June 2011

Welcome to Colorado ESGR. Our purpose is to have an informative newsletter that will educate, 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 Governors Service Awards....4 APAC Awards....5 Unit Highlight.........6 News - Freedom Award.. ...7 Colorado ESGR Contacts ..............9 Calendar of Events, Links.....10

Colorado ESGR Volunteers attend One-day APAC Conference.

Colorado ESGR held its Annual Planning and Awards Conference (APAC) on May 21st at the Marriott Hotel, Littleton. Attending the Volunteer Conference were more than 60 volunteers, staff, presenters and guest speakers. Topics of discussion included; Veterans Unemployment, Military/Veterans Employment Expo 23-25 May 2011, Employment Initiative Program, Yellow Ribbon program, Strategic Plan, Outreach Resources, volunteer awards and ending with break-out sessions to update volunteers in their respective directorates.

National Site News and Information

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Colorado

APAC: Guest Speakers

June 2011
Colonel Mike Jones from the National ESGR spoke about the Employment Initiative Program, and Colorado Congressman Ed Perlmutter (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 their work with veterans and returning service members and the issues of seriously wounded soldiers, specifically Traumatic Brain Injuries. Thank you Congressman for your visit and special remarks. Employment Initiative Program Highlights Reserve Component Unemployment rates: 14% listed as unemployed compared to 12.1 % of vet population.

Congressman Ed Perlmutter

Colonel Mike Thomas from NCESGR addressed the EIP Program. In this time Col Mike Jones of economic uncertainty, ESGR is focusing on connecting employers with the talented pool of service members and spouses, with the intent of facilitating meaningful employment opportunities: The Employment Initiative Program (EIP) is a collaborative effort with federal agencies - including the Department of Labor (Veterans Affairs), the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Small Business Administration and the Office of Personnel Management - to create efficiencies, enhance the employment process and serve as an effective resource for service members and employers.

Mission: Plan and e xe c ut e (highly synchronized within DoD/ DoL/VA) activities that enhance employment for Veterans, service members and their families. End result = An infusion of veterans and currently serving Reserve Component service members into the Public and private workforce in jobs that reflect and reward their talent and dedication, and their commitment to the United States and it best values.

EPO_ESGR Brief

Directorate News and Outreach Resources were briefed to the attendees from representatives of the following programs: (picture L - r below)
Yellow Ribbon Program, Ms. Suzanne Buemi, CONG Family Programs Younger Veterans organizations, Mr. Izzy Abbass, VFW Post 1 Employment 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, Iris Fontera, Public Affairs, Joe Ely and Mark Craig, Military Outreach, Tom Ivory, Employer Outreach, Tom Mills, Vice Chair, and Bill Belz, Ombudsman.

(USERRA) U.S. Supreme Court Ruling

June 2011

The mission of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve 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. With the mission of educating employers and service members in the forefront as our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen continue to deploy, each month the newsletter will explore a different aspect of the Uniformed Services and Reemployment Rights Act.

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 of Justice Kagan who did not participate in the case). This was the first Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) case to be heard by the Supreme Court since the law was enacted by Congress in 1994. Service member Vincent Staubs employment was terminated from Proctor Hospital in IL. He asserted his immediate and secondary supervisors were hostile towards his military service. He claimed that his supervisor fabricated allegations of misconduct at his workplace due to hostility towards his military obligations. Staub alleged the supervisors then presented this information to the Human Resources Vice President for Proctor who made the decision to terminate Staubs employment. A jury found Proctor liable and awarded Staub damages, but the 7th Circuit Court reversed the initial court decision stating that the HR VP used more than just the information provided by the supervisors when making a decision. This decision was overturned by the U S Supreme Court. The supreme court determined that in accordance with general tort and agency law, the VPs decision did not prevent the discriminatory actions of the supervisors from taking place, and the 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 forbids discrimination by an employer regarding employment, reemployment, retention in employment, promotion or any benefit of employment based on an employees membership in the military service. The Supreme Court ruled if a supervisor performs an act motivated by anti-military animus that is intended by the supervisor to cause an adverse employment action, and if that act is a proximate cause of the ultimate employment action, then employer is liable under [The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994] USERRA. To learn more about this historic case, please visit: http://www.supremecourt.gov/ opinions/10pdf/09-400.pdf
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News- Governors Service Awards

On May 20, 2011, Lt. Gov. Joseph A. Garcia along with representatives from Serve Colorado Governors Commission on Community Service delivered remarks and presented the 2011 Governors Service Awards to community service leaders and AmeriCorps members in the West Foyer, State Capitol.

June 2011

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.

