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April 2013

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

Guard/Reserve members, Military and Veteran Employment Initiatives and our COESGR Volunteers.Guard/Reserve members, Military and Veteran Employment Initiatives and our COESGR Volunteers.Guard/Reserve members, Military and Veteran Employment Initiatives and our COESGR Volunteers.

Click on pictures or links for websites

OUR VIEW: Addressing Unemployment Challenges for Our Military RICHARD E. YOUNG 2013-03-15 21:00:16

The persistently high unemployment rate of our National Guard and Reserve members is a serious problem facing our country. In Colorado, Guardsmen and Reservists are among the 10.2 percent of unemployed post-9/11 veterans. Colorado Springs is particularly affected because of its heavy military concentration. The current economic recession is certainly a factor, but we can all do more to better ensure employment for the men and women who remain ready to serve when our nation calls.

Veteran unemployment has begun to receive due attention. However, we need to be more aware of how joblessness and underemployment specifically affect the National Guard and Reserve. These Citizen Warriors have deployed at unprecedented rates for more than a decade. They continue to sustain our fight in the Global War on Terror and respond to historic natural disasters. And though we are beginning to draw down forces in the Middle East, Guardsmen and Reservists are going to remain strategically critical to national security. We cannot overestimate their contribution to our military, and we cannot underestimate how struggling with unemployment affects their readiness to serve.

Our nation also should consider what we are losing by not having these service members as part of our workforce. Guardsmen and Reservists are trained in a variety of specialties, including logistics, law, nursing, commercial transportation, agriculture, engineering and security. And they have performed these jobs as committed leaders and team members in some of the most stressful and trying situations.

Three years ago, seeing this problem on the horizon, a coalition was formed in Colorado by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). ESGR is a Department of Defense agency with a nationwide network of volunteers who support Guardsmen, Reservists and their employers.

With the help of such partners as the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the U.S. Department of Labor (VETS), the Colorado National Guard, and recently the Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, ESGR has developed opportunities for unemployed service members and employers interested in hiring them. (Continued on top of next page.)

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Our team has begun organizing three day Military and Veterans Employment EXPOs. The first two days are aimed exclusively at preparing service members for the job hunt.

Classes are presented by experienced instructors; individual mentoring sessions are provided by HR professionals; computer labs are available with individual instructors to help the service member utilize all the tools available, such as H2H, a comprehensive web based system that is aimed at Guard and Reserve members, as well as, veterans and active duty members. On the third day, we bring in employers interested and ready to hire service members.

This formula has been effective in finding Guardsmen and Reservists jobs, and it has provided employers with qualified employees; but like the larger issue of military unemployment, it only works if we have volunteers to coach our service members on application and interview skills, and employers seeking out these service members for job placement.

ESGR can provide opportunities for individual and employers willing to support Guard and Reserve employment. Our next MVEE is scheduled on May 15, 16 and 17, for Colorado Springs, at the Pikes Peak Community College (Centennial campus). Our MVEEs are entirely free to the service member, military spouses, and employers.

I encourage everyone to find a way they can help address this national and local issue. Together, we all serve. Richard E. Young, RADM, USN (Ret) is Chair, CO ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) and guest columnist. © Copyright 2013 Freedom Communications. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted by permission.

Colorado ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) reflects the mission of the

Department of Defense Agency, ESGR which is to facilitate and promote a cooperative culture of

employer support for National Guard and Reserve service by developing and advocating mutually

beneficial initiatives; recognizing outstanding employer support; increasing awareness of applicable

laws and policies; resolving potential conflicts between employers and their service members; and

acting as the employers’ principal advocate within the Department of Defense.

ESGR volunteers, come from all walks of life and experiences in the public and private sectors,

ranging from business executives, senior government representatives, educators, military

personnel and veterans to name just a few. They enable ESGR to bring the message to all

employers, large and small, in cities, towns and rural areas. By explaining the mission of the

National Guard and Reserve and by increasing public awareness of the role of the employer,

Colorado ESGR develops a dialogue among employers, all Uniformed Service members and families

of affected Service members.

