PORTSMOUTH, Va. – Nine local Coast Guard commands held a signing ceremony in recognition of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Thursday at the Coast Guard Atlantic Area headquarters here.
The command representatives who signed the Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve were Vice Adm. Robert C. Parker, commander Coast Guard Atlantic Area; Rear Adm. Steven Ratti, the commander of Coast Guard 5th District; Rear Adm. Richard Gromlich, director of operational logistics as well as commanding officers from six other commands.
As supporting units to the ESGR, these Coast Guard commands publicly reinforced their advocacy for all Coast Guard civilian employees who also serve as reservists in the National Guard, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or Army. The Statement of Support is a pledge that employment will not be denied because of the service in the Guard or Reserve, employee job and career opportunities will not be limited or reduced because of service in the guard and reserve; employees will be granted leaves of absence for military service in the Guard and Reserve, consistent with existing laws and that the agreement with ESGR and its resultant policies will be known throughout our organization.
Special guests participating in the event included retired Coast Guard Capt. Ron White, ESGR Deputy National Executive Director; Steve Villalpando, Virginia ESGR Chair; retired Navy Capt. Fred Berck, ESGR Tidewater Committee Chair; Leon Hill, ESGR Navy Reserve Component Liaison; Navy retiree Doyle Quisenberry, ESGR Tidewater Employer Outreach Coordinator; and Regan Schutte, ESGR administrative support technician.
ESGR also presented retired Navy Cmdr. Thomas Nelson Jr., a resident of Yorktown, Va., with a “Seven Seals” award for his for meritorious service and initiative in support of the men and women who serve America in the National Guard and reserve.
The ESGR is a Department of Defense organization established in 1972 whose mission is to promote cooperation and understanding between reservists and their civilian employers, and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee’s military commitment.
Today, in its 40th year, ESGR operates through a network of hundreds of volunteers throughout the nation and Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Europe. For more information, visit http://www.esgr.org/.