Admiral Young was one of ten recipients for this prestigious service award. Congratulations!
The Outstanding Military Community Service Recognition Rear Admiral Richard E. Young, USN (Ret), Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) The Governors Service Awards are presented in recognition and appreciation to individuals, community/ civic leaders, various organizations, AmeriCorps Members, and Senior Corps, for their outstanding contribution to volunteerism and service throughout the State of Colorado.
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APAC Awards
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June 2011

Certificates of Appreciation for ESGR Service (Volunteer Time of Service Pin Year categories) were awarded by Vice Chairman, Tom Mills, Colorado ESGR. 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 Years 10. 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 Years Amy Eagan, 2-4 Years Joe Golding, 2-4 Years Glenn Kataoka, 2-4 Years Chris Lewis, 2-4 Years Paul Linton, 2-4 Years Gina Salazar - 2-4 Years William Sullivan, 2-4 Years Don VanGilder, 2-4 Years E. John Clark, 5-9 Years Robert Kitchell, 5-9 Years Robert Leonard, 5-9 Years John Lowrie, 5-9 Years John McGee, 5-9 Years Robert Valencia, 5-9 Years Ed St. Clair, 10-14 Years Outstanding Perfomance Awards Jan Dolan - present, no picture James Garrett, present, no picture Glenn Kataoka, not present

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Unit Highlight - 302nd Airlift Wing

June 2011

A C-130H Hercules aircraft equipped with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System drops a line of fire retardant in west Texas on April 27, 2011. The C-130 crew is assigned 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 been burning 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 and Guard support of Texas firefighting efforts that began when specially-equipped U.S. Air Force C-130s began dropping retardant April 17. Under the direction of the Joint Forces Air Component Commander for Air Forces Northern here, since April, 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 plagued Texas since Jan. 1. Returning to home stations May 6 were personnel and two MAFFS-equipped aircraft each from the Air Force Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing, Colo., and the California Air National Guard's 146th AW. Other MAFFS units that participated in the firefighting efforts were the Wyoming ANG's 153rd AW and North Carolina's ANG's 145th AW, which each supplied one MAFFS C-130. The 153rd AW and 145th AW swapped out duty with 302nd AW on April 26. "The men and women who make up the 302nd AEG are extremely proud of the support they provided to the ground crews firefighting efforts. MAFFS enabled significant progress in suppressing the fires allowing the citizens of Texas begin recovery," said Col. Jay Pittman, 302nd AEG command. "We will continue to stay trained, equipped and ready to render support when tasked in the future."

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 been chosen to receive the 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award in recognition of the support they provide to their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. Officials at Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Defense Department agency, announced the 15 recipients of the departments highest recognition for employers today, noting that they stood out from a field of 4,049 nominations submitted by Guard and Reserve service members or their families.

The 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recipients are:
-- 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn.; Congratulations to -- Ameren Missouri, St. Louis, Mo.; -- Burt County Sheriffs Office, Tekamah, Neb.; Qwest Communications, -- CSX Transportation, Jacksonville, Fla.; recipient of the 2011 -- Electrical Contractors Inc., Omaha, Neb.; Employer Support of the -- Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, Mich.; -- Hanson Professional Services Inc., Springfield, Ill.; Guard and Reserve, -- Integrity Applications Inc., Chantilly, Va.; ESGR, Freedom Award . -- Orange County Sheriffs Department, Santa Ana, Calif.; -- Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, Iowa; -- Qwest Communications, Denver, Colo., acquired by CenturyLink Inc., Monroe, La.; -- St. Johns Lutheran Church, Yankton, S.D.; -- State Employees Credit Union, Raleigh, N.C.; -- Town of Gilbert, Ariz.; -- Wells Fargo & Co., San Francisco, Calif. Qwest, the formerly Colorado-based communications company now known as CenturyLink and Martin/Martin Consulting Engineers were two of 30 finalists selected from more than 4,000 nominations received this year from Guard and Reserve members and their families. A national selection board will choose 15 recipients for the Freedom Award. They will be honored in a ceremony in Washington, D.C. in September. The Freedom Award is the Defense Departments highest recognition given to employers for exceptional support of their employees serving in the Guard and Reserve. A key element of Qwests assistance is embodied in the creation of a People Care Team helping while personnel are on active military duty and as they return to their civilian jobs. Additionally, Qwest employees sent more than 500 care packages with personal items, food, books and movies to military units throughout the world.

News- Freedom Award Continued...

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

June 2011

Freedom Award recipients distinguish themselves by going to extraordinary lengths to support their military employees, officials said. These employers exceed what is required by law, putting into place formal and informal initiatives that include providing the difference between military and civilian salary during deployments, continuing full benefits, sending care packages and providing personal support to the 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 for reserve 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 of senior DOD officials, business leaders and prior awardees selected the 15 recipients. The 2011 honorees will be recognized in Washington, D.C., at the 16th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award Ceremony on Sept. 22, 2011. The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve. ESGR advocates relevant initiatives, recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of applicable laws, and resolves conflict between service members and employers.

