Veterans Affairs health technician is company medic while deployed overseas

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Antonio Cano of the 1209th Medical Detachment out of Albuquerque, N.M. is stationed in Qatar.  

QATAR

05.24.2006

Courtesy Story

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Photo and Story by Sgt. 1st Class David McCrary, ESGR Forward Team

QATAR - New Mexico Army National Guard Sgt. Antonio Cano is currently deployed to Qatar in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the official name given to military operations from Afghanistan to the Horn of Africa in support of the Global War on Terror.

"Living and working long hours in a desert environment is a real challenge," Cano reflected, "however being a part of Operation Enduring Freedom and the Global War on Terror helps make up for hardships."

Active duty and reserve component members from all branches of the U.S. armed forces are deployed under the U.S. Central Command to support the war against global terrorism outside the borders of the United States. U.S. Central Command is the unified command responsible for U.S. security interests and assets in 27 nations stretching from the Horn of Africa, through the Arabian Gulf region, and into Central Asia.

In Qatar, Cano serves as a squad leader and company medic for the 111th Air Defense Artillery that is assigned as force protection. The Sergeant has served five years in the military and this is his second overseas deployment.

In his civilian occupation, Cano works the night shift as a health technician for the Department of Veterans Affairs, New Mexico VA Health Care System, in Albuquerque, N.M. Cano enjoys his work. "I like working with the veterans; they have a lot of stories to tell," he stated with a grin. He is grateful for his employer and his supervisor, Roger King, who have been there for him in this deployment. "They were real supportive," he commented. "They assured me my job is there when I return and my active duty time goes toward my retirement with them.

Today, more than 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. Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is the primary resource for information about the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, commonly known as USERRA. This federal law allows Cano and other mobilized reserve component members to retain their rights, when the deployment concludes.

Established in 1972, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a DoD agency, provides free USERRA education, consultation, and if necessary, mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees. 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. 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].

According to Cano, deployments allow him to better relate to and be more supportive of the veterans he works with at the VA.

ESGR

• Date Taken: 05.24.2006
• Date Posted: 05.24.2006 09:14
• Story ID: 6489
• Location: QA