coesgr newsletter june

8/6/2019 COESGR Newsletter June

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June 2011

Welcome to Colorado ESGR. Our purpose is to have an informative newsletter that will edu- cate, inform, and promote service by and to ESGR while fulfilling our mission of supporting

Employers, Guard/Reserve members, and COESGR Volunteers.

Inside this Issue

Colorado ESGR APAC…………. 1

USERRA Brief …………………. 3

Governor’s Service Awards..……..4

APAC Awards...………………….5

Unit Highlight……….......…….….6

News - Freedom Award.. ….……..7

Colorado ESGR Contacts ..............9

Calendar of Events, Links…….....10

National Site News andInformation

Colorado ESGR held its Annual Planning and Awards Conference(APAC) on May 21st at the Marriott Hotel, Littleton. Attending theVolunteer Conference were more than 60 volunteers, staff, presenters

and guest speakers. Topics of discussion included; VeteransUnemployment, Military/Veterans Employment Expo 23-25 May 2011,Employment Initiative Program, Yellow Ribbon program, Strategic Plan,Outreach Resources, volunteer awards and ending with break-outsessions to update volunteers in their respective directorates.

Colorado ESGR Volunteers attend One-dayAPAC Conference.

http://mvee.org/schedule.html



http://www.facebook.com/DoD.ESGR

http://twitter.com/ESGR

http://esgr.org/

http://mvee.org/participate.html


http://esgr.org/



June 2011APAC: Guest Speakers

CongressmanEd Perlmutter

Colonel Mike Jones from the National ESGR spoke about theEmployment Initiative Program, and Colorado Congressman Ed Perlmut-ter (7th Congressional District) remarks included: Working with and

resolving transportation issues with a local Iwo Jima Veterans flight,efforts to fund the new VA hospital at the Fitzsimmons medical complex,a recent Asian pacific trip, the value of ESGR and its volunteers for theirwork with veterans and returning service members and the issues ofseriously wounded soldiers, specifically Traumatic Brain Injuries.Thank you Congressman for your visit and special remarks.

Directorate News and Outreach Resources were briefed to the attendees from representatives ofthe following programs: (picture L - r below)

Yellow Ribbon Program, Ms. Suzanne Buemi, CONG Family Programs

Younger Veterans organizations, Mr. Izzy Abbass, VFW Post 1Employment Partnership of the Armed Forces

, Mr. Mark Simonsen Dept of Labor (VETS)

, Mr. Josh McDaniel, Director Military One Source

, Ms Terri Stephens

Directors L to r, Lynn Albi, Training, IrisFontera, Public Affairs, Joe Ely and Mark

End result = An infusion of veterans and currentlyserving Reserve Component service members intothe Public and private workforce in jobs that reflect

and reward their talent and dedication, and theircommitment to the United States and it bestvalues.

Employment Initiative Program Highlights

Reserve Component Unemployment rates:14% listed as unemployed compared to 12.1 % of vet population.

Mission: Planand execute(highly synchro-nized within DoD/ DoL/VA) activitiesthat enhance

employment forVeterans, servicemembers andtheir families.

Colonel Mike Thomasfrom NCESGR ad-dressed the EIPProgram. In this timeof economic uncer-tainty, ESGR is focus-

ing on connecting employers with the talented pool of

service members and spouses, with the intent offacilitating meaningful employment opportunities: The Employment Initiative Program (EIP) is acollaborative effort with federal agencies - including theDepartment of Labor (Veterans Affairs), theDepartment of Veterans Affairs, the Small BusinessAdministration and the Office of PersonnelManagement - to create efficiencies, enhance theemployment process and serve as an effective

resource for service members and employers.

Col Mike Jones

EPO_ESGR Brief

http://co.ng.mil/family


http://www.employerpartnership.org/


http://www.dol.gov/vets/


http://www.militaryonesource.com/


http://bit.ly/mj2cPu









The mission of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is to “…develop and promote employer supportfor Guard and Reserve service by advocating relevant initiatives, recognizing outstanding support, increasingawareness of applicable laws, and resolving conflict between employers and service members.”

With the mission of educating employers and service members in the forefront as our Soldiers, Sailors, Marinesand Airmen continue to deploy, each month the newsletter will explore a different aspect of the UniformedServices and Reemployment Rights Act.

June 2011(USERRA) U.S. Supreme Court Ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of Service Member

The 7th Circuit Court decision of Staub v. Proctor was overturned by the U S Supreme Court

in a unanimous decision (with the exception ofJustice Kagan who did not participate in thecase). This was the first Uniformed ServicesEmployment and Reemployment Rights Act(USERRA) case to be heard by the SupremeCourt since the law was enacted by Congressin 1994.