Martin/Martin Consulting Engineers, Lakewood, was nominated by an employee serving in the Army Reserve. Martin/Martin gave personal support to the families of deployed service member employees, assisting with yard work, snow removal and keeping in contact with the families. The company also provides an additional 60 days of leave upon return from home to allow service members to spend extra time with their families. Previous Freedom Award honorees in Colorado include Molson Coors Brewing Company, Fred Fletemeyer Company, First Data Corporation and Newmont Mining Corporation. These employers and many others throughout the state are providing vital assistance to the more than 13,000 citizen soldiers and their families living in Colorado, says Richard E. Young, retired Navy Rear Admiral and chair of ESGR/Colorado. We applaud the efforts of these companies and urge other employers to join them by signing ESGR Statements of Support.

Congratulations also to Martin/ Martin Consulting Engineers as a finalist along with Qwest in the Freedom Award Selection Process.
ESGR seeks to promote a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees. In addition to honoring outstanding assistance, ESGR is involved in providing increased awareness of the law related to civilian employment of Guard or Reserve members and resolving conflicts though mediation.

STAFF AND CONTACT INFORMATION

June 2011 About ESGR

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense (DoD) organization. It is a staff group within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense 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 Guard members and Reserve forces from all branches of the military) comprise approximately 48 percent of our total available military manpower. The current National Defense Strategy indicates that the National Guard and Reserve will be full partners in the fully integrated Total Force. Our Reserve forces will spend more time away from the workplace defending the nation, supporting a demanding operations tempo and training to maintain their mission readiness. In this environment, civilian employers play a critical role in the defense of the nation by complying with existing employment laws protecting the rights of workers who serve in the Reserve component. ESGR was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve component members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment. It is the lead DoD organization for this mission under DoD Directive 1250.1. Today, ESGR operates through a network of thousands of volunteers throughout the nation and Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Pat OFlaherty Staff Director patrick.oflaherty2@us.army.mil 720.250.1176 Kathleen Dorram Program Support Manager Kathleen.dorram@us.army.mil 720.250.1195 FAX: 720.250.1199 Chandra Hance Program Support Specialist chandra.hance@us.army.mil 720.250.1189 FAX: 720.250.1199

COESGR Business Office 12200 East Briarwood Avenue, Suite 160 Centennial, Co 80112 ESGR National Office 1555 Wilson Blvd., Suite 200 Arlington, VA 22209 1-800-336-4590 www.ESGR.com
State ESGR Chair Richard E. Young, RADM, USN (Ret) dickyoung123@gmail.com State ESGR Vice Chair Tom Mills, Brigadier General, CONG (Ret). meels52@msn.com

COLORADO ESGR DIRECTORS

Military Outreach Mark Craig mcraig8080@mac.com Joe Ely elytj@aol.com Employer Outreach Tom Ivory Tivory@aol.com Ombudsmen Bill Belz ewbii@msn.com Training Lynn Albi lynnalbi@aol.com Special Programs Kip Cheroutes kcheroutes@ Emgacommunications.com Speakers Bureau Martin Cobb emarcobb@msn.com Public Affairs Iris Fontera IFontera@aol.com

EMPLOYER OUTREACH AREA CHAIRS

Colorado Springs Willie Jones willie.jones@usaa.com Douglas County Area Lorin Ricker Dixie@RickerNet.us Bob Rotruck ole.gunner.bob@gmail.com Fort Collins Robert Fryer robert.fryer@ocio.usda.gov Grand Junction Lou Brackett patriot08@bresnan.net Pueblo Harry Vogel hotspot58@cs.com

MILITARY OUTREACH AREA CHAIR

Colorado Springs Vacant

NEWSLETTER EDITORS
James Garrett

Colorados ESGR Electronic Newsletter is published not only for the information and benefit of the members of the Colorado ESGR but most importantly to our Guard and Reserve members and their employers. The contents of this newsletter highlight activities and events conducted by Colorado ESGR. Send comments regarding this publication to the Newsletter Editor: James Garrett at esgrcolorado@yahoo.com 9

June 2011 EVENTS CALENDAR

JUNE Emerging Leadership Course, Philadelphia 11 Employer Awards Banquet, Denver 23-26 Emerging Leadership Course, Atlanta 9-12 JULY 14-17 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 Advanced Ombudsman Course, Boston 9 Western Slope Employers Luncheon Grand Junction 11-14 Emerging Leadership Course, Chicago 25-28 Emerging Leadership Course, Boston 4-7

Employment Initiative Program

Obtain the skills and access resources to help find a meaningful job.
Visit www.ESGR.mil for information

National

Job Seekers

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 Deployment experience (leadership, crisis management, supervision, training development, etc.) **old job may no longer be desirable** Interim job: still searching. * 11 March 2011 US Bureau of Labor Statistics DOL/VETS - http://www.dol.gov/vets/ Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces - http://www.employerpartnership.org/ Military OneSource - http://www.militaryonesource.com/
Growing circulationCurrently this Newsletter reaches more than 5600 National Guardsmen and 1000 employers from our supporters list, 140 volunteers of Colorado ESGR, and our social network websites like Facebook. 10