This is done through established directorates and their appointed Directors. The following pages

highlight the distinct missions of the directorates of Military Outreach, Employer Outreach, and

Ombudsman along with background and visions of their respective leadership.

Colorado ESGR 2012 Year in ReviewColorado ESGR 2012 Year in ReviewColorado ESGR 2012 Year in Review

180 Volunteers180 Volunteers180 Volunteers

1,151 Employers Influenced1,151 Employers Influenced1,151 Employers Influenced

755 Statements of Support755 Statements of Support755 Statements of Support

9,902 Service Members Influenced9,902 Service Members Influenced9,902 Service Members Influenced

153 Patriot Awards153 Patriot Awards153 Patriot Awards

The back page of this newsletter

lists all of our leadership

positions

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Military Outreach Directorate

The Military Outreach Directorate focuses on informing service members of their rights and responsibilities under USERRA. Reserve Component service members learn about ESGR during Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP) events, joint service member and employer events, and briefings to service members at their units during pre-mobilization and demobilization, all of which provide an effective means of educating service members about the law.

Military Outreach Objectives

Inform service members about USERRA and ESGR.

Encourage recognition of supportive employers through Patriot Award nominations.

Build relationships with local Reserve Component (RC) leaders.

Military Outreach Primary Functions :

Identify Reserve Component Units

Understand the RC units mission purpose/organization

Retrieve unit data (subordinate units, strength, leaders, etc.)

Build a unit file

Serve as ESGR Liaison for unit members

Make Contact

Meet with the leadership

Provide Assistance

Promote Unit Employer Outreach

Follow-Up

“I Retired after 28 years in the US Army Military Police Corps. Graduate of Texas A&M University in

1966.

I have been an ESGR volunteer for 5 years and want to serve those who serve our country.

I feel that ESGR is important because we owe it to our soldier's, sailors, airmen and marines to take steps to minimize the problems encountered with their civilian employers as a result of their military

service.

I see Military Outreach continuing to identify those service members who are in need of assistance in resolving problems with their employers as a result of their service. I see us someday working ourselves out of a job when employers and service members will work in harmony and no one will

any longer need our services.”

Joe Ely Co-Director

Military Outreach Colorado ESGR

Pentagon Moves Forward in Restoring Tuition Assistance.*

The Pentagon announced that it is reinstating Tuition Assistance Programs which had been cut for the Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force as part of the sequestration cuts.

An amendment blocking the tuition cuts was passed as part of the continuing resolution funding bill pushed through Congress. President Obama signed the measure into law.

The bi-partisan amendment was sponsored by Senators Kay Hagan (D-NC) and James Infofe (R-OK). The continuing resolution bill did not reduce the $46 Billion in overall cuts the Pentagon must make to comply with sequester, but it did give the DoD more flexibility in shifting funds into its operations and maintenance accounts.

So for all of you military students out there, its time to hit the books again!

* Information taken from a posting on Military Authority Blog by Debi Teter on March 28, 2013.

Read more….

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Employer Outreach Directorate

Outreach Strategic Partnership Program

Fulfill the ESGR mission through relationships with industry, civic associations and government agencies that act as force multipliers in spreading the ESGR Message.

Employer Outreach Objectives

Obtain Statements of Support (SoS) a signed commitment to support the Reserve Components.

Inform and Educate employers about the Uniformed Services Employment And Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and ESGR.

Employer Outreach Services

Proactive:

Employer Outreach - Visits and identifying employers (Trade Shows, etc.),

Statements of Support, Employer Awards, Briefings with the Boss, Boss Lifts.

Building Relationships

Reactive:

Ombudsman Services

Training for - Executives, Managers and First line Supervisors

Recognition through - Statements of Support, News Releases, Letters, and Awards.