Service member Vincent Staub‟s employmentwas terminated from Proctor Hospital in IL.He asserted his immediate and secondarysupervisors were hostile towards his militaryservice. He claimed that his supervisorfabricated allegations of misconduct at hisworkplace due to hostility towards his military

obligations. Staub alleged the supervisors then presented this information to the HumanResources Vice President for Proctor who made the decision to terminate Staub‟semployment. A jury found Proctor liable and awarded Staub damages, but the 7th CircuitCourt reversed the initial court decision stating that the HR VP used more than just theinformation provided by the supervisors when making a decision. This decision wasoverturned by the U S Supreme Court.„ The supreme court determined that in accordance with general tort and agency law, the VP‟s

decision did not prevent the discriminatory actions of the supervisors from taking place, andthe discriminatory actions could be the cause of the “harm” to the service member. The

justices ruled this decision is out of compliance with 38 U.S.C. 4311 which forbidsdiscrimination by an employer regarding “employment, reemployment, retention inemployment, promotion or any benefit of employment” based on an employee‟s membershipin the military service.



June 2011

On May 20, 2011, Lt. Gov. Joseph A. Garcia along with representa-tives from Serve Colorado – Governor‟s Commission on CommunityService delivered remarks and presented the 2011 Governor‟s

Service Awards to community service leaders and AmeriCorpsmembers in the West Foyer, State Capitol.

Admiral Young

was one of ten

recipients for this

prestigious

service award.

Congratulations!

News- Governor’s Service Awards

“I would like to extend my congratulations

to the many volunteers here today,” said

Lt. Gov. Joseph A. Garcia. “This level of

volunteerism and dedicated service helps

Colorado thrive through these tough

economic times.”

http://www.colorado.gov/gccs/



June 2011APAC Awards

1 2 4

5

9

3

8

6

10

11

Certificates of Appreciation for ESGR Service(Volunteer Time of Service Pin Year categories) wereawarded by Vice Chairman, Tom Mills, ColoradoESGR.

Pictured with Tom Mills are the awards recipients:

1. Lynn Albi - Dir, Training, 2-4 Years 2. Bill Belz - Dir, Ombudsman, 2-4 Years 3. Mark Craig - Co-Dir, Mil Outreach, 2-4 Years 4. Vernon Crow, Mil Outreach, 15-19 Years 5. Dewey Dyer, Mil Outreach, 2-4 Years 6. Joe Ely - Co-Director, Mil Outreach, 2-4 Years 7. David Henigsman, Mil Outreach, 2-4 Years

8. Tom Ivory - Director of Empl Outreach, 2-4 Years 9. Aaron Lechner - Tradeshows Coord., 2-4 Years10. Willie Jones - EO Area Chair, 2-4 Years 11. Martin Cobb- Dir, Public Speakers, 2-4 Years 12. Daniel Powell, Ombudsman, 2-4 Years 13. Wayne Rees,, Ombudsman, 10-14 Years 14. Richard Hallock, Ombudsman, 5-9 Years 15. Bob Scofield, Employer Outreach, 2-4 Years

16. Dick Young - Chairman, 2-4 Years Other Volunteers not present but receiving awards:

Louis Brackett, 2-4 Years L.G. Duncan, 2-4 YearsAmy Eagan, 2-4 Years Joe Golding, 2-4 YearsGlenn Kataoka, 2-4 Years Chris Lewis, 2-4 YearsPaul Linton, 2-4 Years Gina Salazar - 2-4 YearsWilliam Sullivan, 2-4 Years Don VanGilder, 2-4 YearsE. John Clark, 5-9 Years Robert Kitchell, 5-9 Years

Robert Leonard, 5-9 Years John Lowrie, 5-9 YearsJohn McGee, 5-9 Years Robert Valencia, 5-9 Years Ed St. Clair, 10-14 Years

Outstanding Perfomance Awards

Jan Dolan - present, no pictureJames Garrett present no picture

7

12



June 2011Unit Highlight - 302nd Airlift Wing

A C-130H Hercules aircraft equipped with the Modular Airborne Firefighting Systemdrops a line of fire retardant in west Texas on April 27, 2011. The C-130 crew is as-

signed to the 302nd Airlift Wing, Colorado Springs Air Force Reserve. The modular

system is capable of dispensing 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in less than 5

seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 60 feet wide.. (DoD photo by

Staff Sgt Eric Harris, U.S. Air Force)

After performing 81 sorties and dropping 243,000 gallons of fire retardant over the wildfires that had beenburning in South and West Texas, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve personnel and their MAFFS -Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System - aircraft headed back home May 6.

