CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield County Commissioners are showing their support of the men and women serving in the Guard and Reserve.
On Tuesday the commissioners approved a statement of support upon a request from Darryl Beatty and Del Spafford of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).
ESGR is a Department of Defense agency that promotes public and private understanding of the Guard and Reserve in order to gain employer and community support.
Established in 1972, ESGR develops and promotes supportive work environments for service members through outreach, recognition and educational opportunities.
ESGR’s purpose is to increase awareness of the applicable laws, as well as to resolve any workplace conflicts between employers and service members.
ESGR’s statement of support program is the key to its efforts to gain and maintain employer support. It strives to turn employers into advocates for employee participation in the military.
According to Spafford, 50 percent of the United States’ fighting force is National Guard and Reserve soldiers. He said: “They still got to have a job and a boss.
Then, one day they get the call from their wife saying that they’ve been activated. Sometimes they’re gone for 11 to 12 months or more.”
Spafford said these service men and women shouldn’t have to worry about their job status or their household while they are on active duty.
When they worry too much about “mom and the kids,” they put themselves and their men at risk,” Spafford said. “This is where employers and churches can help.”
Spafford said many soldiers lead this life for 20 or 25 years and sometimes even longer, and they need all the help and support available to them.
In their statement of support, the commissioners recognized the Guard and Reserve are “essential to the strength of our nation and the well-being of our communities.
“In the highest American tradition, the patriotic men and women of the Guard and Reserve volunteer in an honorable and vital profession.
“They train to respond to their community and their country in time of need. They deserve the support of every segment of our society.
“If these volunteer forces are to continue to serve our nation, increased public understanding is required of the essential role of the Guard and Reserve in preserving our national security.”
The commissioners pledged:
- To recognize, honor and enforce the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA);
- To provide managers and supervisors with the tools they need to effectively manage those employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve;
- To appreciate the values, leadership and unique skills service members bring to the workforce and will encourage opportunities to employ Guardsmen, Reservists and veterans; and
- To continually recognize and support service members and their families in peace, crisis and war.