Reserve components -  both Guard and reserve members in all five branches of service - comprise about 46 percent of the nation's military manpower.

That's a lot of power for civilian employers to lose as reservists are called up to serve during the global war on terror.  And that can lead to problems between reservists and their employers.

This is where the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, or ESGR, plays a key role in helping both reservists and employers.

Established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between reserve component members and their civilian employers, ESGR's trained staff and ombudsmen work to resolve conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment.

"We serve as a conduit between employers and the military," explained Bryon Burgess, the ESGR's executive director for Washington state, during a telephone interview.  "We're here to help, and we work with all branches of service to help resolve issues," he added. 

In the current environment, civilian employers play a vital role in the defense of the nation by complying with existing employment laws, which protect the rights of reserve component employees called to active duty.

The ESGR operates through a network of hundreds of volunteers throughout the country and Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Europe.  There are about 70 volunteers in Washington state.

"This is all about helping the troops when they come back from a deployment," said retired Sgt. Maj. Ed Booth, an ESGR representative, during a telephone interview.  "And most employers are very good to work with," added the 42-year veteran of the Navy and Army.

And there are many businesses that go out of their way to support their reserve component employees' rights.

"Yes, and one of those is the Madigan Army Medical Center," continued Booth. 

Reserve members who work at Madigan Army Medical Center nominated the facility for what ESGR calls the 5-Star Employer Program, a designation for which MAMC recently received a certificate honoring its support.

This recognition means that MAMC advocated for its guard and reserve members, signed a statement of support for its reserve component members and trained its supervisors and managers on the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, or USERRA.

"We are very clear about the USERRA," continued Burgess.  "It explains the law in plain language to employers and how it works with the branches of service," he added. 

Reserve component members needing assistance should visit www.ESGR.com or call (800) 336-4590.