U.S. Army reservist's employer makes it company policy to support military

Photo By Sgt. Jennifer Sardam | QATAR - U.S. Army Reserve Cpt. Daniel Johnson has peace of mind that his family and job as General Counsel for the Richland County Sheriff's Department are taken care of while he serves his country. His employer of three years in Columbia, S.C., has a family support program in place much like the ones that exist in many branches of the military.  

QATAR

02.28.2006

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

By Spc. Jennifer Sardam
CENTCOM Public Affairs/ESGR Forward Team

QATAR - U.S. Army Reserve Cpt. Daniel Johnson has peace of mind that his family and job as General Counsel for the Richland County Sheriff's Department are taken care of while he serves his country. His employer of three years in Columbia, S.C., has a family support program in place much like the ones that exist in many branches of the military.

"There is someone assigned to the family member and someone assigned to the person in the department who deploys," said Johnson.

Johnson said the program for deployed employees is detailed in the department's policies and procedures and that the department maintains contact with soldiers and their families throughout the process. The sheriff's department chaplain e-mails him and his wife regularly.

Johnson credits his supervisor, Sheriff Leon Lott, with maintaining an environment that supports employees who elect to serve in the military. "He's just an unbelievably patriotic person, and he's so supportive of the military and of law enforcement officers being in the military," said Johnson.

This is Johnson's first long-term deployment and the first one away from his new wife, Kana, whom he married in August. Johnson's stateside unit is the 12th Legal Support Organization at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C. While he's deployed under U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM), he is the Trial Counsel for 3rd Corps Support Command, handling issues regarding the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

USCENTCOM, located at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Fla., is the unified command responsible for U.S. security interests in 27 nations that stretch from the Horn of Africa (HOA) through the Arabian Gulf region, into Central Asia. USCENTCOM is one of nine unified commands in the Department of Defense (DOD).

Central Command's mission includes enhancing regional stability and demonstrating a steadfast commitment to regional security. CENTCOM is also responsible for executing the Global War on Terror in its assigned area of responsibility (AOR), which includes Iraq, Afghanistan and HOA. Other important USCENTCOM activities include humanitarian and security assistance programs, as well as combined training and education opportunities for military members in AOR nations.

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, commonly known as USERRA, allows Johnson and other mobilized military members to retain their rights to return to their civilian jobs following a deployment. Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972. The mission of ESGR is to gain and maintain active support from all public and private employers for the men and women of the National Guard and Reserve. ESGR volunteers provide free education, consultation, and if necessary, mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees.

As the 1.2 million members of the National Guard and Reserve continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions that require extraordinary actions on the part of everyday citizens, ESGR will continue to be the information agency for the employers of America's new Minutemen. More information about ESGR Employer Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities is available at www.esgr.mil, or by calling The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve at [phone].

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• Date Taken: 02.28.2006
• Date Posted: 02.28.2006 14:22
• Story ID: 5541
• Location: QA