Human Resource Consulting Services

Education, Mediation, Consultation, Ombudsman Services, Military Leave Policy Advice

“I retired from the United States Marine Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel after three years of Active and twenty years of Reserve Service. During my twenty years in the Reserve, my civilian career was with the pre-merger companies of Getty Oil and Texaco, Inc., most of which as a Human Resources Manager, until my retirement from Chevron after a total of nearly thirty years. I graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a Bachelors Degree in Economics

Upon retirement from Chevron, I was most interested in staying active through volunteer work and

found ESGR to be a place where I could apply both my military and corporate experiences.

As Co-Director of the Employer Outreach directorate, we are working to bring a focused leadership to this part of the organization, motivating volunteers to continue in the important work of recognizing outstanding Employer support to our nation's Guardsmen and Reservists and fostering relationships

that promote and encourage further such efforts.”

David E. Pruett, LtCol USMC (Ret)

Co-Director Employer Outreach

CO ESGR

Lida Citroën, of LIDA360, has a demonstrated passion for helping veterans refine their personal brand and prepare for the next stage in their lives.

Read the interview of Lida Citroën in the article, ―From The Battlefield to Business.‖

Lida Citroën is also a volunteer with Colorado ESGR.

Click on the magazine cover to link to the actual magazine on ICOSA.com

Pictured on the cover are Dick Young, Shane Schmutz and Lida Citroen

The mission of ICOSA is to facilitate dynamic cooperation, partnerships and assistance among

individuals, businesses, communities, governmental bodies and educational organizations to help

foster growth and change.

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Assist in preventing, reducing or resolving employer or service member misunderstandings regarding employment rights and responsibilities

Ombudsman are neutrals in the process of conducting mediation, conflict resolution and relationship building.

Ombudsman Roles... Educator Mediator

An Ombudsman Is… an agent of D.O.D. – A neutral, trained person who advises and mediates: Guardsmen and Reservists, Employers, and Commanders.

An Ombudsman Is Not: Service Member’s representative or legal counsel.

Ombudsman Services

Ombudsmen are trained ESGR Volunteers at the local level who:

Provide Mediation services (as a neutral) Educate and mediate USERRA issues

Ombudsman Directorate

―I have been committed to serving the veteran community for over forty years through various positions I have held in my career with government, both Federal and State. I continue to be involved with various veteran programs such as the Employer Support for Guard and Reserve (ESGR), the United Veterans Committee of Colorado and represent veteran interests in the Colorado Senior Lobby. My commitment to veterans and their families has never diminished. My interest and dedication to our military Reserve and National Guard began in 1983. I was employed by the U.S. Department (VETS) as the State Director for Colorado which took over the enforcement of the Veterans Reemployment Rights Act. I was a Senior Investigator for the program and served on several national committees for the development of the present Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). I have a total of 30 years working with the VRR/USERRA program. I ended my federal serve after 32 years as the Acting Regional Administrator for VETS. I also served as the Director for the Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs, under The Adjutant General for the State of Colorado.

I volunteered for the OM program to use my expertise and experience for the troops. My vision for the Ombudsmen in the directorate, I want very well trained folks who feel a sense of duty that I do. I really see Colorado becoming the best Ombudsman resource not only in Colorado, but in the country.‖

Bill Belz Director

Ombudsman CO ESGR

ONLY Qualified Ombudsmen who have completed training from ESGR Headquarters can work cases. In order to be an Ombudsman and eligible to work cases, he/she must receive certification training from the National Headquarters ESGR Directorate and maintain qualifications in accordance with National Headquarters criteria (e.g. working required number of cases, continuing education, etc).

USERRA for Employers

To assist with understanding USERRA, ESGR has partnered with the Department of Labor to create a list of frequently asked questions concerning USERRA. These FAQs may help eliminate any problems with your employees in the Guard or Reserve by keeping you informed of your rights and responsibilities.

ESGR has created a list of Frequently Asked Questions Specifically Tailored to Employers. Another source for USERRA Frequently Asked Questions is 20 Code of Regulations Part 1002.

As a quick reference when working with your employee, ESGR has provided resources to assist.

