Photo By Melanie Casineau | Staff Sgt Brian Abert, 104th Fighter Wing Communications Squadron, shakes a Rotor...... read more read more
Subscribe
BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Massachusetts Staff Sgt. Brian Abert of the 104th Fighter Wing Communications Squadron presented five Patriot Awards to the management team at Roto-Rooter in Springfield, Massachusetts, Dec. 18, 2024. The Patriot Award, given by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), recognizes supervisors who provide outstanding support to Guard and Reserve employees. This includes offering flexible schedules, time off before and after deployment, caring for families, and granting leaves of absence when needed.
Abert has served with the 104th Fighter Wing Communications Squadron since 2014, dedicating one weekend a month to his military duties. Recently, he has been doing even more. With support from his employer, Abert is able to balance his role as a Senior Tech Lead for the Water Restoration Department at Roto-Rooter and continue his service when called upon.
“They are extremely supportive of my duties. Knowing they’ll be slightly inconvenienced while I’m away, I decided to nominate all of them for this award to show my appreciation for their support of my service to our nation,” Abert said.
ESGR plays a key role in assisting part-time military members. In some workplaces, there’s still a misunderstanding of how Guard and Reserve service members can work alongside civilian employers. Conflicts can arise when an employee’s military commitment overlaps with their civilian responsibilities.
Guard and Reserve service members bring valuable skills to the civilian workforce, such as a strong work ethic, certifications, and training that can benefit employers. These skills are often developed while on military duty, saving employers the cost of additional training.
Earl Bonnet, a dedicated volunteer with ESGR for more than 31 years, was named the 2011 National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Military Outreach Volunteer of the Year.
“We encourage all National Guard members to nominate their civilian supervisors for the Patriot Award,” Bonnet said. “It highlights employers who support their employees' military service while balancing their personal and professional lives.”
Bonnet added that employers who are featured on ESGR’s website as “employer-friendly” gain free publicity and there’s no limit to how many awards a company can receive. Awardees may also be nominated for higher-level recognition.
ESGR, a U.S. Defense Department program established in 1972, fosters cooperation and understanding between civilian employers and National Guard and Reserve employees by promoting supportive work environments.
If conflicts arise between a service member and employer, ESGR’s trained volunteer ombudsmen are available to mediate and resolve disputes. Ombudsmen provide neutral, free resources but do not offer legal advice. They are trained in military law and dispute resolution techniques.
“I nominated all five managers who have overseen me at Roto-Rooter,” Abert said. “They always let me know how much they’ll miss me whenever I’m called to serve, and they can’t wait for my return.”
For questions, employers or service members can contact an ESGR ombudsman at the ESGR National Call Center, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, at 1-800-336-4590.
| Date Taken: | 12.18.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 03.26.2025 15:23 |
| Story ID: | 493594 |
| Location: | WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, US |
| Web Views: | 23 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 104th Fighter Wing Member Presents Patriot Awards to Rotor Rooter Management Team, by Melanie Casineau, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
