The Maryland Committee is made up of volunteer, business executives, civic leaders, educators, retired and active military personnel, and concerned citizens dedicated to preventing and resolving those employer/employee conflicts that directly impact the retention of our reserve component Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen. Our 62 members with some help and resources from the National Committee located in Alexandria, VA, initiate employer support and education programs including a speakers bureau, ombudsman program, visits to training sites, and through our awards program, recognition of employers whose policies support or encourage participation in the National Guard and Reserve. By explaining the mission of the National Guard and Reserve and by increasing public awareness of the role of the employer, we hope to develop a dialogue among the 164,000 private and public sector employers throughout the state, our state employer support committee, and local National Guard and Reserve unit commanders and the 17,903 members of the National Guard and Reserve within the state.