Click on links for websites

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59 Colorado companies were nominated for 2013 Secretary

of Defense Freedom Award Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense operational committee, announced that 59 Colorado Guard and Reserve members nominated their employers for the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award on March 19. The agency received 2,899 nominations nationwide, and

of those, 59 Colorado service members nominated their employers for the highest honor.

The Freedom Award is the Department of Defense’s highest recognition for employers supporting employees serving in the Guard and Reserve. Up to 15 award recipients will be announced this summer and honored in Washington, D.C. later this year at the 18th annual Freedom Award ceremony. Past award recipients have met with senior leaders of the White House and Department of Defense as part of the award recognition. Guard and Reserve service members, or family members acting on their behalf, nominated their civilian employers for the Freedom Award during the 12-week nomination season that closed in January. Guard and Reserve members comprise nearly one-half of the U.S. military. While most Guard and Reserve employers proudly support their military employees, Freedom Award recipients are recognized for going to extraordinary lengths for their Guardsmen and Reservists. Nationwide, this year’s nominees represent diverse industries including airlines, grocery store chains, national retail brands and IT companies, as well as small businesses, and state and local governments.

Living Water Bible Fellowship, Alamosa Arvada Police Department, Arvada City of Arvada, Arvada Aurora Police Department, Aurora Colorado Army National Guard Honor Guard, Aurora Transportation Security Administration, Aurora Walmart, Aurora Eagle River Fire Protection District, Avon National Weather Service, Boulder Xcel Energy, Boulder Kaiser Permanente Castle Rock Medical Office, Castle Rock Blair and Associates, P.C. , Cedaredge Dial Global Radio Networks, Centennial Colorado Springs Utilities, Colorado Springs El Paso County Clerk & Recorder, Colorado Springs El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Colorado Springs Everest University Online, Colorado Springs Harloff Company, Colorado Springs Hewlett Packard, Colorado Springs Lifetime Fitness, Colorado Springs TASC, Colorado Springs U.S. Paralympics, Colorado Springs United States Anti Doping Agency, Colorado Springs Alpine Access, Denver Colorado Department of Corrections, Denver Colorado Office of the State Auditor, Denver DaVita, Inc, Denver DCP Midstream, Denver Denver Health Paramedic Division, Denver Denver Public Schools, Denver

First Choice Bank, Denver MarkWest, Denver Performance Mobility, Denver Securitas Security Services, Denver United Air Lines, Denver Durango Harley Davidson, Durango Charles Schwab, Englewood Denver Jet Center, Englewood Jeppesen Sanderson Inc, Englewood James I Michalka, Fort Collins Pelco by Schneider Electric, Fort Collins Gray Oil Company, Fort Lupton JG management Systems, Inc., Grand Junction Meadow Gold Dairies/Dean Foods, Grand Junction Page-Parsons Jewelers, Grand Junction Double Diamond Crossfit, Greeley Greenwood Village Police Department, Greenwood Village AlliedBarton Security Services, Lakewood Bureau Of Land Management Colorado, Lakewood Department of Veterans Affairs, Lakewood US Fish and Wildlife Service, Lakewood Rocky Mountain Oilfield Rental, LaSalle Lockheed Martin, Littleton DigitalGlobe, Inc., Longmont Medtronic Surgical Technologies, Louisville Aspen Homes Remodeling LLC, Loveland Parker Police Department, Town of Parker, Parker City of Pueblo, Pueblo Federal Aviation Administration, Pueblo

The 2013 Freedom Award nominations from Colorado

The March issue of our newsletter, highlighted the three employer finalists from Colorado; Colorado Springs Utilities,

DaVita Inc., and JG management Systems Inc. They are semi-finalists in the nomination process in Wash. D.C.

Congratulations!

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Cliff Brice Stations Inc.

