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Companies commit to pro-Guard and Reserve policies

  • Published
  • By Tech Sgt Paul Dean
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. --  

As the role of the Guard and Reserve in worldwide operations continues to grow, the support of families and employers of today’s reservists becomes even more important.

Eight employers were recognized by the Employee Support of the Guard and Reserve organization at a ceremony here May 4. Each company received an ESGR Above and Beyond Award.

One of the companies, Lee Memorial Health System, Fort Myers, Fla., is the ESGR Florida Field Committee’s nominee for the 2006 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

“We’re trying to do the right thing,” said Kimberley Gaide, staff activities military support supervisor for Lee Memorial, about the company’s commitment to Guard and Reserve members, their families and the U.S. military in general.

“We see ourselves in a [community] leadership role. We’re a an organization dedicated to taking care of the health of our community, and this role means that we have to set the tone [for all businesses and organizations in the community],” said Jon C. Cecil, chief human resources officer for Lee Memorial.

The keynote speaker at the event was Thomas F. Hall, assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs. Mr. Hall lauded the employers at the reception for their dedication to the country and to their employees.

Nationwide, more than a half million members of the Guard and Reserve have volunteered or been called to duty since Sept. 11, 2001. In Air Force Reserve Command, nearly 30,000 reservists have been mobilized, and in the past six months more than 3,000 Air Force reservists have volunteered to serve on active duty in the United States or overseas.

Lee Memorial’s motto, “The Heart of the Community,” helps explain how the company became listed as a “National Employer of Choice” recently by the non-profit organization Employers United for a Stronger America. During the awards reception, company representatives also signed the ESGR “5-Star Statement of Support” letter.

Lee Memorial Health System employs more than 6,800 people in Lee County, Fla., and has close ties to people fighting the war on terror. One employee was killed in action, and two others lost relatives in the war.

By signing the 5-Star Letter of Support, Lee Memorial and the other seven companies agree to uphold human resources policies that ease employment concerns for their reservists. They have each reviewed their human resources policies to ensure compliance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act Law. They also promote training for managers and supervisors to effectively manage their employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve.

The other companies recognized with an Above and Beyond Award at the ceremony included Spirit Airlines, Wackenhut Corp., Motorola Radio Products Group, AutoNation, Harris Corp., Florida Power and Light, and Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne Division.

The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve organization was established by the Department of Defense in 1972. ESGR volunteers provide free education, consultation, and if necessary, mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees. (AFRC News Service)