The National Interagency Fire Center released the units May 5 to conclude the Air Force Reserve andGuard support of Texas firefighting efforts that began when specially-equipped U.S. Air Force C-130sbegan dropping retardant April 17.

Under the direction of the Joint Forces Air Component Commander for Air Forces Northern here, sinceApril, four C-130 Hercules aircraft equipped with fire fighting capabilities deployed to Dyess AFB, Texas,

as part of the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group to respond to help douse the raging wildfires that plaguedTexas since Jan. 1.

Returning to home stations May 6 were personnel and two MAFFS-equipped aircraft each from the AirForce Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing, Colo., and the California Air National Guard's 146th AW. OtherMAFFS units that participated in the firefighting efforts were the Wyoming ANG's 153rd AW and NorthCarolina's ANG's 145th AW which each supplied one MAFFS C 130 The 153rd AW and 145th AW



News- Freedom Award June 2011

Guard, Reserve Employers Earn Top Defense Department Honor

From an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve News Release

ARLINGTON, Va., May 31, 2011 – Fifteen employers have beenchosen to receive the 2011 Secretary of Defense EmployerSupport Freedom Award in recognition of the support theyprovide to their employees who serve in the National Guard andReserve.

Officials at Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a

Defense Department agency, announced the 15 recipients of thedepartment‟s highest recognition for employers today, noting thatthey stood out from a field of 4,049 nominations submitted byGuard and Reserve service members or their families.

The 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recipients are:

-- 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn.;-- Ameren Missouri, St. Louis, Mo.;-- Burt County Sheriff‟s Office, Tekamah, Neb.; -- CSX Transportation, Jacksonville, Fla.;-- Electrical Contractors Inc., Omaha, Neb.;-- Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, Mich.;-- Hanson Professional Services Inc., Springfield, Ill.;-- Integrity Applications Inc., Chantilly, Va.;-- Orange County Sheriff‟s Department, Santa Ana, Calif.;

-- Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, Iowa;-- Qwest Communications, Denver, Colo., acquired by CenturyLink Inc., Monroe, La.;-- St. John‟s Lutheran Church, Yankton, S.D.; -- State Employees‟ Credit Union, Raleigh, N.C.; -- Town of Gilbert, Ariz.;-- Wells Fargo & Co., San Francisco, Calif.

Congratulations to Qwest Communications,

recipient of the 2011Employer Support of the

Guard and Reserve,ESGR, Freedom Award .

Qwest, the formerly Colorado-based

communications company now known asCenturyLink and Martin/Martin ConsultingEngineers were two of 30 finalists selectedfrom more than 4,000 nominations receivedthis year from Guard and Reserve membersand their families. A national selection board

employers for exceptional support of their

employees serving in the Guard and Reserve.

A key element of Qwest‟s assistance isembodied in the creation of a “People CareTeam” helping while personnel are on activemilitary duty and as they return to their civilianj b Addi i ll Q l



News- Freedom Award Continued... June 2011

Guard, Reserve Employers Earn Top Defense Department HonorFrom an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve News Release

Congratulations also to Martin/ Martin Consulting Engineers as

a finalist along with Qwest in the Freedom Award Selection

Process.

Previous Freedom Award honorees in Coloradoinclude Molson Coors Brewing Company, FredFletemeyer Company, First Data Corporationand Newmont Mining Corporation.

“These employers and many others throughout

ESGR seeks to promote a culture in which allAmerican employers support andvalue the military service of theiremployees. In addition tohonoring outstanding assistance,ESGR is involved in providing

f

Martin/Martin Consulting Engineers,Lakewood, was nominated by an employeeserving in the Army Reserve. Martin/Martin gavepersonal support to the families of deployed ser-

vice member employees, assisting with yardwork, snow removal and keeping in contact withthe families.The company also provides an additional 60days of leave upon return from home to allowservice members to spend extra time with theirfamilies.

Freedom Award recipients distinguish themselves by going to extraordinary lengths to support theirmilitary employees, officials said. These employers exceed what is required by law, putting into placeformal and informal initiatives that include providing the difference between military and civilian salaryduring deployments, continuing full benefits, sending care packages and providing personal support tothe families of employees called away from home.

