encourage opportunities to hire Guardsmen, Reservists, and Veterans. • We will continually recognize and support our country’s Service members and their families, in peace, in crises, and in war. Smith met with Montana ESGR State Chair Tim Fox and Montana ESGR Bosslift Coordinator Mike Flaherty to sign the Statement of Support and discuss the FY24 ESGR outreach for both employer and military events for the state of Montana. An overview of the program was provided to Smith as he recently received command of the MANG 120th Airlift Wing. Smith however is not new to the ESGR program. As an Active-Duty member of the National Guard, he was recently granted a three-year leave of absence from his civilian job to take on his current responsibilities at the 120th AW.
ESGR, an office within the Department of Defense, is designed to assure that National Guard and Reserve military personnel are treated fairly and legally regarding their civilian jobs. Their vision is to develop and promote a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees. As the members of the National Guard and Reserve continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions with America’s borders and beyond, ESGR will continue to be the resource for the employers of citizen warriors. ESGR provides education, consultation, and if necessary, mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees. More information about ESGR Employer Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities is available at http://www.esgr.mil. Photo: Montana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) State Chair Tim Fox, left, Montana Air National Guard 120th Airlift Wing Commander Colonel David Smith, center and Montana ESGR Bosslift Coordinator Mike Flaherty display an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Statement of Support. The certificate provides a formal process to allow employers to publicly proclaim their support for their civilian employees in the National Guard and Reserve, as well as their families.