Resources

Military leaders are fortunate to have a multitude of resources provided by the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Labor (DoL) for employer support of the National Guard and Reserve. All military leaders are encouraged to be aware of these vital resources, especially military leaders of National Guard and Reserve Service members. Military leaders are encouraged to highlight these programs and services during unit readiness briefs, command sponsored orientations or indoctrinations, and especially during activation, mobilization, deactivation, and demobilization briefs for National Guard and Reserve Service members.

As assistance with employment and reemployment issues is provided by the DoD and DoL, local military installations and National Guard and Reserve offices provide referral services for affected service members, typically referring the service member to the DoD-operated Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) program, the DoL Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), or to the United States Office of Special Counsel (OSC).

DoD Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR)

ESGR is a DoD agency operated through a network of over 4,700 volunteers, ranging from business executives, senior government representatives, educators and military personnel, serve on local ESGR Field Committees. With help and resources from the National ESGR Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, the 56 ESGR Field Committees conduct employer support programs, including informational briefings, mediation and recognition of employers whose policies support or encourage participation in the National Guard and Reserve. By explaining the missions of the National Guard and Reserve and by increasing public awareness of the role of the employer, ESGR works to develop a dialogue among employers, the ESGR Committees, and local National Guard and Reserve unit commanders and service members. ESGR is the lead advocate within the Department of Defense for Reserve Component employers.  ESGR educates service members and employers regarding their obligations to their employers and their rights under USERRA. ESGR also assists them in preventing, resolving, or reducing employer/employee problems and misunderstandings related to USERRA through mediation and ombudsman services. Service members can submit questions or request mediation services assistance from ESGR through the ESGR Customer Service Center. Point of contact information for ESGR and its local offices can be found on the ESGR website.

United States Department of Labor (DoL), Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act (USERRA) Advisor The DoL VETS USERRA Advisor provides information for service members and their civilian employers to assist them in learning about rights and responsibilities under USERRA through a series of interactive questions. For more information or assistance with employment and reemployment issues covered by USERRA, contact your local VETS office.

United States Office of Special Counsel (OSC)  As a result of the demonstration project created by the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004, the OSC is responsible for directly receiving and investigating certain USERRA claims. The OSC directly accepts USERRA complaints from returning service members who are federal government employees or applicants and whose social security numbers end in an odd-numbered digit. For service members who are not employees or applicants of the federal government or whose social security numbers end in an even digit, the OSC is not able to accept USERRA complaints. Service members in this latter category must file their complaints with VETS. If VETS is unable to resolve the complaint, service members may request that VETS refer the complaint to OSC who then will initiate an action before the Merit Systems Protection Board if the Special Counsel believes there is merit to the complaint.

• Links to Branch Support Services
• Links to Additional Resources