"To stand out among the many thousands of employers who firmly support our citizen-warriors is a testament to the remarkable efforts of these 15 recipients," said Dennis M. McCarthy, assistant secretary of defense forreserve affairs. "On behalf of the Department of Defense, I congratulate the 2011 honorees and thank them for serving as outstanding partners in our nation's defense."

On behalf of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, a selection board made up ofsenior DOD officials, business leaders and prior awardees selected the 15recipients. The 2011 honorees will be recognized in Washington, D.C., at the16th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom AwardCeremony on Sept. 22, 2011.

The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of Employer Supportfor the Guard and Reserve. ESGR advocates relevant initiatives, recognizes outstanding support,increases awareness of applicable laws, and resolves conflict between service members and employers.



About ESGR

Employer Support of the Guard and Re-serve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense(DoD) organization. It is a staff group withinthe Office of the Assistant Secretary of De-fense for Reserve Affairs (OASD/RA),which is in itself a part of the Office of the

Secretary of Defense (OSD).

The nation's Reserve components(referring to the total of all National Guardmembers and Reserve forces from allbranches of the military) comprise approxi-mately 48 percent of our total availablemilitary manpower. The current NationalDefense Strategy indicates that the Na-tional Guard and Reserve will be full part-ners in the fully integrated Total Force. OurReserve forces will spend more time awayfrom the workplace defending the nation,supporting a demanding operations tempoand training to maintain their missionreadiness.

In this environment, civilian employers playa critical role in the defense of the nationby complying with existing employmentlaws protecting the rights of workers whoserve in the Reserve component.

ESGR was established in 1972 to promotecooperation and understanding betweenReserve component members and theircivilian employers and to assist in the reso-lution of conflicts arising from an em-ployee's military commitment. It is the leadDoD organization for this mission underDoD Directive 1250.1.

State ESGR ChairRichard E. Young, RADM, USN(Ret)[email protected]

COLORADO ESGR

DIRECTORSMilitary OutreachMark [email protected] Joe [email protected]

Employer OutreachTom [email protected]

Ombudsmen

Bill [email protected]

TrainingLynn [email protected]

Special Programs

Kip Cherouteskcheroutes@ Emgacommuni-cations.com

Speakers BureauMartin [email protected]

STAFF AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Pat O’Flaherty – Staff Director

[email protected] 720.250.1176

Kathleen Dorram – Program Support [email protected]

720.250.1195 FAX: 720.250.1199Chandra Hance – Program Support Specialist

[email protected] FAX: 720.250.1199

COESGR Business Office12200 East Briarwood Avenue, Suite 160

Centennial, Co 80112

ESGR National Office

1555 Wilson Blvd., Suite 200Arlington, VA 22209

1-800-336-4590 www.ESGR.com

State ESGR Vice ChairTom Mills, Brigadier General,CONG (Ret)[email protected]

EMPLOYER OUTREACH

AREA CHAIRSColorado SpringsWillie [email protected]

Douglas County AreaLorin [email protected] Bob Rotruck

[email protected]

Fort CollinsRobert Fryer

[email protected]

Grand JunctionLou [email protected]

Pueblo

Harry [email protected]

MILITARY OUTREACHAREA CHAIR

Colorado Springs

June 2011

mailto:[email protected]




















http://www.esgr.mil/


































EVENTS CALENDAR

JUNE9-12 Emerging Leadership Course,

Philadelphia11 Employer Awards Banquet, Denver23-26 Emerging Leadership Course,

Atlanta

JULY14-17 Emerging Leadership Course, San

Diego

16 157th Field Artillery Employer Day,Guernsey, Wyo

19 Senior Ombudsman Class,Centennial, CO

21-24 Basic Ombudsman Training Course,Seattle, WA

AUGUST

4-7 Advanced Ombudsman Course,Boston9 Western Slope Employers Luncheon

Grand Junction11-14 Emerging Leadership Course,

Chicago25-28 Emerging Leadership Course,

Boston

National

June 2011

Reserve Component Seekers Military is not primary income USAR unemployment = 14% ARNG unemployment = 14.3%Transitioning Seekers Age 18-24 Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran Unemployment = 21.1% Age 18-24 non-veteran unemployment = 16.6%Redeployment / demobilization Recent demobilization BCT reported 27% Unemployment (EPO registered 274 SMs at demob site) Estimate > 30% RC and transitioning SMs in theater do not have a job waiting for them upon return.Under-employed

D l i (l d hi i i i i i i d l )

Job Seekers

Employment Initiative Program

Obtain the skills and access resources to help find a

meaningful job.

Visit www.ESGR.mil for information

coesgr newsletter june

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