K R Swerdfeger Inc

Direct TV

Pueblo Workforce Center

Comwest Digital

Postnet

Lowe’s

The Tax shoppe URS Federal Services Inc

Roselawn Cemetery

Parker Pools

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Curtis Burns (orange coat), Electrical Supervisor for Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel, Pueblo, Colorado received the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Patriot Award, after being nominated by Electronics Technician First Class Kevin W. Metzger, United States Navy (in uniform) who said, “ My supervisor is highly supportive of my military service. He schedules work around my Reserve weekends preventing me from losing hours. He also was supportive when I was given a two week school on short notice. The company also gave me differential pay for the money I would have lost by leaving on military duty. For my Annual Training overseas my supervisor kept in touch with me via Facebook and emails. He was able to keep me on my same work schedule upon return.”

The first in ESGR series of awards is the Patriot Award. This is not an employer-wide award,

but rather one that recognizes supervisors and bosses nominated by an employee serving in

the National Guard or Reserve for support provided directly to the nominator. The Patriot

Award reflects the efforts made to support Citizen Warriors through a wide-range of measures

including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and

granting leaves of absence if needed.

Joseph Padilla (center), Lowe’s Improvement Inc of Pueblo, Colorado received the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Patriot Award, after being nominated by Staff Sergeant Larry Jaramillo, Army National Guard who stated in his nomination, “During the last year, Joseph was extremely helpful while I was training up for an upcoming deployment. He allowed me extra time off so I could spend some with my family.” Presenting the award is ESGR Volunteer Harry Vogel

The presentation was made by ESGR Volunteer Harry Vogel.

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State ESGR Vice Chair Tom Mills, Brigadier General, CONG (Ret). meels52@msn.com

EMPLOYER OUTREACH AREA CHAIRS

Boulder/Longmont

Rebecca Sogn

Colorado Springs

Mark Hustedt Mary Miller mary.miller3@us.army.mil

Cortez Area

Robert Valencia

Denver Area

Bruce Erek Rick White

Douglas County Area

Andrew Montoya andrew.montoya@usarec.army.mil Bob Rotruck

Estes Park Area Chair

Ed Acela

Fort Collins

Ralph Trenary

Grand Junction

Lou Brackett

David Popham

Pueblo

Harry Vogel

STAFF AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Brent Hamilton - Program Support Technician

720-250-1176 brent.l.hamilton2.ctr@mail.mil

Chandra Hance – AST-Administrative Support Technician

720.250.1189 chandra.hance@us.army.mil

Michelle Olson - ETC (Employment Transition Coordinator

720-250-1195 Michelle.k.olson@us.army.mil

COESGR Business Office

12200 East Briarwood Avenue, Suite 160

Centennial, Co 80112

State ESGR Chair Richard E. Young, RADM, USN (Ret)

dickyoung123@gmail.com

COLORADO ESGR

DIRECTORS

Military Outreach

Mary Rathje - Co-director Joe Ely- Co-director

Employer Outreach Bev Skinner - Co-director Dave Pruett - Co-director

Ombudsmen

Bill Belz - Director Gary Brown - Dep. Dir.

Training

Lynn Albi Paula Kauffman—Dep. Dir.

Special Programs Kip Cheroutes

National Guard Liaison Vacant

Public Affairs Iris Fontera James Garrett - Deputy

Employer Initiative Program

Director

Fritz Ihrig

Click on pictures or links for websites April 2013

REMEMBER:

Annual Employer Awards

Banquet, Friday Evening,

June 7th and our Colorado

ESGR Volunteer Conference

Saturday, June 8th

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National Site News and Information

Join Facebook and Twitter

Become a fan of Colorado ESGR

Colorado’s 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

Employment Resources

H2H.jobs www.H2H.jobs H2H offers valuable resources for Service members by way of hiring fairs, job training, career assessment and military skills translation. Check https://h2h.jobs/livehiringevents for a calendar of events.

Colorado Dept. of Labor - Veterans'

Employment and Training Service

(VETS) - http://www.dol.gov/vets/

VETS serves America's veterans and separating service members by preparing them for meaningful careers, providing employment resources and expertise, and protecting their employment rights.

Connecting Colorado http://www.connectingcolorado.com/

is part of a state and county-run system that delivers immediate, tangible results for your future. At this secure website, you can post

your résumé, apply for a specific job or do a self-directed job search through any of twenty-two different occupational sectors.